Here 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…
News
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…
“I don’t get anything out of it except saving the world,” Mary Miasnik, TreePeople Volunteer
July 9, 2013As a lifelong Angeleno, Mary remembers a time when she could ride her bike anywhere she wanted and nobody had to worry about where their children were. A time when nothing interesting happened except for an earthquake in 1933. “It was very peaceful, very ordinary,” she recalls of her upbringing. Then, in the late 70s,…
“I’ve learned some very good leadership skills,” Xavier Cervantes, TreePeople Volunteer
July 2, 2013In many ways, Xavier Cervantes is your typical 14-year-old. He’s a freshman in high school, he loves to go camping, and if he could spend a day in the life of any famous person, it would be funny-man George Lopez. But if you ask him for his thoughts on our current environmental crisis, he sounds…
Not Your Momma’s Fire Season
June 28, 2013Fire season is a part of LA, right? Like earthquakes and off-the-rails movie stars, if we’ve survived them once we can do it again, right? Wrong. The problem is that with the climate changing, things are getting more intense. This is not your momma’s fire season. Southern California is in its seventh driest year on…
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
June 25, 2013After the President’s speech on climate change this morning, and looking ahead to a hot weekend, we find our thoughts turning to snow. Specifically, Los Angeles’s precious local mountain snowpack. Why is this snowpack important (outside of skiing considerations), you might ask? In a lot of ways, it is a measure of the impact of…
No Need to Plant-Sit These California Natives
June 18, 2013Going on vacation? Trying to find someone to care for your garden while you’re away? Well, this amazing duo of SoCal natives goes on vacay with you, as they need almost no water in the summer. Black sage and Flannel bush will lounge around your garden, perfectly blending with the beautiful and laid-back vibe of…
Words of Praise from a Conservation Leader
June 13, 2013At TreePeople we’re all about partnerships. From the U.S. Forest Service to the Mountains Restoration Trust to the Social Justice Learning Institute to city and county government agencies, professionals and organizations give us reasons every day to stand in awe of the individuals and groups willing to work together toward improving the health of our trees…