Mount Moriah Cemetary Stewardship 10/15/16

What did we do?
Mark, Effi, Cian, Veronyca, and I helped the Friends of Mount Moriah clear invasive species and plant holly bushes in place. We left from Temple Campus at 9 A.M, arrived at Mount Moriah cemetery 9:30, and worked until 2.  Kate and other members of the Friends of Mount Moriah told us the history of Mount Moriah cemetery, going from being in the wilderness at creation to being surrounded by an urban environment. We used rakes to pull away much of the debris and used clippers to cut roots. We then learned how to plant the holly bushes. Key points were the depth and width of the hole and to leave the root flair uncovered. We then enclosed the planted bush into wire as deer are known to feast on the holly bush. After we were done we said our goodbyes and left on the bus back to Temple.
Course Concepts
Course concepts that were on display were how invasive species could dominate an area. Most of the area was covered with vines and sticks which seemed to takeover the environment as there was not any plants among them. This was most likely due to the plant taking up all the areas nutrients and making it very difficult for other plants to survive. It also showed how urban development can affect ecology as there were many abandoned lots. When these lots were put in, they most likely destroyed wild-life that was previously on the land. Now that the lots are vacant it seems that the wild-life was destroyed for no reason.

 What do you think the impact will be?
I think the impact we had may seem minimal to us as there is acres of Mount Moriah that is still covered by invasive species. However, the impact we had in clearing a burial site for someone is profound in that a burial site is for loved ones to remember those who past and while both are important, uncovering this seems like it could make a larger impact on someone than clearing an invasive species
 Describe the most difficult/satisfying aspects of your urban stewardship work?
The most difficult part was clearing the invasive species. It required different tools as clearing stray branches was easy but untangling groups of branches by cutting through roots was sometimes difficult. It was also satisfying as we were able to see the progress we were making by clearing a portions of our area at a time. It was also satisfying planting the holly bushes in the area we cleared
 How do people contribute to situations or problems you experience in the field?
People as a whole certainly contribute to the loss of green space by urbanization. When it was occurring at first, it may have seemed and most likely was cost effective in terms of removing green space to to build. However, I do not think these projects are always thought of in a long term way as many of these structures are now vacant and urban green space is dwindling. Because people cause this loss, I feel it is only right people also help urban restoration efforts

Endless Orchard Stewardship Event 11/13/16

What did we do?
Cian, Mark, Effi, and I helped Endless Orchards with their Tree Adoption event. The event started at 12 and we began with watching a walkthrough of how to plant a tree and how to take care of it once it is planted. A couple key points that were highlighted are that the root flair must not be covered as it causes decaying and to loosen the roots so the plant does not choke itself. We then assisted in carrying trees and mulch to adoptees cars. Once the trees and mulch were loaded, we then planted our own trees. We planted 3 black cherry trees behind Gladfelter naming them Hooty, Leo, and Kate.
Course Concepts
I saw many course concepts in action including how important it is to plant correctly as any mistake in the process would end up hurting the tree. We discussed why it is important to not include fertilizer  in the planting process as this would not allow the tree to adapt to the ground it is near which would affect the tree in the long term. Another concept that was applied was planting location and how we had to make sure that the tree would get the appropriate sun light and nutrients from the soil in its surroundings

    What factors create these community needs?
I believe factors that contributed to the need for urban greening and more specifically urban tree planting is the lack of greening occurring in cities. While Temple certainly has lots of green on campus, the lack of green around campus makes it much more important for Temple to be active in urban greening on its campus and in Philadelphia as a whole. It is also worth noting most urban greening is done by non-profits so while it may seem like there should be more urban green spaces and many people believe that, acquiring the capital to carry out an urban greening plan is very difficult.
 How can you continue your involvement with this urban greening issue
I could continue with this urban greening issue by either volunteering with Endless Orchards or by planting trees myself. The people who ran Endless Orchards were all very welcoming and showed us many other ways we could Endless Orchards. Adopting my own tree would be more of a task as taking care of the tree would be difficult as I live in Harrisburg but I may take it into consideration after school.
 How do you see your role in this project?
I see my role as a very small piece as I volunteered once but it is important as these kind of projects live and die by volunteer turnout. If the community is not involved then these kinds of projects will be difficult to bring together as the necessary capital to incentivize someone to do this work is simply not there as capital is spent on supplies and resources.

Fallen Fruit: Endless Orchards- 11/13/16- Cian Grourke

What We Did

On November 13, 2016, Effi, Mark, Pierce, and I helped out with Endless Orchard’s Fallen Fruit tree adoption. We met at the Bell Tower at 12:30 and met with Kathleen Grady and organizers from Endless Orchards. Dana, an arborist from Tree Philly, gave us detailed instructions on how to plant the trees that were being adopted. She emphasized how important it was to remove the cloth material holding the root system and to untangle the roots so that they would grow outwards instead of choking itself. We then helped bring various fruit trees and mulch into people’s cars. After all the trees were “adopted” by caring Philadelphians, we planted our own trees. At the corner of N 11th Street and Pollett Walk, we planted three black cherry trees. We named them Leo, Kate, and Hooty.

Course Concepts in Action

I saw the planting of trees on Temple’s campus as fitting into the Greenworks Plan for Tree Initiative for 30% tree coverage. It also can be applied to its fair and equal access to parks within walking distance, but instead it adds to one’s ability to get equal access to fresh fruit. This is a source of urban farming; it's a way for Implementation of Philadelphia Greenworks Plan for 30% tree coverage (Tree Initiative). Temple University Main Campus does not have any trees that produce fruit so these trees added to the campus’s biodiversity. When we spoke to Dana, she told us about how using fertilizers would not help the tree in its first three years. It would actually hinder its growth, causing its tips to grow disproportionately to the rest of the tree, making it easier for it to fall in storms or cause pressure to its roots. The same goes for trees that are planted too deep. Their roots would not be able to get the nutrients it needs to establish itself in the ground, which could lead to root rot.

• Speculate: what do you think the impact will be?
• I think the planting of these trees will allow for an increased pride in being Temple Made for the cherries they provide as well as provide a beautiful foliage and flowers. It will also provide fresh cherries for students and North Philadelphia residents in the spring. I think that it will also cause for there to be conversations about obtaining fresh fruit and the benefits of eating locally.

• What did you do at the event that made you feel that you made a difference and why?
• Being around the people from Endless Orchard gave me great optimism in what they were doing for the community. They were just very optimistic people and made my day interacting with them.

• Describe the most difficult/satisfying aspects of your urban greening stewardship work?
• The most satisfying aspect of our urban stewardship work for Endless Orchard was seeing the trees planted and knowing that they will provide a beautiful space for students now and in the future. I also enjoyed talking with the volunteers and workers for the event. They were very positive and helped me feel empowered to be stewards in my own communities. The most difficult part was just getting over the awkwardness of meeting new people and learning something I was not familiar with before, which was also exciting in itself.

Mount Moriah Cemetary Work Day- 10/15/16- Cian Grourke

What We Did

On the Mount Moriah Cemetery Work Day, sponsored by the Friends of Mount Moriah with the help of the TU Office of Sustainability, we worked from 9:30 am  until 2 pm. We took the bus from the bus station on N 12th Street on campus at 9 am. From there the bus took us to the entrance of Mount Moriah Cemetery. We walked from the entrance to the Circle of Saint John, where the Masons are buried. We arrived at 9:30 and walked to the Circle of Saint John where the Masons are buried. We listened to Kate and other members of the Friends of Mount Moriah about the history of the cemetery and what we were to do for the day. We worked, took a break around 12, and then worked straight until 2.We removed the dead brush/vegetation from the family plot we were assigned to. We clipped, raked, and put the brush in trucks to be taken away. We then planted two holly bushes next to the Moore-Kelly headstone. I worked with Mark Saucedo, Pierce Apgar, Effi Booth, and Veronyca Rodriguez.

Course Concepts in Action

At Mount Moriah Cemetery, I saw the push of urbanization. The cemetery provides a landmark for what was once considered remote wilderness in 1855 (when the cemetery was created), but now is surrounded by an urban community. This shows a physical representation for the increasing population, urbanization, and spread of the Philadelphia grid system. We could see vacant lots and sparsely populated areas which were once booming, due to the move of industry from the city in the mid-20th century. The invasive species and shrubbery which we removed from our plot was sprayed by chemicals to kill them. This was done through integrated vector management (IVM) of direct spraying for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ecological soundness (most importantly). I could observe Aldo Leopold’s “The Land Ethic” in that humans are intimately involved in the environment. It is seen through the change of vegetation in the cemetery due to human activity (removal of trees and the ground shifting due to headstones) and also the way the vegetation took over  large majority of the cemetery. When planting the holly tree, we had hand-on experience with root structures and made sure we left enough room for them.

• What expectations did you have about your urban greening stewardship experience?

• I expected to fulfill everything we accomplished, though my vision of what the cemetery would look like was much different. I thought there would be more buildings and diverse fencing and architectural points. I did not expect the area to be so covered with trees and brush, although I knew it was abandoned.

• How does this project or agency address community needs?

• This project gives an open and public space to residents of Kingsessing and surrounding areas for recreational purposes. It also allows for visitors to better visualize point of historic interest and for them to become more inquisitive about historical places such as Mount Moriah.

• How did your understanding of the community change as a result of your participation?

• My understanding of community changed when I had a conversation with Paulette on our way to get plastic water jugs from her car. She spoke about her life and where she worked before she retired. When I asked her how she got involved with the Friends of Mount Moriah, she responded that her husband is buried at the cemetery. It was great to think that after her husband's death she can now find a community at the cemetery as well as be near her husband and beautify his final resting space.

STEWARDSHIP GROUP VIDEO

Our group video on our three stewardship events.


Group Video

Endless Orchards/PHS Event- Mark Saucedo

On Sunday, November 13th, I along with Pierce, Cian, and Effi attended the Endless Orchard Tree Adoption organized by the Temple Office of Sustainability at the bell tower on Temple University's campus. Although I attended the event only expecting to plant a single tree, I was also tasked with assisting in the actual event. By this I mean I performed the duties of a volunteer which included, distributing plants as well as planting multiple trees. I was surprised by the amount of green space on Temple’s main campus. I mainly worked with members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Their kindness along with their knowledge of trees made this event quite enjoyable.

1. What course concepts did you see in action?
1. During this event, I was able to implement many of the concepts described in class. Focusing on soil, my talk with Dana helped to strengthen my knowledge of the importance of soil. Dana was very against the use of fertilizers in this instance, as she explained that since the tree was still very young it could have a negative impact on its growth. She then went on to explain the benefits of the organic mulch which was very rich in carbon and nitrogen. As Dana was explaining the location of tree planting she spoke of the importance of soil quality, as lack of nutrients and water would impact its growth. The soil lab conducted in class was very beneficial when planting the trees. The hands-on experience with the soil in class was helpful in determining the soil quality of the holes which the trees were going to be planted. The soil in the hole was dark brown, which is an indicator of nutrient-rich soil, however, it was rather dry, which was important to know for hydration purposes. 
2. What did you do? – be very specific – include plant names, soil types, names of groups and  individuals.
1. As a volunteer for this event, me along with Cian, Pierce, and Effi assisted in distributing trees and mulch to those individuals who adopted a tree. The tree options included Bartlett pear trees, black cherry trees, and apple trees along with organic mulch provided by Temple’s office of sustainability. The most interesting aspect of this event was the information I received from the members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society who was also assisting with the Endless Orchard event. I was educated by PHS member Dana on the necessary steps to plant a tree. Dana explained that location is extremely important as you want the tree to be in an ideal sunlight location with enough room to grow. Next, Dana explained that you must only prune the dead and damaged branches by cutting above the collar of the branch. Once the base of the tree is released from the container the next step is to trim the roots. The roots can begin to grow awkwardly when confined in the container. Making sure the roots are free is crucial for the stability of the tree, thus, it is critical for the roots to be not tangled. Once the roots are exposed, the root flare must be uncovered when planted. If the root flare is covered and unexposed it will impact the growth of the tree. It is important to not make the hole for the tree not too deep because if the trunk of the tree is buried, it will not allow for the proper growth of the tree. Rather than digging deeper, Dana explained that building a wider hole is more beneficial.  After receiving the proper instructions, it was time to plant our black cherry trees. With pre-dug holes situated on 11th street behind Gladfelter Hall, all that needed to be done is correctly place the tree in the hole and appropriately cover I, making sure not to cover the root flare. Buried root flares can actually kill the trees, depriving them of proper nutrients. After the tree was placed in the hole with the roots properly cut and the depth of the hole was adjusted, the tree was planted and covered with mulch. Watering of the trees occurred the following day. In total, our group planted 3 black cherry trees. 
    
   
   
   
   
3. How does this project or agency address community needs?
1. Trees are critical for cities as they help to combat climate change as it is an easier solution. As cities such as Philadelphia are continually getting hotter and moister, trees help cool homes and reduce the urban heat island effect. Aside from climate change, trees also help to manage and capture stormwater runoff. Trees also help to improve the ecosystem as they provide food for local animals as well as adding a positive aesthetic quality to the area. 
4. How can you continue your involvement with this urban greening issue?
1. After spending a few hours working with members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, they were extremely excited to invite my group to future tree planting events and even attend a 2 class session in PHS Tree Tenders program which offers hands-on tree care training for residents of the Philadelphia region. As Dana explained, a PHS initiative involved the “Plant 1 Million” program which aims to plant one million trees in public and private locations all over Philadelphia. I intend on reaching out to the PHS to continue to plant and care for trees.
5. What did you do at the event that made you feel that you made a difference and why?
1. At the event, my group and I planted 3 black cherry trees on 11th street directly behind Gladfelter Hall. We improved the ecosystem by introducing trees which assist in climate control, air quality, and also provides food. While we were planting the trees, a security guard expressed her excitement to pick from the tree when it was producing cherries. This adds to the aesthetic quality as more people will be inclined to pass by and enjoy a few cherries on their way to class. Although we only planted 3 trees, it was a right step in the direction of improving the city of Philadelphia by means of climate control, stormwater control, and improving the aesthetic image of not only Temple University, but Philadelphia as a whole.  
   

 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society member Dana speaks about the impact of tree planting: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Dana

BLACK CHERRY TREE PLANTING- Effi Booth

On Sunday November 13, 2016 I attended an urban greening tree planting / tree adoption event held by Endless Orchard,the Office of Sustainability, and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society. I assisted this event by carrying the trees that were adopted, along with bags of mulch, to the cars of those who adopted trees. There were numerous fruit trees that could be adopted such as Bartlett pear trees, cherry trees, and apple trees. After assisting with carrying the trees and needed supplies, I was given a very detailed, step-by-step demonstration on how to successfully plant and maintain fruit trees by a woman from Endless Orchard named Dana. When preparing to plant a fruit tree, I learned you must carefully decide where to plant. Dana explained that you must consider how much sunlight your tree will need to thrive, as well as keeping in mind how big your tree will be in 20-30 years. Next Dana explained that you must only prune dead and damaged branches by cutting just above the branch collar. The next step of planting a tree is to remove the tree from the container. The fourth step is to trim the roots, as it is very likely that the roots will be growing in a circle around the inside of the container. This step is important to keep in mind because the roots give the tree stability, so you must ensure they are not tangled. You want to also loosen and remove about 1-2 inches of the outer roots and soil. The fifth step is to find the root flare. When planting trees, many people make the mistake of covering the root flare, while it is actually supposed to be exposed, not covered. The sixth step is to dig the hole for the tree to be planted. Dana explained that many people dig deeper rather than wider. For the black cherry trees we planted, we only dug about 5-6 inches deep, but our hole was very wide at about 3 feet. After digging the hole, you want to test the depth to make sure the root flare is at the proper depth and is not covered. Buried root flares can actually kill the trees, so this step is utterly important. The eighth step of tree planting is to back fill the soil. You must gently place your tree in the center of the hole, keeping in mind that the trunk must be straight and the root bally is stable. You must pack down the soil as you go to ensure that all the air pockets are filled. The ninth step pertains to using the "3-3-3 method" of mulch. You must make a ring of mulch around the tree that is 3 feet wide and 3 inches deep. You want to make sure that the mulch is kept 3 inches away from the trunk so the root flare is still exposed. Dana explained that the mulch should not look like a volcano, but rather like a donut.

The tenth and final step of tree planting is to water the plant. A new tree will need roughly 15-20 gallons each week (until winter when the ground freezes) for the first two years of the trees life. After our demonstration, we headed behind Anderson and Gladfelter to plant our three black cherry trees. Having the background information necessary to plant trees made the process much easier. There were many course concepts and information from lectures being used throughout the day that I witnessed through this urban greening event. For example, while planting the cherry trees, members from Endless Orchard discussed the soil thoroughly. The members discussed the texture and moistness of the mulch and soil we were using, which was very reminiscent of our in-class soil lab we completed in November. Through class lectures we learned that soil quality is of the utmost importance because it promotes plant health, which is why it was so crucial for the trees we planted to have the very rich and organic mulch it had, provided by the office of sustainability. The members also discussed how the mulch was very rich and organic, and from class lectures I could also tell the mulch had a lot of organic matter by the color: dark brown. Our class lectures also helped me determine that the mulch had healthy soil fauna, as the mulch was very loose to the touch. Another topic discussed by the members was the use of fertilizers. They emphasized to everyone who adopted trees not to use fertilizers, as fertilizer is very stressful for new trees. The amount of nitrogen found in fertilizers is also not good; it attracts insects. The use of fertilizers for new plants being relatively negative was another topic we discussed when talking about soil biology in class. Through class discussions we learned that microbial systems have evolved over time to provide nitrogen and phosphorus to new growing plants, giving one more reason to add to the list of why fertilizers were not needed for these fruit trees. Another interesting tip given to me by the members was to "finger test" the soil around the tree if you are unsure if it needs watered. The in-class lab we completed helped me determine whether the soil was too dry and needed water, or if it was more moist and damp and did not need watered. In class we also discussed how constant construction affects and modifies urban soil biology, texture, and chemistry negatively, which played a large part in determining the location of planting the cherry trees on campus, as we selected a very small, grassy area behind Anderson that should never have any construction done to the area in the future. At the end of the event, another student began interviewing Dana on the importance of trees in an urban area. Dana's response reminded me of the topics we discussed about trees and urban settings in the beginning of the semester. Dana explained that trees are critical to urban cities because they are a very simple solution to climate change. She continued by expressing how cities are continually getting hotter and wetter. Trees help cool homes and reduce the urban heat island effect. Trees also help to manage and capture storm water runoff. I can easily continue my involvement with urban greening efforts, and I plan to. I received contact information from some of the members of Endless Orchard to contact them about a few upcoming events in November that I am currently planning on attending. One of the most satisfying aspects of this stewardship event was knowing I was making a difference with such minimal work. I was surprised by how relatively easy and quick it was to plant three trees, which is one of the reasons I believe I will continue on with planting trees in the future. I think if everyone knew how simple something like planting trees was, people would be more eager to plant and maintain trees, as the benefits trees bring to communities is definitely worth the care of them. After this event I completely agree with Dana's statement that planting trees is one of the most simple ways to combat climate change. Tree planting addresses many urban community needs. As previously stated, urban areas suffer from the urban heat island, and trees are a relatively easy and cost effective way to address this need. Also stated by Dana, cities are continuing to get wetter, and trees also give a solution to this need by capturing storm water runoff. Living in a city also exposes citizens to an abundance of pollutant gases, which trees can also help with. Trees absorb these pollutant gases and filter particulates out of the air. Overall, the tree planting stewardship event was a very positive experience, and I am glad I got to take part in it.

Below are more pictures of the tree planting event, as well as a video of Dana giving a demonstration on planting with a clip of our actual planting.
Video

In this photograph we are trying to get the exact depth of the hole; it was a little too deep so we filled it in a bit more.

In this picture we are cutting the container that was holding the cherry tree

                     This picture shows one of our black cherry trees after successfully planting it