A recent study by the American Forests Foundation calculated that to maintain the current levels of urban forest, each urban resident needs to plant approximately 7 trees in their lifetime. To grow our urban forests, that number grows to about 11 trees per person. But planting trees is only part of the story--a big part of maintaining and growing canopy coverage is actually preserving the trees we already have.

Last month Tacoma (and the entire PNW) felt first-hand how climate change is already affecting us and changing the seasons as we know them. Summers have been getting drier, hotter, and more uncomfortable—and will continue to do so. But if your house was shaded by mature trees, you were probably a little less hot than most of us.

You might be tired of hearing about what a long and challenging year it has been, but it has been a long and challenging year. We still need to help each other out. Thankfully, helping others also helps you.

If we could nominate an official tree for Cascadia, we’d put down Douglas fir in a heartbeat. To us, Douglas-firs are synonymous with the Pacific Northwest. They’re rugged, beautiful, and durable--and have been useful companions to the inhabitants of the PNW for thousands of years.

As any quick internet search will tell you, pruning is both an art and a science. Whole courses and workshops are taught on pruning. There are a lot of fine details on proper pruning, with different techniques being taught for different kinds of trees. We’re not here to get that complicated. Most of us don’t need to be pruning pros in order to take care of our trees properly. But there is one critical thing everyone needs to know: topping trees is bad.

If you’re reading this--give yourself a big hug! We’ve almost made it through 2020, and that’s something to celebrate. This was one long, wild year filled with unexpected challenges and strange glimmering moments of joy. For us at Tacoma Tree Foundation, this year pressed us to stretch our creativity, in order to keep planting trees, building community, and advocating for a greener, healthier, and more connected Tacoma.

Over and over again we talk about what a wild, unexpected, and insanely long year it’s been. And over and over again, we keep trying to hold ourselves to impossible standards of keeping it all together and doing everything well. How many of us have actually taken a moment to pause, think, and reflect on current circumstances? How many of us have cut ourselves even an inch of slack, admitting that not everything can always go well?

Halloween is different this year; for one, it feels much more necessary to have a break from everyday life. It’s been an escape to watch scary movies and put on spooky soundtracks, a diversion from the uncertainty and chaos that this year has brought. It’s been almost a delight to worry for an hour about witches or curses or being lost in the woods. There’s been something cathartic about dealing with a known terror, versus the uncertainty and ambiguity of the present moment.

We are in the height of planting season and we have been planting and sharing plants for the last several weeks. But, as we plant, we must also protect. Every day trees are being cut for development. Sometimes that is necessary, but far too often, alternatives are not considered. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Even before grit became a trendy personality trait, Tacomans had it. Tacomans know how to persevere and keep going when things get tough. Grit fits in with adaptability and resiliency, the art of bouncing back and forging through tough circumstances.

The end of summer means getting ready for planting season for all of us here at Tacoma Tree Foundation. Our team member Alejandro has been invaluable at getting out into the community and getting trees into the ground. We asked him to share his experience with Grit City Trees, community outreach, and why this work matters to him.

When you’re sick or injured, there’s a whole new set of actions you need to take to become healthy again.

At Tacoma Tree Foundation, addressing the impacts of environmental racism is one of our core principles.

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a Japanese healing technique that relies on individuals’ total immersion in a green space.
If you have the opportunity to practice this technique reflect on the impact it may, or may not, have had on you. For many, COVID-19 has increased the amount of time spent at home, so practicing forest bathing might be a great way to get outside to stretch your legs and calm your mind.

After you spend time outdoors, whether you devoted your entire day to taking a hike or you simply took a stroll around your neighborhood, how do you feel? Do you feel more relaxed and at peace with your surroundings? Does your internal dialogue and laundry list of to-do’s feel less overwhelming? Chances are yes.

Maria’s home forest made her feel safe and made her feel at peace. It was noisy and exuberant, connecting Maria to a web of life that was much larger than herself.

What is the history of Thanksgiving? What could we do if we center gratitude for and awareness of the natural world into our daily routines? Could the actions that come from a place of gratitude restore our relationships with each other and with the natural world that we are so deeply connected?