Growing the Grassroots: Urban Forestry

Five years of drought has ravaged our urban forests and surrounding mountains. We’ve seen hundreds of millions of trees die in the Sierras and a massive hit delivered to our park and street trees– leaving our most vulnerable and differently-abled communities at the mercy of the sweltering heat.

This year, TreePeople will move forward on two major community greening initiatives – one in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and one in South LA.

With the Green Streets – Calles Verdes Project in the City of San Fernando, our goal is to create a “cool city” model to benefit one of LA’s most heat-impacted communities.… Read more >>

Combating the Drought: Channeling the Flood

The intense winter rains of 2016-2017 may mean relief from the drought for Northern California, but here in Southern California we’re not out of the woods yet.

Our new climate reality promises one thing: weather extremes. Our water supplies are unpredictable for us and our trees. Years of drought that kill off our trees by the thousands and parch the earth will be followed by times of intense flooding, like we are experiencing now.

We must prepare TODAY for the “feast or famine” of our water future.… Read more >>

Planting Seedlings: TreePeople & Environmental Literacy

Inauguration Day. First order of business. Delete the Climate Change page on the White House website and remove any mention of “global warming.”

The new administration may want to stick its head in the sand, but we know the way forward is to invest in our future– in our kids. Engaging youth has a multiplier effect. Inspiring kids changes families.

When TreePeople taught kids about recycling, they pushed their parents to participate in the launch of one of the most successful urban recycling programs in the country.… Read more >>

UP @ Coldwater Canyon Park

When was the last time you took a walk through nature to restore balance and reconnect with your purpose in life?

TreePeople’s 45-acre Coldwater Canyon Park perched atop the Santa Monica Mountains offers trails and breathtaking panoramas the San Fernando Valley and beyond to the Verdugo Mountains that cradle it. Thousands of people walk our park every year, and it is the pride and joy of our organization.

We’ve been the caretakers of this living laboratory for more than 40 years.… Read more >>

Post-Election Reflections: Turn Fear into Action

Incoming political leaders have shaken our nation and left many people in fear for their families, their livelihoods, and the environment. In recent weeks, we have seen a frightening trend in appointing climate deniers to cabinet positions.

I’m choosing to take my fear and turn it into action.  

Los Angeles’ tree story is not a tragedy. Now is the time to turn the tide on the drought, keep our trees alive, and continue to build a lush and thriving urban tree canopy even when we are faced with adversity.… Read more >>

I am TreePeople: Mat Steury

The TreePeople staff is filled with amazing individuals — like Mat Steury.

Mat is TreePeople’s all around handyman and IT specialist. Hailing from Auburn, Indiana, Mat and his wonderful wife, Rachel, followed the California sun to TreePeople. The two of them make one dynamic duo!

Mat grew up building and renovating homes with his dad, who learned the skill from his Amish uncles. “I’m basically the Amish IT guy” Mat jokes. It’s no lie either. Whether it’s keeping our computer system humming or renovating the TreePeople kitchen with Rachel– Mat does it all.… Read more >>

Three Reasons to Prune!

Trees are amazing living machines– they give us shade, beauty, and food! Some can live for hundreds of years. With a little bit of knowledge, care, and pruning, these trees can provide an abundance of benefits to us and the environment, and enable them to live to their full potential.

Understanding basic pruning principles and proper pruning cuts are helpful in caring for any tree. Remember, pruning, even though beneficial, is wounding the tree. So, be sure to have a reason for each cut that you make.… Read more >>

A Look Back at 2016’s Highlights

Happy New Year!

At the dawn of this new year, we reflect on 2016 and give thanks to our amazing TreePeople community that – despite a tough drought and an even tougher year in politics – banned together to plant thousands of trees and pass climate-conscience policies.

Here’s 2016 by the numbers …

COMMUNITY GREENING

  • 3,700+ volunteers joined us in 2016
  • 1,500+ new trees were planted and 4,811+ trees were saved from the drought
  • We reforested the Bette Davis Picnic area near Griffith Park along with many other LA County locations.
… Read more >>

4 Climate-Conscious Gifts to Scratch off Your List

Down to the last minute for your holiday shopping? Not sure what to get that person who already has everything?

Look no further!  Here are some of our favorite beautiful, practical, and climate-conscious gifts for home!

Sustainable gifts help create a better future for us and  the lives of generations to come. Plus, who doesn’t want to be the envy of their neighborhood? Be a movement trendsetter!  

Here are four unique gift ideas to inspire the climate-fighter in everyone this holiday season:

Rain Chains

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Rain chains are a beautiful  addition to any garden to slow, sink and spread those precious drops back into the ground or a rain tank.… Read more >>

Progress for LA’s Sidewalks… and Our Trees!

Angelenos need street trees.

They shade us as we travel scorching city sidewalks. They clean our water and protect use from floods in heavy rains. And they bring beauty and pride to our communities.

Trees give us all so much.  

Think about it. Protection from hot sun and water management are part of infrastructure, and cities are responsible for delivering these services. Trees are nature-based solutions for our urban environment that are important investments for our cities to make.

The good news is that if we invest in policies that support our urban forest as a critical piece of LA’s  infrastructure, we’ll help ALL communities in LA become more resilient in the face of climate change.… Read more >>