Casey Trees and Community Gardens

Amidst the hustle and bustle of D.C. lie over 40 community gardens, where District residents can plant and harvest their own produce. Community gardens provide educational and peaceful oases for residents across the city. This CTP season, Casey Trees is getting involved with their efforts.

Volunteers help plant a tree at the Washington Youth Garden on Oct. 18.
Visit our Flickr page for more photos.

Green SEED Planting
On Oct. 29, District residents braved rainy weather to help plant 13 trees at the Green SEED Community Garden. 20 volunteers and 9 Citizen Foresters joined Casey Trees in adding apple, fig and cherry trees to the garden. Established in 2010, the Green SEED Community Garden is located between 17th St, 18th St, D St and E St. Special thanks to Lead Citizen Forester Patricia Carmichael and project organizer Dan Fitzgerald for their help in making the CTP event possible.

Washington Youth Garden Planting
This CTP season has seen another community garden planting, in early October. Casey Trees, along with four Citizen Foresters and 17 volunteers, planted 16 fruit trees at the Washington Youth Garden at the National Arboretum. The trees were mostly apple and peach. Val Wheeler, Lead Citizen Forester and Kaifa Anderson-Hall, project organizer provided leadership in organizing the event.

Upcoming film: Community of Gardeners
On Saturday November 19, from 2 p.m. till 5 p.m. we will host a free screening of the documentary film, Community of Gardeners at our headquarters in Brookland. The film highlights the important role of seven different community gardens in Washington, D.C., including the Washington Youth Garden. A discussion with director and award-winning film artist Cintia Cabib will follow the screening. Guests from local community gardens will also help lead the discussion. Space is still available.

Sign up for this unique opportunity to learn more about the community gardens of D.C. You can also read about the film on the Community of Gardeners website. We hope to see you on November 19!

Tonight: Growing Fruit Trees in the DC Area
This evening we will feature a class at our headquarters on fruit trees, presented by Dr. Christopher Walsh of the University of Maryland. We will discuss the potential role of fruit trees in urban and suburban landscapes as well as practices we can incorporate to best manage the challenges they pose. This class is currently full.

Contact Shawn Walker with any questions about classes.

Give to the Max Day is Today! Join Thousands and Donate to Casey Trees Today

The day is here!

Today, as the clock struck midnight, the first annual Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington got underway. For the next 24 hours, Casey Trees is joining thousands of area nonprofits in the hopes of raising money and bringing in new donors to their causes.

By giving to Casey Trees today, your donation not only goes towards helping us plant our trees across DC, but also helps give us a shot to win our share of $125,000 in cash awards being offered to select nonprofits. Organizations like Casey Trees can win up to $25,000 for bringing in the most individual donors or the raising the most money. So today, make your donation count even more and give to your favorite tree planting nonprofit – Casey Trees.

But don’t just donate, spread the word! The individuals who bring the most donors on behalf of their cause can add an extra $10,000 to their donation. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors that today is the day to donate to Casey Trees!

To donate, simply go to the Casey Trees page on the Give to the Max web site, and choose the amount you’d like to donate. However, your donation only counts towards these incredible prizes today, November 9th.

If you’ve been thinking about donating to Casey Trees, don’t wait any longer. Give now and join thousands of donors on Give to the Max Day. Help us reach our goals so we can continue to provide trees and restore the urban canopy in your community.

Friday Photo Feature - November 4, 2011

A river birch planted at our 3015 12th Street NE tree yard.
View more on Flickr or submit your own photos of trees. 

Re-Tree DC With the CFC

Are you a federal employee? Do you love the work we do at Casey Trees? Well if so, take this opportunity to join your friends and coworkers and help bring trees to your community through the annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). This year marks the 50th anniversary of the CFC - the only authorized workplace charitable giving drive for Federal employees. And while the campaign officially began on September 1st, you have until December 15th to support one of more than 4,000 approved local, national, and international charities.

For the fourth year in a row, Casey Trees is a participating member in the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA) - the local CFC campaign for Federal employees in the Washington Metropolitan Area and the largest workplace giving campaign in the world. And as a celebration of this 50th anniversary, the campaign leaders have set a 2011 fundraising goal of $67.2 million. We’re calling on all our friends in the federal government to help reach that goal by donating to Casey Trees through the CFC today!

If you are a federal employee and want to give through the CFC, all you have to do is fill out a donation pledge form designating a chosen organization and the desired amount you want to give. To make your donation to Casey Trees and help bring trees to your neighborhood, all you have to do is choose CFC #24598, and select your amount – any donation makes a huge difference.

Every gift we receive through CFC will go towards our tree planting, education, and design initiatives that help the environment and restore DC’s urban canopy. Casey Trees has already planted over 1,500 trees this year alone. This number is impressive, but with your support alongside your family, friends, colleagues, and coworkers, Casey Trees can continue to grow and plant trees in greater numbers in more schools, street corners, parks and other locations around the city.

By pledging support, you are making the first step towards establishing a green legacy in our Nation’s Capital to be enjoyed for generations to come. Choose CFC #24598 today for a healthier and more beautiful District of Columbia.

Nov. 30 is the Spring CTP Application Deadline

Volunteers plant trees at Capitol Quarter.

Apply for a Community Tree Planting event and join the hundreds of D.C. residents who have helped re-forest the city! Casey Trees is currently accepting applications for our spring CTP season. If your application is accepted, Casey Trees will provide and plant trees at your specified location for free. But hurry - the deadline for all applications is Nov. 30. 

Apply today if you:

• Want to plant 10 or more trees at a location in D.C. (school sites can request fewer).
• Can obtain permission from all property owners to plant at the site.
• Are willing to attend an orientation meeting and agree to care for the trees for two years after the planting.
• Love trees!

Since its inception in 2005, the CTP program has helped put thousands of young trees in the ground. Casey Trees provides all the trees, tools and volunteers to make each CTP event a success. Remember, even if you can't apply for a CTP event, we still need your help! Consider making a donation or sponsoring a CTP event to help offset tree costs.

Casey Trees, Area Non-Profits Join Forces to Raise Big Bucks on Nov. 9th

Calling all Casey Trees fans: we need your support! 

On Wednesday, November 9th Casey Trees will be participating in the first annual Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington, a massive one-day regional online fundraiser that will unite local Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC communities to support nonprofits serving the area. Starting at midnight, Casey Trees will join hundreds of other local organizations in hopes of attracting 10,000 new donors and raise at least $3 million. But with your help on November 9th, a simple donation could mean an even bigger reward for Casey Trees.

As part of Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington, nonprofits large and small can earn their share of $125,000 in cash awards, including up to $25,000 for nonprofits with the most individual donors and the most money donated.  The individuals who bring the most donors on behalf of their cause can add an extra $10,000 to their donation. A prize like this would make all the difference in achieving our tree planting goals for next year – so please consider donating to Casey Trees on November 9th.

Donating is easy.  Simply go to the Casey Trees page on the Give to the Max web site, and choose the amount you’d like to donate. Remember – your donation only counts on November 9th so be sure to wait until then to give!

Join your family, friends, and neighbors in raising money for the organizations that do work in your area. Together we can reach this goal and help our community – and Casey Trees – make a difference.

Tree of the Month - Scarlet Oak

The chill of last weekend may have stripped some trees of their foliage, but many will retain their leaves late into the season, including our November Tree of the Month, the scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). It is the official tree of the District of Columbia and has some of the most brilliant colors you will see this season. Its deep red autumn colors appear late in the fall season and give the tree its common name. The scarlet oak is native to the Eastern United States. Its habitat stretches along most of the Appalachian Mountains, but can also be found in Southern Indiana, Southeastern Missouri and Mississippi.

Scarlet oak leaves.
Photo credit: Jason Hollinger

The scarlet oak shares many similarities to its close cousin, the pin oak, but several key features make it easily identifiable. The scarlet oak's acorn is larger at one half to one inch long and features a deep cup that covers almost half of the nut. The scarlet oak also features ascending branches that can form an open, rounded or irregular crown that looks markedly different from the horizontal and drooping branches of the pin oak.

The scarlet oak's leaves are simple and oval shaped with deep C-shaped cuts that create up to nine bristly lobes. The leaves are a bright and shiny green on top with a paler shaded underside and are usually three to seven inches long. The leaves autumn colors range from a subtle russet to the deep scarlet coloration the tree is famous for.

Facts about the scarlet oak

• The scarlet oak prefers dry and sandy soils especially along ridges and slopes
• The tree's canopy can spread up to 50 feet in diameter
• The scarlet oak's acorns are a food source for gray squirrels, mice, deer, wild turkey and other birds
• Their taproot system can make the scarlet oak difficult to transplant
• These trees can fare droughts much better than other trees

A scarlet oak on Hobart Street in Mount Pleasant.

The scarlet oak can be found in a variety of locations throughout the District, but some of the more famous locations include the grounds of the White House, Supreme Court, and the Capitol. They can also be found along New Hampshire Avenue NW, the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, Tudor Place in Georgetown, and Rock Creek Park. One notable example is the 2006 Champion Scarlet Oak at 3374 Minnesota Avenue SE. Be sure to search for scarlet oaks that we have planted on our interactive Casey Trees Map. Just select "Casey Trees' Plantings" and type "scarlet."

DPW Leaf Collection

Time to get raking, everyone! D.C.'s Department of Public Works will begin collecting fall leaves on November 7. The DPW will vacuum and compost your leaves on a designated date, depending on your Ward and neighborhood. It's easy for you and beneficial to the environment!

Just remember to:

• Rake the leaves into a pile within a tree-box space. 
• Remove any tree limbs or rocks from the pile.
• Check for trash. Making sure your pile is free of litter can help prevent water pollution. 

See the ward-by-ward schedule or visit the DPW website to plan the best time to rake leaves from your yard. You can also check your address on the DPW map to see the planned leaf pickup times through December.