Celebrate National NeighborWoods Month

Are you eager to improve and green your neighborhood?NeighborWoods in Rochester celebrates as part of National NeighborWoods month by offering free Citizen Forester classes and a community boulevard tree planting event.

The Citizen Forester program presents a hands-on opportunity for you to learn how to plant, prune, and maintain trees. It also provides you the chance to get involved and help our community take care of its public trees. Since 2004, this program has already trained 75 community members as Citizen Foresters.

These free classes will be led by Jacob Ryg, the Rochester City Forester and a Certified Arborist. Classes will take place on Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5, from 4-6 pm, at the Park and Recreation Shop, 403 East Center Street.

To be certified as a Citizen Forester, you will need to attend both classes. Topics covered will include proper hands-on planting experience; benefits of trees; urban forestry; and community tree issues. All materials and tools will be provided.

Participants who successfully complete the combination of classroom instruction and field training will have the opportunity to lead the NeighborWoods tree planting event on October 21.

Funded through the City of Rochester and RPU, the NeighborWoods Tree Planting event will plant 225 trees on three boulevards, 75 at each spot. All planters will receive a free utility belt and the satisfaction of knowing that they’ve assisted in planting trees for current and future generations to enjoy.

The NeighborWoods Tree Planting will take place rain or shine on Saturday, October 21, at 10 am. Volunteers should wear work clothes (rain gear if needed) and bring their own shovels.

Planting locations include:

• Boulevard #1
  20th Street SE, and adjoining 8th and 9th Avenues
  (meet in Ben Franklin Elementary parking lot, 1801 9th Avenue SE)
• Boulevard #2
  50th Avenue and 55th Street NW
  (meet at White Oaks Park, 4597 55th Street NW)
• Boulevard #3
  Elton Hills Drive West
  (meet at Riverview West Park, 2600 block on West River Parkway)

For more information about NeighborWoods in Rochester please check the website. For information on how how volunteers can assist with the October 21 NeighborWoods tree planting, please email René Lafflam at RNeighbors. You may also call to register, (507) 529-4150. Please leave a daytime phone number if you leave a message.

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