Last week, I told the story of my journey from third grade TreeKid to TreePeople storytelling intern. This week, we’re going back to Yurt Village to hear the story of two more seasoned TreeLadies. Meet Jessica Haren and Stephanie Nelson—summer Landscape Design and Development interns, respectively. Jessica, a Landscape Architecture student at UCLA Extension, works with TreePeople’s…
Blog
Abuzz About the Power of Parkways!
August 20, 2013Up until recently, many Angelinos didn’t even know what a parkway was. Often called a planting strip, median, nature space or tree lawn—people were confused about what to call it, much less what to do with this section of our cityscape. Now all that’s changed. One little LA Times column by Steve Lopez, lots of…
The Magic of That First Planting Day
August 14, 2013At the now-verdant Hansen Dam Recreation Center in Sylmar, Roger Klemm approached “his” trees for the first time in nearly two decades since planting them. The sight of their tremendous growth brought a look of wonder to his face. Thirty-nine mature trees now thrive at the site of this TreePeople planting; they both accent the…
Head Up to the Mountains with TreePeople: Thirsty Seedlings Need Our Help
August 12, 2013Seedlings are growing and thriving at Chilao Flats in the Angeles National Forest thanks to hundreds of TreePeople volunteers who planted them earlier this year. This is an important and beloved mountain area that was devastated by the 2009 Station Fire, and we’re helping bring the forest back for all who depend on it. Volunteers…
A TreePeople Intern’s Deep Roots
August 7, 2013As a nearly lifelong Treeperson, I have responses for all the usual questions about my Treepeople volunteering. To the question, “So, you hug trees, right?” I answer, “Of course! But not as part of my work.” To the question, “So, you guys are people made of trees?” I respond, “You know ‘connecting with your roots’…
Victoria Principal to the (Fire Prevention and Reforestation) Rescue!
August 2, 2013Again, actress, activist and entrepreneur Victoria Principal comes to the rescue of Southern California’s forests. And again, it’s just in time. Although this week is unseasonably cool, the moment it gets hot again we’re in for some serious fire danger. In fact, Los Angeles County’s Fire Chief calls this summer and fall “probably the most…
Ten Ways to Add Green to Your Routine
July 31, 2013Here at TreePeople, we believe that everyone is a bit of a tree person at heart. We understand that not everyone has time to regularly plant or care for trees, let alone dedicate a career to the environment! However, a busy schedule doesn’t doom a tree person to an environmentally-oblivious life. We’ve provided ten ways…
Need Trees? Call TreePeople
July 26, 2013Better yet, handwrite us a letter. TreePeople received a package of just this type of letter from students at Sylvan Elementary School in Van Nuys. The youngsters missed the shade of three trees recently removed from their campus, and they took action. Not just heart-warming, their handwritten letters were effective. They grabbed our attention, and…
The LA River: From “Bad Dream” to Green
July 23, 2013Fed-up with the physical appearance of your neighborhood? Aching for a change? It’s simple, really; just jumpstart a stalled nonprofit! Meet Rick Rabins—husband, former jeweler, TreePeople Citizen Forester, and acting president of the nonprofit organization The Village Gardeners (his “full-time gig on the side”). Rick Rabins’ story begins when he realized an oleander scorch disease…
The Real Truth About Fake Grass
July 19, 2013True or false? Artificial turf or “fake grass” is a great alternative to traditional lawns for water-scarce Los Angeles. It needs no water, requires basically no maintenance, and is often billed as an eco-friendly choice because it is made from things like recycled tires. Seems like a no-brainer, but fake grass is not a good…
“When I find something that I like…I dive in head first,” Amelia Litz, TreePeople Volunteer
July 16, 2013Three years ago, Amelia Litz was looking for something to do after high school. This South Dakota native knew she wanted to get into something “environmental sciency,” but she didn’t know exactly what. She then found TreePeople through a Google search and has never looked back. “When I moved out here, I decided the best…
Trade One Kind of Green for Another: Even More Cash for Your (Landscape) Grass
July 11, 2013Want to get away? Think that Hawaiian vacay is out of your price range? Well, if you still have a lush green lawn on your property, maybe not. The price for grass has doubled! Quick, cash in now and make up to $4,000 (depending on the size of your lawn). The Los Angeles Department of…