RNeighbors Knocks on Doors in the Homestead Lane SE Neighborhood

November 18, 2009

With help from the City Forester, his daughter Olive, and RNeighbors board member Bob Sixta, this neighborhood family proudly planted the first of 101 trees. They will come back on Saturday to help plant the other 100 trees.

The evening of Wednesday, September 24, RNeighbors canvassed the neighborhood on Homestead Village Lane SE, letting them all know about a community tree planting going on in their neighborhood.

Armed with colorful door hanging literature (compliments of Alliance for Community Trees) volunteers knocked on doors and greeted neighbors in yards, encouraging each of them to join in Saturday’s tree planting.

According to Jacob Ryg, Rochester’s City Forester, there are only four trees planted on this street, out of 110 total boulevard tree planting spaces. In the 1960’s trees were planted in this neighborhood following the planting practices of the day. All of the trees were planted too deep, and eventually suffered from stem girdling roots and had to be taken down. None were replanted. A high density of open boulevard tree spaces without the means to plant trees is one of the criteria that the RNeighborWoods group uses to determine which neighborhood they target for a community tree planting. Homestead Lane is well deserving of the greening this fall.

Pictured with RNeighbors volunteers, this group of kids were excited to get the tree planting literature and hear that trees were going to be planted in their neighborhood and they get to help.

The reception that our door knocking group received for the neighbors was powerfully enthusiastic and hopefully an indicator of participation at our Saturday, September 27th event.

All ages are invited. Meet, rain or shine at 9 am, at Homestead Park SE. Additional details can be found on our website.

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