Please visit our new website and blog!

Be sure to check out TreeTrust's recently redesigned website at www.TreeTrust.org! The new website features tons of helpful information about our job opportunities, who we partner with, what kind of work we do, and how you can get more involved.

The Tree Trust blog will continue to be updated frequently on the new website. Check it out today, and bookmark it for the future!

Ramps

Have you heard about our Ramps program? Tree Trust’s Landscape Services has been building customized wood accessibility ramps for easy home access since 1996. We can help you find a home access solution.

Some of the benefits of Tree Trust home access ramps include:

• No permanent modifications to your home or yard
• Ramps meet or exceed accessibility and building codes
• Ramps are built with quality materials for durability
• We offer a variety of material options including inexpensive treated pine, beautiful cedar, or low-maintenance composite decking
• We will remove your ramp and recycle the materials when you no longer need it

For more information visit our website, email Joe Shade, or give us a call at 612.590.4881 for a free consultation and no obligation quote.

Work With Tree Trust This Summer!

Tree Trust has many employment opportunities this summer. If you are interested in working outdoors on a landscape crew, Tree Trust may have the job you're looking for!

Summer Youth Employment Program

This program is for lowincome and at-risk youth ages 14-21 from Dakota, Washington and Hennepin Counties (not Minneapolis) and provides an opportunity for many young people to have their "first job." This is a 9-week, part-time (average 20 hours per week) program that pays $7.25 per hour and is perfect for youth who plan to return to school in the fall. Most jobs are outdoors with the Youth Conservation Corps and involve building environmental improvement projects like retaining walls and staircases, and doing landscape projects like  erosion control and trail maintenance. There are also limited individual placement opportunities in Dakota County with local businesses and other organizations for positions that include administrative, retail, customer service, and janitorial work.

Please note that this program does not serve youth from Minneapolis, Saint Paul or Ramsey County. If you live in Minneapolis you must apply through the STEP-UP program. We will not work in Saint Paul this year, but if you are seeking a job there, please see the Youth Job Corps website.

  

Applications are available on our website, and as in past years, program participants are chosen through a lottery system. The program is NOT first come, first served so  as long as you complete an application and submit it (online or by mail) by March 21 and meet the eligibility requirements for the program, your application will be considered. This is a popular program and we do not have enough positions for all youth who will apply, so there is no guarantee that you will get a job with Tree Trust.

Young Adult Conservation Corps

This program is for low income and at risk young people ages 18-21. It is an opportunity to gain real life work experience in a supportive setting. This program is more intensive than the Summer Youth Employment Program. It is 39 hours per week for 12 weeks on an entry-level crew. Successful participants have the opportunity to continue for another three months on the advanced crew, and following that for three more months as an intern. These promotions are merit-based and not all participants will continue beyond the entry-level stage.

There is a 3-month cohort that begins on March 11, and another that will begin in June. If you're not returning to school next fall, this program is a better fit for you than the Summer program since you have the opportunity to advance to the next level in the fall and continue your job with Tree Trust. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please view the learn more and fill out an application. Employment is not guaranteed.

Crew Leader for the Summer Youth Employment Program

If you enjoy working in the outdoors and have a passion for youth development, consider applying to be a crew leader with the Summer Youth Employment Program this year. You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and two years of work experience. Learn more about the requirements of the job here and apply if it looks like a good fit for you.

YACC is Recruiting Participants

Transform lives, transform landscapes, transform you! Tree Trust's Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) program is currently recruiting participants for its next 3-month session which starts on March 11, 2013. 

YACC is an employment training program that is based in landscaping and construction work. More specifically, YACC helps to improve the environment and the community by maintaining and developing green spaces while helping  participants to build transferable job skills. We help you to reach future employment and educational goals while you earn a paycheck!

The work schedule is, Monday – Thurday (8am to 4pm) and Friday (8am to 3pm). Starting pay is $7.25 per hour with room for advancement.

To be eligible, you must:

• live in Hennepin County
• be low-income or at-risk (if there is any question as to what this means, please contact keithw@treetrust.org)
• be between the ages of 17 and 21
• be ready and able to pass a standard drug test
• have proper work ID (i.e. school ID or State Issued ID and either a Social Security Card or Birth Certificate, etc.)

If this position sounds like a fit for you, please fill out a YACC application and return it to Tree Trust at 2231 Edgewood Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55426, fax it to 952-767-3650, or email keithw@treetrust.org. If you need help filling out the application, contact Keith at 952-767-3917 or keithw@treetrust.org.

The next available start date is fast approaching and we are excited to connect with enthusiastic applicants, so apply as soon as possible or share this with anyone you know who may be interested!

Additionally, if you would like more information about our program, see our website, email Keith, or contact Keith via Facebook. 

Pruning Trees (Part 2 of 2)

How to Prune

Before you begin pruning assess the entire tree. Come up with a comprehensive plan and ultimate goal of what you are trying to accomplish. Make good pruning cuts. When you prune a tree you are creating a wound. Trees don't heal like people do; they do not regenerate tissue. Rather, trees callus over wounds or compartmentalize to seal off decay. The wound will forever be a part of the tree. Keeping that in mind, it is important to minimize the damage made from a pruning cut.

• Once a branch has been chosen for removal, identify the branch collar or bulge near the base of the branch (below).

• The branch collar contains active tissues that help in the healing process. It is important not to damage this part of the tree when making your cut.
• When making the cut, try to keep your hand pruners or saw just on the outside of the branch collar.
• If you cut into the branch collar it is called a "flush cut" and should be avoided

• If you cut too far out from the branch collar you are likely to leave a stub. The tree will have a hard time healing over a stub leaving it vulnerable to diseases and harmful bacteria.

• Here is an example of a proper pruning cut made just on the outside of the branch collar but not too far out on the branch so as not to leave a stub.

• Establish a central leader. Establishing a central leader will encourage upward growth of the tree. It will also create better structure and aesthetics as well as long term health and safety.
• The tree in the photo below left has co-dominant leaders, or two competing leaders. If left alone this may create future problems, as shown on right

• The photos below are showing how one leader can be removed. Try to keep the main stem or the branch with higher growth rate and remove the other one.

• If the branch is too large to cut with a hand pruners then use the 1-2-3 cut method to avoid tearing the bark as the branch separates from the tree.

 

 

o   Cut 1: Saw into the underside of the branch. Be sure to score the entire lower side of the branch.

o   Cut 2: Saw off the weight of the branch a few inches out from the first cut.

o   Cut 3: Remove the stub on the outside of the branch collar.

Rules to Remember

• If the pruning requires a chainsaw and ladder then call a professional arborist
• Never prune more than 25% of the tree's canopy at one time
• NEVER top a tree (shown below left). It is harmful and creates a dangerous tree
• Don't "lion's tail" or over thin the crown (shown below right)
• Do not tip the branches (cut off the ends of the branches)
• Be sure that you use sharp and sanitized pruning equipment. Dirty equipment can spread disease.  

 

 

To help you determine when and why you should prune your trees, see Part 1 of this series.

Pruning Trees (part 1 of 2)

Pruning is an essential part of caring for urban trees. In nature, trees self-prune in response to different environmental influences. In a yard or boulevard, trees may require help from humans to be good tree citizens in a people-dominated world. Formative pruning on young trees can help them grow to be strong and beautiful. Pruning on larger trees can improve the safety and health of the tree. Keep in mind that improper pruning is detrimental to the overall health and vigor of a tree. Before you prune be sure you are educated and informed on the proper methods of pruning and always consult a professional if you are unsure.

Reasons to Prune

There are several reasons why it may be necessary to prune your tree. Here are a few of them:

• To remove broken or damaged branches
• To remove diseased limbs or limbs infested with pests, fungus or bacteria that may affect the overall health of the tree
• To train a central leader
• To thin the crown of a tree to allow for air movement
• To raise the crown of a tree to allow clearance from sidewalks or streets

When to Prune

• Newly planted trees should not be pruned within the first two growing seasons except to remove dead or damaged branches
• Coniferous trees may be pruned any time of year, but sap flow will be minimized during the dormant season
• Non-flowering deciduous (shade) trees should be pruned when they are dormant (winter in Minnesota)
• Early spring bloomers (redbud, magnolia and others) should be pruned immediately following flowering in the spring to maximize their blooming capacity
• Crabapples, apples, plums and other fruit trees should be pruned in the dormant season just after the coldest weather has passed
• Dead or broken branches can be removed at any time of year

Check in with us on Thursday, Jan 31 to learn how to prune.

Read Part 2 here.

Changes to the Summer Youth Employment Program

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will undergo some changes for the summer of 2013. If you have participated in the past or are familiar with the program, make sure you read the following article because some of the changes will affect all program participants.

Application
Tree Trust is going from a paper application to an online application. The application will be available on our website, www.treetrust.org, on February 19, 2013. The online system will make it easier and quicker for participants to get their applications completed and in to us on time. It will also help ensure accuracy of entries into our system. If you don't have internet access or would prefer to complete a paper application, please email Allyson or call 952-767-3880 to have one mailed to you.

Hennepin County
Suburban Hennepin County participants will no longer be offered Individual Employment Experiences. The only jobs available in suburban Hennepin County will be crew member positions on the Youth Conservation Corps.

Dakota County
The program in Dakota County will be offered as in previous years with Individual Employment Experiences for participants who are 16-21 as well as the Youth Conservation Corps for ages 14-21.

Washington County
The program will remain the same in Washington County with only Youth Conservation Corps positions available.

Saint Paul
Tree Trust will not work in Saint Paul this year, so for participants of the Saint Paul Youth Job Corps, you will no longer see Tree Trust as an option for employment.

Minneapolis
If you live in Minneapolis, as in previous years you must apply through the STEP-UP program and your application must be received by STEP-UP by March 4, 2013.

This article only covers the changes that have been made to the program since last year. If you are unfamiliar with the program or need more information, visit our website, email info@treetrust.org, or call 952-767-3880 to learn more.

Let it snow...

YACC participant shoveling snow

Tree Trust's Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) spent much of the week shoveling snow from last weekend's snow storm. YACC participants provide snow removal for Hennepin County Libraries, Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, and foreclosed properties in the metro.

Over the past week YACC crews, along with other Tree Trust employment programs,  cleared snow from 205 properties and 9 staircases along the Midtown Greenway.

Yesterday advanced participants took a break from snow removal to attend the Economics for Success training, for which the curriculum is provided by partner Junior Achievement. Today entry-level participants will be in training on Construction Math and Measuring.

Is it the end of the charitable deduction?

You may have received a year-end appeal from Tree Trust or another nonprofit organization this year. You may have already given, and if you did, you likely received a thank-you note that included the following line or something similar:

"Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law."

Well, this quite possibly could be the last year that your thank-you letter will include that information, because it could be the last year that there is a tax deduction for charitable giving. The federal government is considering eliminating this and other tax deductions as a way to avoid the "fiscal cliff" and increase revenue from high income Americans in order to reduce our country's debt.

If this passes, it will discourage giving. See this article from the Philanthropy Potluck blog by the Minnesota Council on Foundations for more information including statistics on how much of a reduction in giving to expect. One major fact to note is that the vast majority of Minnesotans who give have incomes of under $200,000, and many of those are under $50,000.

Perhaps you don't donate to a nonprofit, but this change would likely still affect you or your loved ones. If charitable donations are decreased, many organizations who provide public services will be affected. Do you ever go to a farmer's market, a library, a church or your local YMCA? Museums, food shelves, health clinics and hospitals, colleges and universities, libraries, religious institutions, homeless shelters, theaters, sports programs, childcare programs, and community gardens could all be affected along with many other nonprofits. In sum, services provided by nonprofits that improve the quality of life for Minnesotans every day could be negatively impacted if the deduction for charitable giving is eliminated or reduced.

How can you help? Email or call your representative or senator and ask them to protect charitable giving. Ask your friends and family to do the same. Share this article on social media to help raise awareness.

Giving Tuesday

Have you heard of Giving Tuesday? We have Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday to encourage shopping, shopping, and more shopping, but giving back during the holiday season often gets lost in the shuffle. There is nothing wrong with purchasing gifts during the holidays, but a new national movement is trying to remind us that the holidays are also a time to share time, money, and resources with those who are less fortunate.

Tree Trust encourages you to think about what you have to give. Do you have time to volunteer? Or do you prefer to share your financial resources? You can choose to do either of these things from the front page of the Tree Trust website. Select “Donate Now” or “Get Involved” to learn how you can be an active giver with Tree Trust.

You can also subscribe to the Tree Trust e-newsletter from the front page of our website to stay informed of volunteer opportunities and general Tree Trust happenings. We unfortunately will not have many volunteer opportunities until spring since we can't plant trees in frozen ground, but you’ll be “in the know” of others things going on with Tree Trust.

If you don't have time to volunteer, but are interested in supporting Tree Trust's work, please consider making a donation. Or, do you need a meaningful gift for someone who has everything? Or for someone who cares deeply about the environment? Consider making a contribution in their honor to our Green Futures fund.

Please join us tomorrow for Giving Tuesday. Learn more at givingtuesday.org or follow #GivingTuesday on Twitter.