A horticulturist in the Raleigh area, Sarah Reeves works as an independent contractor in collaboration with local landscape architects. A dedicated Dorothea Dix Park volunteer, Sarah serves on the Master Plan Advisory, Community, and Legacy Committees, using her experience and expertise to provide input and guidance to the creation of an amazing public space in the heart of Raleigh. She particularly enjoys working with landscape restoration and maintenance, and hopes that Dix Park will become a living showcase of sustainable, functional design.

Sarah has been a NCUFC member for the past several years, and has found the educational programs and networking opportunities to be especially beneficial to her continued professional growth. The keynote speaker at our 2019 Winston-Salem Great NC Tree Conference introduced the concept of creating a more diverse urban forest, maximizing canopy opportunities by planting large trees whenever space and conditions allow. Sarah explains that this concept was new to her, and has influenced how she thinks about urban tree species selection ever since.

Sarah's favorite tree is the American beech. Although she hesitates to use beech on job sites due to its slow growth, she finds the translucent, semi-persistent foliage, smooth trunks, slender twigs & buds, spring flush, and fall color to make make the species a standout throughout the urban and rural forests of NC.

If you would like to learn more about the work being done with the planning of Dorothea Dix Park, Sarah recommends visiting the website at dixpark.org.

The NC Urban Forest Council announces the opening of the application acceptance period for NC Legacy Tree Grant proposals. Qualifying projects include street tree plantings, natural area plantings, school planting events, storm water management projects, Arbor Day planting events, and storm recovery (ice, hurricane, flood events). The NCUFC will also offer to host a tree care workshop or volunteer training for all grant recipients. NCUFC will tailor tree care workshops to fit the educational needs of your group. In the 2021 grant cycle, priority will be given to projects that are storm recovery tree plantings and projects with environmental justice focus. 

You can learn more about the Legacy Tree Fund Grant Program, as well as access a 2021 application, on our website: ncufc.org/Legacy-Tree-Fund.php

The deadline for application submission is May 15, 2021.

Everything in our environment, whether natural or built, has a monetary impact. Trees are certainly not immune to this. Yes, it does cost a little dough to purchase and properly plant a tree, but the rewards are oh so sweet! Let’s use the National Tree Benefit Calculator get a snapshot of what those benefits look like. We’ll use a small 2” caliper Shumard oak as an example. When first planted in a residential area, this tree is capable of providing $7 in overall benefits every year. This increases to $43 every year if the tree reaches 7”, and just keeps going from there. In terms of property value, this tree adds $5 in value this year. And energy savings? That 2” tree can conserve 5 kilowatt hours of electricity! This tree will also intercept 86 gallons of stormwater runoff, reduce atmospheric carbon by 21 pounds, and intercept quite a bit of air pollution. Keep in mind that these numbers grow with the tree. And in a commercial setting, trees can also lead to increased rent rates by creating a place people want to be.

Now think about community tree planting events like those funded by the NCUFC Legacy Tree Fund. Our one little 2” Shumard oak may only contribute $7 this year, but think about what happens when we plant 100 trees in our neighborhood. Or 1,000 trees. What about 1,000,000!?! So the trees may not pay the bills outright, but the monetary savings they create can go a long way on that front.

Aaron Reese

Forestry Management Supervisor

City of Wilmington

NCUFC Members receive a 15% discount on purchases. Email ncufc2@gmail.com for the code.

Atlanta’s Food Forest at Browns Mill is the first of its kind, providing fresh produce in a community that has limited access to affordable, healthy foods. The Conservation Fund, the City of Atlanta Office of Resilience and Department of Parks & Recreation, and Trees Atlanta are partnering with community residents to create a new kind of public park. The Food Forest approaches conservation through the concept of Agriforestry—using agriculture that integrates trees and shrubs with food production to create healthy and ecologically resilient landscapes. That means using native trees and plants that produce nutritious foods, but that also provide resources to local wildlife and pollinator species, capture stormwater and mitigate flooding, filter air and water, and create a more sustainable urban landscape.

Click HERE to learn more about the Food Forest at Browns Mill...