Mission Mission

Friends of the Urban Forest want to give you a tree! Here’s how it works:

Mission residents have until October 1 to sign up to receive a street tree in the planting that Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) is organizing for November 8.  Residents who have eligible sites in front of their homes and businesses can save approximately 75% of the total tree planting costs by participating in FUF’s neighborhood tree planting program; most of the costs are covered by grants, government funding and private donations.

Sign up here!

(No guarantee the tree you get will be as cool as the Ghostbusters ghost tree, originally photographed by Ariel Dovas.)

Full press release after the jump:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 22, 2014
CONTACT: BEN CARLSON, 415-497-9342

More street trees coming to the Mission in November
Residents have until October 1 to sign up for a tree

Mission residents have until October 1 to sign up to receive a street tree in the planting that Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) is organizing for November 8. Residents who have eligible sites in front of their homes and businesses can save approximately 75% of the total tree planting costs by participating in FUF’s neighborhood tree planting program; most of the costs are covered by grants, government funding and private donations.

FUF is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and neighborhood groups plant and care for street trees and sidewalk gardens throughout San Francisco. FUF plants trees in neighborhoods in which at least 30 trees have been requested. The copayment for a “Tree Package” is $135, and includes the tree, permit processing, site preparation including concrete removal, and three post-planting tree care visits. FUF’s certified arborists make recommendations regarding the tree species that are most suitable for the conditions at each planting site, and the property owner makes the final selection.

“Tree planting brings neighbors together,” said FUF Executive Director Dan Flanagan. “We love to help neighborhood residents transform and improve their blocks.”

The Mission is a moderately leafy neighborhood, but that’s not saying much; with only 13.7% of its land area covered by tree canopy, San Francisco has a sparser urban forest than most other cities, which is surprising given our “green” reputation. In fact, San Francisco ranks only 17th among the 20 most populous U.S. cities in its tree canopy coverage. Worse yet, our urban forest is shrinking, because tree mortality is currently outpacing tree planting; the San Francisco city government has allocated very little funding to its own tree planting program in recent years.

To receive a tree, sign up at http://www.fuf.net/mission/ or contact Caitlin at caitlin@fuf.net or 415-268-0772.

Tree plantings are community events that involve the tree recipients, volunteer tree planters, and FUF staff working side-by-side. They last from 9:00 a.m. to about noon, followed by lunch.

Since 1981, FUF has planted more than 48,000 trees, totaling 43% of San Francisco’s street tree canopy. Urban trees clean the air, reduce storm-water runoff, provide habitat for wildlife, beautify neighborhoods, and increase property values.

For more information about Friends of the Urban Forest, see http://www.fuf.net.

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3 Responses to “Trees for all!”

1. Pacific Standard Simon says:

   July 22, 2014 at 8:13 pm

   That’s the Oogie Boogie Man from Nightmare Before Christmas!
   • Ariel Dovas says:

     July 23, 2014 at 9:21 am

     Yep! That was the first thing I thought when I saw it from that angle.
2. Bob Dole says:

   July 22, 2014 at 9:31 pm

   Make sure they plant a tree with non-invasive roots. And if you rent, let your landlord know.