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

rain-chain-video-063014

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 >>

I am TreePeople: Isabel Zavian

“Every person holds the power to make a positive impact in their community.” -Isabel Zavian.

Isabel is a changemaker.

Born and raised in the LA area, Isabel Zavian grew up hiking our park’s trails.

Seeing the effects the drought had on our park’s stressed trees, she felt moved to action.

Once during a stay at summer camp in Lake Arrowhead, she saw that many of her fellow campers weren’t conserving water. It sparked a passion in her to raise awareness to youth just like her to make a difference.… Read more >>

Holiday Trash: Unwrapped

It’s beginning to feel like the holiday season here in Coldwater Canyon Park! The staff here in the Yurt Village loves a good holiday party but year after year we can’t help but notice the needless waste made from all the merry making.

Fortunately, we have discovered some creative ways to have holiday fun without a trail of tinsel bringing us down. Here are some of our favorite ways to green the gifting season.

hanukkah-giftReduce, Reuse & Recycle Wrapping

Carefully unwrap presents without tearing the paper so you can reuse it later!… Read more >>

Find Strength in Community. Join Us.

Dear Friends,

The national election has left our country dangerously divided and vulnerable to climate change’s growing, deadly impacts like drought, heat, flooding, and fires.

We now face efforts to dismantle progress made to fight climate change and protect our environment. So, for everyone ready to unite and stand up for a better climate, we are here and we welcome you.  

Californians CAN have a future where every neighborhood has green space, where every child grows up breathing easier under the shade of a tree, and where we unite to prepare our families and communities for what lies ahead.… Read more >>

TreePeople and NRDC: Rain to the Rescue

Though the national election has left us concerned about our climate future, the environment was a clear winner in LA with the passing of Measures M and Measure A providing expanded public transportation and safe park spaces for Angelenos.

LA is taking steps in the right direction to adapt and is supporting the right policies, but some people are asking, “What else can be done?”

TreePeople and NRDC Release Groundbreaking Water Policy Brief

In the face of ongoing drought and climate change impacts, TreePeople partnered with the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) to co-author an issue brief sharing the importance of capturing stormwater to increase California’s local water supply.… Read more >>

Designing Social Change

“We come to plant trees

and capture the rain because a healthy LA

is ours to attain.”

– Jolly de Guzman

Earlier this year, our Volunteer Manager, Peter Roquemore had an idea for our annual Volunteer Celebration. He wanted to give an extra special thank you to our most dedicated community who shows up every weekend to plant and care for trees across the County. So he organized a contest for a new t-shirt design to give our brightest stars that day as a show of our appreciation.… Read more >>