A strong city is built on a strong foundation of civic engagement. Programs like the CommiTree Steward Program are critical to cultivating that engagement in communities across the region. Now in its second year, the program sponsored by the Buffalo Green Fund brings together partners like the CIty of Buffalo Department of Parks & Recreation, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Re-Tree WNY, Olmsted Conservancy, and Wendel Companies.
The mission of the CommiTree Steward program is to train and empower residents to properly care for and maintain trees in parks, public spaces, and along streets, especially the 30,000 new trees that have been planted in response to the 2006 October storm.
The instructors include Jim Kisker of Schichtels Nursery; Ross Hassinger, City of Buffalo Forester; Brian Sayers of The Tree Doctor Consulting; Lori Brockelbank with Wendel Companies and Tom Draves, Partner in Draves Tree Service of Darien Center. Classes include tree biology, tree identification, planting methods, proper pruning, and much more!
The second year of the program capped off on classes on Wednesday, April 12th by planting a red oak tree in Delaware Park.