On July 22, 2009 the Seattle Times published an article regarding WALDO WOODS: "Deal will save Waldo Woods in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood". (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009512856_webwaldo21m.html)
Why do I care about this article?
Because it shows a community and a school working together to save trees.
The Maple Leaf Community has been struggling with a developer and the City of Seattle to keep Trees. To keep the Waldo Woods. A struggle that has cost the community thousands of dollars and three long years of work.
But, as the drama was drawing to an end at the King County Superior Court...the developer dropped out of sight..
Making room for a NEW player, a NEW developer and another chance for the Waldo Woods.
Into the picture comes the Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder, a private Jewish school...
"We fell in love with the property at first sight," said Rabbi Yossi Charytan, head of the school. "The nature and the surroundings were very conducive to a school environment. We're going to let (the trees) be."
Read that last line again..."We're going to let (the trees) be."
A school that has taken the communities values: saving trees,
and made those values a part of its plans.
I applaud the Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder,
for being an example of a true leader for future generations.
By working with the community.
Communicating with the public.
Sharing the communities values and ideals.
And walking the walk of Environmental Stewardship.
May Gods Blessings be upon the School and the Leaders.
And from this great news for Waldo Woods, comes again the reminder of the bitter sting, and the roller coaster ride of the Ingraham High School Northwest Grove.
If only the Seattle School District could see the light at Ingraham High School, that same conducive environment to learning and share the values and ideals of the Ingraham High School's neighbors.....imagine how many trees would be saved, and how much respect could be gained....
But that is not the case...the Seattle School District has once more filed building permits to build in the Northwest Grove of trees...empty space abounds on the 28 acres, but the School District deems vacant land environmentally more important than the 100 foot mature trees.
Save The Trees-Seattle awaits the Department of Planning and Developments decision regarding the "new west compressed version" of the Seattle School Districts plans for Ingraham, if only the Trees could be bought from the School...if only someone could come forward and offer the School District an outrageous sum of money to save the trees, if dreams and wishes could make it come true....
Ingraham High Schools Northwest Grove is destined for King County Superior Court, because the Seattle School District does not see trees as being conducive to education, learning or the environment....
Once more private and public education show their colors---tremendous difference in leadership values....Trees are environmentally important vs. trees have no business on a campus.
Wow, I pick the private school, my hat is off to the Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder for being an Environmental Steward for the future! Keep up the GREAT WORK!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
City Tree Crew..What are they doing in your neighborhood?
Well, it is summer and the City Tree Pruners are at it again!
The ones visiting our neighborhood this year said it was our "turn" on their 5 year cycle.
I have been here for almost 12 years and this is the first I have seen them. Which now raises some questions and a concern or two.
What concern me, is that our City did a Tree Inventory that was recently released. It pointed out that we had no current; as in up to date, as in tree by tree, as in species by species inventory count for the trees in this City. Why are the City Tree Pruners pruning trees and not counting, identifying and mapping where they are while they prune?
The satellite imagery in the tree inventory gave a canopy coverage for 2006, it is now 2009. How many trees have been removed from your neighborhood in the last 3 years? In my neighborhood at least 10, with the School District (directly next door) wanting to remove another 50+.
Well, now with the City Tree Pruners here in my neighborhood this week, I can add 3 more trees to the 10 (these are within 4 blocks of my home) which is 13 trees in 3 years, all mature (over 20 years). How many have the City Tree Pruners removed in your neighborhood? How about developers, storms and neighbors who are "tired of the mess"? How many trees have been destroyed? Or left structurally unsound and will end up being removed?
I think one way to get a handle on our tree inventory, and how many trees are REALLY in this City is to require the City Tree Pruners to count the trees they prune, map where those trees are, identify the species and record how many they cut down.
Another way to improve our true knowledge of a tree inventory in this City is for home owners to send to the newly formed Tree Commission a post card that says how many trees are in their yard, what the diameter is at 4 1/2 feet from the ground (dbh) and if they know the species write it down. If they send in the post card the City could give a credit on their water bill of 2 dollars or something. Emphasize they get the credit with or without trees. The count is very important and we want the correct number not just someone wanting a credit, so the incentive must be for the card, not what is on it. We need an inventory.
And we need to keep what we have and add more to it. Thus we must encourage those who do not have trees on their property, or live in an area where there are very few trees to plant trees. So we can use these cards to target areas needing more trees. And we can send out information for people to learn how to keep their current trees healthy. (Maybe have a webinar).
I know it sounds like I don't like tree pruning or tree removal. Don't get me wrong here, I think that Tree Pruning is a necessity for keeping a healthy tree. There are trees that never need pruning but they do need to be checked out for storm damage, critter damage and disease. I believe that everyone should be responsible for keeping their trees healthy and hiring a certified arborist to do just that. And, yes, there are times that a tree has to be removed: hazardous, disease, and too much storm damage are all good reasons to remove trees. But, please if you think a tree needs removing check with a certified arborist. And whether the tree is saved or needs removal...let the certified arborist do the work. And where do you find these specialist for trees? Try the International Society of Arboriculture. The ISA is a good place to learn about tree care, and what to look for in a professional and where to look.
So, take care of your trees...we want them for eternity.
The ones visiting our neighborhood this year said it was our "turn" on their 5 year cycle.
I have been here for almost 12 years and this is the first I have seen them. Which now raises some questions and a concern or two.
What concern me, is that our City did a Tree Inventory that was recently released. It pointed out that we had no current; as in up to date, as in tree by tree, as in species by species inventory count for the trees in this City. Why are the City Tree Pruners pruning trees and not counting, identifying and mapping where they are while they prune?
The satellite imagery in the tree inventory gave a canopy coverage for 2006, it is now 2009. How many trees have been removed from your neighborhood in the last 3 years? In my neighborhood at least 10, with the School District (directly next door) wanting to remove another 50+.
Well, now with the City Tree Pruners here in my neighborhood this week, I can add 3 more trees to the 10 (these are within 4 blocks of my home) which is 13 trees in 3 years, all mature (over 20 years). How many have the City Tree Pruners removed in your neighborhood? How about developers, storms and neighbors who are "tired of the mess"? How many trees have been destroyed? Or left structurally unsound and will end up being removed?
I think one way to get a handle on our tree inventory, and how many trees are REALLY in this City is to require the City Tree Pruners to count the trees they prune, map where those trees are, identify the species and record how many they cut down.
Another way to improve our true knowledge of a tree inventory in this City is for home owners to send to the newly formed Tree Commission a post card that says how many trees are in their yard, what the diameter is at 4 1/2 feet from the ground (dbh) and if they know the species write it down. If they send in the post card the City could give a credit on their water bill of 2 dollars or something. Emphasize they get the credit with or without trees. The count is very important and we want the correct number not just someone wanting a credit, so the incentive must be for the card, not what is on it. We need an inventory.
And we need to keep what we have and add more to it. Thus we must encourage those who do not have trees on their property, or live in an area where there are very few trees to plant trees. So we can use these cards to target areas needing more trees. And we can send out information for people to learn how to keep their current trees healthy. (Maybe have a webinar).
I know it sounds like I don't like tree pruning or tree removal. Don't get me wrong here, I think that Tree Pruning is a necessity for keeping a healthy tree. There are trees that never need pruning but they do need to be checked out for storm damage, critter damage and disease. I believe that everyone should be responsible for keeping their trees healthy and hiring a certified arborist to do just that. And, yes, there are times that a tree has to be removed: hazardous, disease, and too much storm damage are all good reasons to remove trees. But, please if you think a tree needs removing check with a certified arborist. And whether the tree is saved or needs removal...let the certified arborist do the work. And where do you find these specialist for trees? Try the International Society of Arboriculture. The ISA is a good place to learn about tree care, and what to look for in a professional and where to look.
So, take care of your trees...we want them for eternity.
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