Et cetera : Help Trees Forever Win National Charity Contest

If you have a Facebook account, or if you are a Chase Bank customer or credit card holder, you can help us win up to $250,000 in the national Chase Community Giving contest that runs from September 6-19. All you have to do is log on and vote for Trees Forever!

Visit our Facebook page or log onto the Trees Forever website for more information on how you can vote and help us win a grant. The contest and voting ends on Wednesday, September 19, so vote soon!

UPDATE: The response to the contest was so overwhelming that Chase’s Facebook page and customer voting page basically crashed early Thursday. If you are not able to log on and vote right away, please try again later!


TreeKeepers Training Classes Scheduled for Fall
The fall round of our exciting new TreeKeepers volunteer training classes starts soon. The Cedar Rapids class is this Saturday, September 8. The Des Moines class is one week later on Saturday, September 15. If you’d like to learn more about proper tree planting and care, tree identification, the benefits of trees, and how to be a voice for trees in your neighborhood and community, then the TreeKeepers course is for you. Visit the Events Calendar on our website for registration information, or call the office at 800-369-1269. A few seats are still available in each class.


Emerald Ash Borer Jumps to Kansas!
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the USDA confirmed last week that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been discovered in Wyandotte County, Kansas – just west of the Kansas City metro area. This further demonstrates the erratic nature of the insect’s spread across the country. It has been known for some time that movement of infested wood and wood products - including firewood - is one of the most common ways that EAB spreads. This also means that the insect pest could show up practically anywhere next!


Species of the Month


Little Bluestem- Schizachyrium scoparium
Little bluestem is a common prairie species native throughout Iowa in prairies and oak savannas. This grass species grows in tight clumps up to three feet tall, and is frequently used in ornamental plantings as well as prairie restorations. Little bluestem is a warm season perennial grass that sends up new growth in late spring and flowers in late summer. Its bluish green leaves turn russet in the fall and maintain their attractive form through the winter. Little bluestem’s flowers attract butterflies and its seeds provide winter food for birds.


Summer Fundraising Appeal Lagging
We are still a ways away from reaching our $25,000 fundraising goal for our summer campaign. We need to raise $8,000 more by September 21. Thanks so much to all those who have sent in their membership or an additional gift so far. If you haven’t done so, please consider giving today. You can donate right now by using our secure, online donation link here. Together, we are Planting a Better Tomorrow™.


Need Help Getting More Young People Involved with Your Local Tree Group?
Volunteerism is vital for the success and survival of any local tree group. One great source of enthusiastic, able-bodied volunteers is our young people. But sometimes it can be hard to get youth involved in your local projects.

Trees Forever has a special new initiative aimed at helping community groups involve more youth in all aspects of your local efforts - from the project planning stage, to writing grants, to tree planting and care.

If your group would like to get more young people involved locally, please contact Trees Forever program manager Meredith Borchardt at (319) 278-1131, or email her at mborchardt@treesforever.org, for more information on how we can help!


Trees Forever Goes Nuts! And Fruits!!
Locally grown, nutritional food is important to our communities. It helps people engage in the local food system, know where their food comes from, and eat healthier and more sustainable foods. For these reasons, Trees Forever has recently been planting fruit trees throughout the Des Moines metro area. Now we need your help maintaining those trees!

Our new Fruit TreeKeepers training program is designed to give volunteers more knowledge of urban fruit and nut trees and their care. For more information on this new program, or to register for the upcoming fall class, watch for more information on our October events calendar.


Upcoming Program and Grant Application Deadlines
Several of our community tree planting, roadway, trail, and buffer programs have application deadlines coming up this fall. For a complete list and application forms, click here.


Here's wishing you a great month.
And don't forget to vote for Trees Forever in the Chase Community Giving contest!