Home
»
August 2017
»
Partnership Fosters a Greener Tomorrow in Del Paso Heights
August 17, 2017
Over the last two years, Sac Tree has made a concerted
effort to engage community members in under-canopied neighborhoods with the
hope of delivering the education needed to grow the best urban forest possible.
You might have read about our activities in South Sacramento and Rancho Cordova; however, did you know
we’ve also been busy in the Del Paso Heights area of North Sac?
In the fall of 2016, Sac
Tree began collaborating with the Del Paso Heights Growers’ Alliance (DPHGA) to
plan and implement the Planting with Purpose tree planting project, funded by
California ReLeaf. DPHGA seeks to ensure that native trees and edible plant
species remain an integral part of the urban forest in the community of Del
Paso Heights in North Sacramento.
On April 1, 2017, one hundred volunteers worked to plant,
mulch, and water-in 28 brand new shade trees at Nuevo Park as the first phase
of the Planting with Purpose project. Phase two of the project is planned for the
fall of 2017 with additional shade trees being planted at Robertson Park.
Following the
successful planting at Nuevo Park, we thought, “Why just limit ourselves to shade
trees?” So Sac Tree and DPHGA went back to the drawing board, developing
another project at the Del Paso Heights Community Garden that focused on
planting shade and fruit trees, as well as plants in the garden. In celebration
of Earth Day and National Arbor Day, 25 volunteers gathered to plant and mulch
10 shade trees and 10 fruit trees, as well plant a variety of garden plants.
The fun continued in May with the establishment of the True
Beginnings Community Orchard on the corner of Rio Linda Blvd. and Grand Ave on
Terkensha Associates property. A huge victory due to the fact that this land
was vacant for over 40 years, this area is now home to 16 shade trees and 40
fruit trees planted by volunteers from the CA State Assembly in partnership
with Green Technical Education and Employment (Green Tech), Soil Born Farms,
and EPPE Corporation.
Looking forward to September 2017, there are plans to
establish a fourth community garden, Suga’ Cane Community Garden, as part of United
Way’s Day of Caring. This project would convert a barren lot into a
functioning community garden with staple crops such as sugar cane and select
fruit trees to raise awareness of diabetes and natural sources of sugar, with
the ultimate goal of building a site that could provide job training to Green
Tech participants and their families.
We’re excited to be a part of this effort to green the Del
Paso Heights area of North Sacramento. We believe that every resident of our
region deserves to live on beautiful, tree-lined streets, visit shaded parks
and schools, as well as reap the health benefits that full-canopied back and
front yards can provide.
Special thanks to our other partners in North Sac: Pacific
Housing Inc., City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department, District 2
Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Green Technical Education and Employment, Terkensha
Associates, EPEE Corporation, and Mutual Assistance Network of Del Paso
Heights. These projects could not been completed without all of your support.
Funding for these California Climate Investments grant
projects has been provided through California ReLeaf and the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Urban and Community
Forestry Program.