Two of last year’s awesome volunteers!
After last year’s success of Adopt-A-Tree on Grand Street, we are excited to announce the return of our awesome volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever with some upgrades to the program. With many neighbors expressing interest in adopting a tree, we are adding some new workshops, and guidelines to help us expand our volunteer programming and network.
In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend three brief workshops hosted by the BID, in May, July, and October. At each workshop you will learn about the pits, be given tips on what you can do to best care for them, and receive materials and goodies to help you along the way.
Please fill out this form to participate. We are so excited to welcome all of our new participants and to reconnect with our previous volunteers! Pit assignment will be first come first serve, and we will be giving priority of tree pit locations to our returning volunteers.
There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started three years ago and with received funding from Borough President Eric Adams Council Member Antonio Reynoso, the BID has been able to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Horticultural Society of New York to plant perennials native to Brooklyn.
Our collection of Brooklyn-native perennials includes “Purple Tears” switchgrass and “Wood’s Blue” asters. These choices were intentional to bring Brooklyn wildflowers back to our streetscape, but even as native flowers it can be difficult to survive the city summer. Sidewalk heat, pollution, litter, and our beloved neighborhood dogs misusing the pits can inhibit growth and require plantings to be tended with extra care.
Our trees do tremendous work in combating some of the above factors—the trees within the Grand Street BID district alone save the City over $5000 a year draining water, removing smog, and conserving energy. Pin Oaks, Japanese Zelkovas, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Swamp White Oaks all find a home on Grand Street—and many of our trees are young and newly planted. Similar to our perennials, it can be difficult for a young tree to make it on a city commercial corridor.
Adopt-A-Tree Today! Help us steward our awesome trees, meet our neighbors, and beautify our community. We look forward to the coming months with you all!