NeighborWoods in Rochester is now RNeighborWoods!
RNeighborWoods Mission
RNeighborWoods empowers and educates the community to grow a sustainable urban forest, benefiting the health, social, and economic aspects of Rochester neighborhoods.
- Citizen Forester Training
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24 & 25, 4-6 pm, at Quarry Hill Nature Center At the close of Wednesday’s class, this group will practice their new Forester skills by planting several ball-and-burlap trees and 200 seedlings at Quarry Hill.
These seedlings were a grant award, made possible by FritoLay. This company is currently making America a little greener by helping to plant 100,000 new trees. A big RNeighborWoods thanks to FritoLay!To register please contact Rene Lafflam, Executive Director of RNeighbors, Rochester’s Neighborhood Resource Center. - Jr. Citizen Forester Training
Thursday, April 26, 4-5:30pm, at Quarry Hill Nature Center This class will get to view a portion of Dr. Seuss’ movie The Lorax and will get hands-on experience with improperly planted, diseased, and poorly cared for tree roots. Graduates of this class will learn lots of interesting tree facts!To register please contact Rene Lafflam, Executive Director of RNeighbors, Rochester’s Neighborhood Resource Center. - State of Minnesota’s Arbor Day Celebration in Rochester
Friday, April 27, 11-1 pm, Central Park, downtown Rochester - Elton Hills Drive RNeighborWoods tree planting
Saturday, April 28, 9:30 am
Sponsored by Rochester Public Utilities, Rochester Park and Rec, and Maier Forest & Tree.
Meet by the ball fields of Rochester Central Lutheran School (RCLS). Please park on 9th Avenue, at Elton Hills Elementary, or at Hoover Elementary, not at RCLS.
Look for a table and smiling people with safety orange vests on. We’ll introduce our Citizen Foresters, go over the logistics of the planting, divide into groups, and then plant 100 trees all along Elton Hills Drive! The majority of these trees were purchased by Rochester Public Utilities and include tree varieties of Serviceberry, Tree Lilac, Adams Crabapple, and Ginkgo trees (in spaces that are not under the power wires).
How does a group follow-up a successful fall planting of 238 trees by 150 volunteers?
By doing a spring planting of course!
While the snow has been on the ground the NeighborWoods in Rochester committee has been busy meeting, examining the future of the group and of the urban forest in Rochester. We’re approaching the spring season with a new name, a new mission, a clearer vision for the future of the group, and plans for a spring planting.
This tree loving committee is comprised of community volunteers and representatives from partnering organizations. The name of NeighborWoods is a national name and was tedious to write out as NeighborWoods in Rochester. The group determined that adding the “R” to the name would make it uniquely Rochester, and the new name of RNeighborWoods was adopted. The last several months has been spent researching best practices nationally and moving forward with strategic planning. Our new mission (posted above) was developed and we think, states perfectly what we’re all about.
So mark your calendars for the above upcoming tree dates. There are lots of Earth loving events going on in Rochester in April 2007!
Be sure to check the community calendar on this website for more events. See you at the planting!
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