It started off simply enough. Melissa McKenzie, the talented Director of Programs & Volunteer Services at the Carmel Foundation gave us a call to see if we had any ideas of things their members could do to keep them engaged during the COVID shutdown. We had just visited with Sara Davis, Carmel’s Forester at the Public Works yard to see how Carmel Cares could assist her. Seeing lots of little oak and pine seedlings in pots we came up with the idea of Tree Tenders. Here’s how it works.
It’s ended up really simple in the end. When you sign up to be a Tree Tender, Carmel Cares will deliver a pine or oak seedling (your choice) along with some simple instructions and you will take care of it by watering it, moving it into a larger container as it grows and, in 2 to 3 years, we will plant it in Carmel’s urban forest with your name on it.
You will become part of a group that will become more educated about our forest, learn more about trees and have fun being part of the solution to keeping our forest healthy and growing.
If you want to join our group of Tree Tenders you just need to send an email to TreeTender1@gmail.com or call Program Manager Carleen Whittlesey at (415) 999-5099. Just decide if you want an oak or pine tree and she will gather some basic information and deliver the tree to you.
All you need to do is follow the simple instructions in our guide and we will keep in touch with further instructions as the tree goes. Sara will also provide some interesting facts about our forest over time.
You can view the Tree Tender Guide here.
