The Cool Boulder Newsletter
Tree Talk
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Dear <<First Name>>,
Happy Earth month everyone! Cool Boulder's theme this month is TREE PLANTING AND TREE CARE, and so much has been happening in and around Boulder! Trees are going in the ground and just as important, community members like you are learning how to care for them.
Trees are important members of our community that need our care. Trees keep us cool when the temperatures soar, stabilize soils, provide habitat for all types of creatures, improve air quality, absorb carbon, and so much more. And they can't do this alone! Healthy trees need healthy ecosystems, and this means they need you! Our trees depend on the right amount of water, healthy soil, and thriving biodiversity. It's up to us to provide trees with what they need so they can continue to help us too.
Planting and maintaining trees are important nature-based climate solutions, but the value of trees is even more than that. Culturally and even emotionally, trees shape our lives in ways that few other members of our natural community do.
Is your neighbor a Tree Tender? Did you know that Boulder is a long-standing leader in tree planting and care? Do you know Boulder's notable trees? Maybe you have a new tree you would like to care for correctly. Keep reading to learn more!
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Committing to tree tending
Investing in our canopy is a long-term commitment, and it's complicated. We have limited spaces to plant new trees, and not all trees can (or should) be planted in our dry climate. Supply of saplings and new trees takes time to build. Our trees take many years to grow, and even our favorite ones eventually reach the end of their lives. This all means we must take care of the trees we have to help them thrive as long as possible, and ensuring survival of the trees we plant is key.
Luckily there are lots of great resources to help us all take care of trees (and help mitigate climate change while we are at it!).
Above image courtesy of Bob Harberg, Community Tree Tender
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Celebrating your Tree Tenders!
We are excited to celebrate the first group of Tree Tenders since the start of the pandemic! The Tree Tender training program through the Tree Trust began in 2019 and was put on hold, but it's back and thriving. 26 community members became Tree Tenders this spring, and they might even be your neighbors. They are excited to be resources for our community. Need tree advice? You can reach out to a Tree Tender to request assistance with trees on private land.
Want to be a Tree Tender? There will be another round of training in the fall! Stay tuned for more details. Instructors include some of our Cool Boulder Partners!
Have resources or ideas for a local tree planting? Contact the Tree Trust program manager, Mike Reichert at mike@playboulder.org
The Tree Trust is housed in the PLAY Boulder Foundation. Learn more about the Tree Trust and PLAY from the desk of Angie Jeffords.
Above image courtesy of Kathy Olivier, Community Tree Tender
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+Resources
There are many resources for planting and tending your trees. These articles are a great place to begin.
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+Action: Have space for a sapling? Come get one for FREE! Saturday, April 29th
City of Boulder Forestry and the Tree Trust are teaming up for a sapling giveaway! The event is first come, first served with one sapling available per party. Tree Tenders and others will be at the event to provide resources on tree planting and care.
Where: McGuckin Hardware, 2525 Arapahoe Avenue
When: 8am until supplies run out (approximately 350 saplings)
See more details in the City Press Release
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+ Activity: Get to know Boulder's Notable Trees!
Have some time to get out in the spring weather? You can go on a self-guided tour of some of Boulder's notable trees. One of these beauties on campus has sadly recently reached the end of its life, but you can still go and visit its former location.
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Boulder as a Tree City
Did you know Boulder is a recognized tree leader? Boulder is celebrating its 40th year as a Tree City USA, and its 4th year on the list of the Tree Cities of the World. The international program celebrates cities that meet standards for the care and planning of urban trees and forests.
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+Action: Do you need a street tree?
Boulder Forestry plants between 400-500 trees annually in city parks and public street rights-of-way throughout the city.
The city encourages community members to plant a tree and increase our urban tree canopy. If you would like a FREE tree planted into the public right-of-way adjacent to your home in spring 2024, please visit BoulderForestry.org, click on “Street Tree Planting Program” and fill out the online form.
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A big thank you for planting trees with DAR!
Almost 70 people joined Cool Boulder to help Drylands Agroecology Research plant trees on Saturday! It was a huge success with nearly 800 trees in the ground. Thank you to everyone who got their hands in the dirt, and thank you to our partners at DAR for their incredible work!
These trees will stabilize soil, absorb carbon, provide food, fix nitrogen, and more!
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Images courtesy of Heather Bearnes-Loza
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+ Action: Ways to get involved around Earth Day and Arbor Day
Cool Boulder has so many awesome partners, it can be hard to get everyone in the spotlight. Here we want to highlight events and activities that align with our monthly themes. Click here to see our highlighted events including a fun Earth Day celebration with our partner Nude Foods!
Don't forget to check out the calendar too. There are so many great ways to get involved!
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The big picture - below are some ways to act for the whole ecosystem
Trees need our support from the ground up.
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+ Action: Apply for the Pollinator Advocate Program by April 26th!
The Pollinator Advocates (PA) Program is a free training sponsored by the city of Boulder and developed by local community experts. It is designed to enhance your knowledge of how to create natural biodiverse habitat that provides for our pollinators and songbirds. All while benefiting our climate!
The free course will begin the week of May 28. Find the full course description and application Cool Boulder website. All levels of gardening experience are welcome. We hope you will apply for this unique training opportunity!
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+ Action: Call for artists! Entries close May 31st
Cool Boulder, the Endangered Species Coalition and Creature Conserve Mentorship Fellow Faith Williams Dyrsten invite the community to explore our relationship with insects through art, performance, workshops, community discussions, and more. Little Creatures: Appreciating insects and tiny critters that run the world is an art show hosted by the Boulder Public Library that will be held at the library’s Canyon Gallery throughout August and September 2023.
Entries close May 31st
Visit the website for more information! Little Creatures — Cool Boulder
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+ Action: Be heard on water efficiency
We all know our trees need water, and we must use our water wisely. The city of Boulder is updating its Water Efficiency Plan. Your feedback will help shape the programs the city offers. This plan is for the city’s water conservation program. The goal is to align our water supply, overall water resources management strategies, water conservation goals, and community values.
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Compost for our soil and our trees
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Don't forget that rules about what we can put in our compost bins have changed, why? Local compost collections have been highly contaminated with non-compostable plastics, glass, and other harmful materials that make it unusable. Composting correctly is one of the simplest ways we can care for the soil that supports out trees.
See the information from our local compost manufacturer, A1 Organics, to stay up to date and learn more.
You can compost on your own too! Check out these great resources from Eco-Cycle: Composting 101 - Eco-Cycle (ecocycle.org)
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+ Learn more: Free Eco-Cycle Webinar
FREE Eco-Cycle webinar on the future of compost in Boulder County and beyond—for our climate and soils.
April 25th, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Visit Eco-Cycle's website for registration.
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Do you know about regenerative farming?
There are a lot of different methods in this type of farming, but a key part is building and taking care of soil. By improving soil health, these farmers are creating systems that hold carbon and water in the soil while growing nutrient-rich food. Many of these systems incorporate trees into farming and land management!
Interested in supporting local regenerative farmers? Cool Boulder is partnering with Zero Foodprint (ZFP), a nonprofit organization working with local food economies to restore the climate. ZFP works with food and beverage businesses to contribute 1% of sales to change how food is grown to restore the climate.
Learn more about the great local businesses partnering with ZFP and the local farmers who have received financial support in this article and on the ZFP website.
Above image courtesy of Emma K. Morris
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Need mulch for your tree? It's free!
Mulch is one of the easiest and best things you can for your trees and garden! Mulch conserves the soil’s moisture, helps inhibit weeds, and improves soil structure and nutrient availability. Apply organic mulch (like wood chips, bark or evergreen needles) two to four inches deep within landscaped areas and in the dripline of trees. Always leave a one-inch space between the mulch and tree trunk.
Free mulch is available at the City of Boulder Operations/Forestry lot. Access is off of Pearl Parkway. Look for a sign posted at 5400 Pearl Parkway, near Sunbelt rentals return. No gate or restricted hours.
City of Boulder Mulch Pile Location
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+ Interested in volunteering? Keep your eyes on our calendar!
We are building a calendar to help the Cool Boulder community connect to the incredible work happening around the area. Cool Boulder has over 30 amazing partnering organizations. They all have their own events and programs. Check out the calendar and our partners websites! You might just find the perfect group to volunteer with this year.
The calendar will continue to grow, so please check back in over the year!
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You may also see Cool Boulder news coming from the Climate Initiatives department of the City of Boulder or from any one of our partner organizations. There are now over 30 organizations that have formally partnered with the Cool Boulder campaign, and we welcome new partners all the time—email info@coolboulder.org to begin the conversation.
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