The Environmental Services Tree Program, Portland Fruit Tree Project, and People-Places-Things (PPT)—an English language learning and cultural navigation program—joined forces recently for a productive and fun-filled morning of tree care at the Parkrose Community Orchard.  In a field trip led by Marc Czornij, Confluence AmeriCorps member serving with the Tree Program, participants from Midland Library PPT classes in SE Portland stepped outside the classroom to care for young trees.  They learned about common fruit tree pests and diseases, mulched the orchard to keep weeds out and moisture in, and made first-time connections with their English-speaking neighbors in the process.  The successful outing was the first of many opportunities for PPT participants to serve and connect with community over the coming months. 

Participants from the Midland Library People-Places-Things classes after caring for trees at Parkrose Community Orchard

Since February 2016, Marc has facilitated tree and green infrastructure-focused English as a second language (ESL) activities with People-Places-Things as a way to expand the Tree Program’s capacity to deliver services equitably. The Tree Program plants trees for clean rivers, healthy watersheds, and livable, sustainable communities. Since 2008, the Tree Program has engaged thousands of Portland residents to plant over 45,000 trees in the city.  Visit the webpage to learn more about the program’s achievements, partnerships, and efforts to equitably serve the residents of Portland.  

It's tree planting season!  Do you need a new tree in your life?  Consider planting a street tree with Tree Program partner Friends of Trees, or plant a tree in your yard on your own and get a Treebate credit on your utility bill.  Trees make Portland a cleaner, greener, healthier city.  Thanks for supporting Portland’s trees.