Garden News August 2024

Composting recycles yard and food waste, reduces greenhouse gasses, and produces a free, high quality soil amendment. But do you find composting confusing, frustrating and not worth the bother? Michael Donoghue, OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, will lead you through the different composting options, tools and techniques that will make your composting easier. For more information and maps to our gardens, visit the WCMGA website.

Want to make a difference and have fun doing it? Join Friends of Trees’ Fall Crew Leader Training and learn all about tree identification, planting techniques, environmental justice, and how to work with others to plant trees! This free training will equip you with everything you need to know to make an impact on climate change.

Online Session: Spend about an hour learning the basics from the comfort of your home. Easy, right?

In-Person Session: Get your hands dirty with some real-life planting experience. Dates depend on which training you register for, and guess what? You get lunch and a cool “Tree Team” t-shirt!

Once you’ve completed both sessions, you’ll be ready to rock as a Planting Crew Leader. We’ll need you to join us for four Saturday morning planting events from October to April, each lasting about four hours.

Crew Leaders are particularly needed in Vancouver, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Oregon City, Wilsonville, and Salem—these are the areas where we have the most planting events scheduled in the Oct ’24-May ’25 season. If you’re willing to travel to these areas, that counts too! We’ll also be planting at other locations in Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas Counties as well, but have fewer events.

Visit the registration page to learn more and sign up. Crew leaders need to be 16 and above. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: volunteer@friendsoftrees.org or 503-595-0213. We hope to work alongside you to make our region greener and healthier for everyone!