Across two weekends last month, more than 200 volunteers, kids, parents, teachers and TreePeople staff gathered to put 46 trees in the ground at El Dorado Elementary School in Sylmar, deep in the San Fernando Valley. Volunteers watch a tree planting demonstration at El Dorado Elementary School. We primed the location ahead of the big…

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If you’re reading this, it’s likely you know that climate change is humanity’s most urgent challenge. And you likely have an inkling that TreePeople has some viable solutions to offer. You’re correct. With the announcement that 2014 was the Earth’s hottest year in recorded history, it’s clearer than ever that we must get planting, and…

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Working with low-income communities on pathways to sustainability has been a cornerstone of TreePeople’s work for decades. Here, our Director of Forestry, Rachel Malarich shares some of her hard-won insights in this important conversation linking the success of urban forestry to building strong relationships inside underserved populations. Read on for the full story from California…

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Would it sound crazy if we said you’re taking showers, flushing your toilet and watering your lawn with Evian water? Pretty much. But Angelenos use about half of all their drinking-quality water for landscaping (!), 20% to flush their toilets and a whopping 18% for showering—If not exactly Evian brand, it’s water that could be…

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TreePeople is kicking off 2015 by offering new perks to our most dedicated volunteers. Whether you’ve only volunteered with us once, or if you’re a seasoned veteran, we want to recognize the important work you do to make LA a green, livable city. This year, if you attend five or more volunteer events we’ll award…

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TreePeople fosters relationships—with the Earth, our cities and with each other, no matter our ages or backgrounds. It’s this multi-generational value that forges lasting bonds and a passion to cherish and protect the environment. Enter Wendy Hagan, a local science teacher at Granada Hills Charter High School. Her story dates back years ago. A native…

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Skid Row and its surrounding communities often are labeled with associations of sprawling concrete and warehouses, rampant homelessness, drug use and destitution. Though green spaces and trees aren’t a big part of the landscape (yet), this neighborhood is a vibrant corner of the city that offers a place to begin again to its residents who…

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The third year of drought caused dramatic effects pushing TreePeople staff and volunteers into high gear in 2014. Though it was challenging, the drought gave us the opportunity to implement new programs like the Irricades. We also adapted existing programs, like our drought response park tree care events, to best counter the effects of the dry conditions on trees…

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The UCLA Anderson Economic Forecast brings business and water leaders together to consider the implications for the city’s water supply in light of the drought and projected long-term water shortages. I’ve been invited to share an emerging approach that with investment, could help not only with the immediate drought, but create a substantial part of our long-term water supply….

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Empowering communities to practice sustainability in their own backyard is a cornerstone of TreePeople’s values. So in the spirit of celebrating our roots this month, we partnered with L.A. City Councilmember Felipe Fuentes for #SustainableSaturday at Pacoima City Hall where we hosted a free rainwater harvesting workshop for San Fernando Valley residents. Twenty-five locals attended…

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Thanks to the help of our Forestry team and dedicated Forest Aid volunteers, TreePeople has cared for more than 5,000 trees this year! Despite facing a crippling drought, our forest restoration projects pressed on. Unfortunately, the drought prevented our team and volunteer community to plant new trees in the forest this year, but we didn’t let that slow us…

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