Adopt-A-Tree Summer 2024

Adopt-A-Tree has returned! We are excited to bring back our volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. Our tree pits are finally in bloom and we’re looking for neighbors who are interested in adopting a tree!

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 five years ago with funding from the Borough President and City Council, allowing the BID 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.

Volunteers are asked to water their tree beds weekly. All of the plants in our tree pits enjoy full or partial sun, are drought tolerant, and do well in sandy or gravelly soils. Although these plants are less temperamental than most, it is important to keep an eye on them and provide water during periods of drought throughout the Summer.

Volunteers will be asked to attend one short introduction session hosted by the BID. The session includes learning about the pits, tips on what you can do to best care for them, and materials and goodies to help you along the way. The introduction session will be on Monday, June 10th at 6PM.

Please fill out this form to participate. We can’t wait to welcome all of our newcomers 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.

Adopt-A-Tree Summer 2023

We are excited for the return of our popular volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever. Our tree pits are finally in bloom and we’re looking for neighbors who are interested in adopting a tree!

In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend one short introduction session hosted by the BID, in June. Volunteers 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 can’t wait to welcome all of our newcomers 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 four years ago with funding from the Borough President and City Council, allowing the BID 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.

Adopt-A-Tree Summer 2022

We are excited for the return of our popular volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever. Our tree pits are finally in bloom and we’re looking for neighbors who are interested in adopting a tree!

In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend one short introduction session hosted by the BID, in June. Volunteers 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 can’t wait to welcome all of our newcomers 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 the Borough President and City Council, 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.

Calling Mentors! iMentor Student Program at Lyons Community School

We have an amazing opportunity for our community to volunteer and support local youth in East Williamsburg! The BID recently connected with iMentor to learn about a program that works with local students from the Lyons Community School located on the campus at 223 Graham Ave, and thought our super awesome, caring community might be interested in participating. iMentor is an education non-profit and youth mentoring program that works to empower first-generation college students to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions through one-on-one mentorships.

A majority of iMentor’s students identify as people of color, are international students, or speak languages other than English. When students meet their mentors, it is important that they see successful working professionals who are as diverse and unique as they are. While we almost have enough women to support our female-identifying students for this school year, iMentor still needs more than 350+ male mentors, particularly men of color, to work with our male students.

Mentor Requirements:

• Have a 2 or 4 year college degree

• Mentors commit to 3-5 hours per month (1x per week write your mentee, 1x per month meet your mentee at an event, periodic college & Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion trainings)

• Be willing to be fingerprinted by the NYC Department of Education in-person (downtown Brooklyn)

• All NYC-based mentors who enter our program this fall will have the option to remain fully virtual throughout the duration of their 4-year match!

What Makes a Good Mentor?

• Curiosity about your mentee’s life & interests

• Flexibility & openness

• Consistency in the highs and lows of the mentorship

Are you or someone you know in our community a good fit for the mentorship program? If you would like to start volunteering to mentor a student through iMentor click here. If you are interested in learning more about the program or have any questions, please reach out to Rachel Hutt at rhutt@imentor.org

Adopt-A-Tree Returns to Grand Street!

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!