Get ready for more free trees!

TreePhilly will provide five grants to community groups worth 50 trees and $500, a whopping $2000 value, used to host yard-tree giveaways in the winning organizations’ neighborhoods starting this fall.

TreePhilly announced this new initiative last week to boost Philly’s ongoing urban reforestation.

Erica Smith Fichman, the TreePhilly program manager, stated, “We want to give Philadelphians even more opportunities to get free trees and make sure we’re reaching out to all neighborhoods across the city.”

Apply for free Philly Trees:

Community organizations can fill out an application to apply.

A few small rules apply:

• You’ve gotta be in Philadelphia or serving a specific Philadelphia community.
• Neighborhoods with low tree canopies are the best candidates, but not required. However, TreePhilly encourages all Philly organizations to apply.
• Get your applications in by July 31, 2014.

Check out the other few rules and requirements for the winning recipients. For example, tree giveaways must be held in Philadelphia. Recipients will use the grants to host their own giveaway events. TreePhilly provides the free trees and help community groups organize the event to give away those trees in their neighborhoods!

**Individuals can also apply for a free yard tree or a free street tree. There are even a block programs for the whole neighborhood!

Just this past spring, TreePhilly hosted a Community Giveaway Grant, which provided over 1,500 trees that were distributed in city neighborhoods that lacked adequate tree coverage. This giveaway was just one of their biannual events that take place each spring and fall.

TreePhilly’s efforts are in coordination with Mayor Nutter’s Greenworks Philadelphia. The Mayor’s goal is to expand tree coverage up to 30% in all neighborhoods and restore Philly’s urban forest.

About Tree Philly:

TreePhilly is a Philadelphia Parks & Recreation organization that works in partnership with Fairmount Park Conservatory to provide Philadelphians with the resources and training to plant and care for trees in their community.

Their mission is to make Philly the City of Arborly Love!

Find out more on TreePhilly’s website or by emailing treephilly@phila.gov.

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Originally from Rochester, New York, Grace studies Communications at Saint Joseph’s University. Green from birth, she grew up wearing reusable cloth diapers and eating co-op vegetables. She's always been conscious of humanity’s impact on the environment. She hopes to eventually form a career as a way to advocate her ethical & sustainability principles. View all posts by Grace Rieck