Janna Mintz knows how to plant a tree according to Tree New Mexico (Tree NM), an urban forestry nonprofit that is branching out to Silver City.
The nonprofit certified Mintz as the first Silver City resident to achieve the status of Tree Planting Team Leader – trained in successful tree planting methods and ready to lead volunteers in efforts to increase the region's urban canopy.
Owner of Wild Rocket Gardens, Mintz said, "It's a good certification to add to my garden coaching. I teach people about seeds and about gardening, and trees add to the ecosystem offering so many benefits like cooling the air, cooling the soil, and cooling the streets."
Tree NM plants free trees in homeowners' front yards to shade sidewalks and decrease the heat island effect from roadways. With her certification, Mintz will teach volunteers how to successfully plant trees using methods Tree NM has refined for over three decades. According to Tree NM arborist Luis Santiago, trees planted by the nonprofit have an up to 85 percent survival rate after three years (with some neighborhoods even higher) – industry standard is typically much lower.
Tree NM Regional Coordinator Kendra Milligan invites residents of Silver City and surrounding communities to learn more about Tree NM and opportunities to get involved at an Open House on Friday, January 16 at 5:30 p.m. The Open House will be held on the third floor Seminar Room in the Western New Mexico University's Student Memorial Building, 1000 W. College Ave.
"We can't wait to introduce our planting program to the community," Milligan said. "There are so many ways to get involved, including adopting trees in your yard, planting trees, leading planting teams, running volunteer tables, monitoring trees, helping us flyer, and simply spreading the word!"
