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  • Linden tree planting on High St. by Welsleyan in honor of Krishna Winston
  • Dead ash tree removed recently on Church Street
project leader
John H
location
Middletown and Portland, CT
(High density residential and commercial corridors)
latest update rss
No updates yet.

the project

The City of Middletown has been losing trees at a rate of approximately 100 per year, and that's just the trees on public property.  The situation in Portland is probably the same. Middletown's current budget for tree planting is $8500 per year. The Jonah Center and Urban Forestry Commission are collaborating on a campaign to increase the city's tree-planting budget by $50,000, to a total of $58,500. In the course of this campaign, we heard from some concerned citizens who want to donate their own money to plant trees.  We were in the midst of figuring out how to set up a way to receive those donations when we heard about Sustainable CT's program to match community-generated funds through IOBY.  Because the Jonah Center is active in both Middletown and Portland, we welcome donations to plant trees in either municipality, based on the residence of the donor.

While we have not yet selected sites for new trees, we will give priority consideration to: Middletown's North End where the tree canopy is less than other parts of the city; high visibility  commerical corridors; and areas near Portland's town center where trees were recently removed due to age, disease and/or the installation of new sidewalks.

 

the steps

May - August 2020 -- Select sites for new trees and obtain permissions and clearance from municiipality related to overhead and underground utilities.  Plan for purchase of trees from wholesaler and planting with reputable tree planting contractors.

September - October 2020 -- Plant trees, mulch, install water bags and arrange for refilling.

 

why we're doing it

The rate of tree loss in Middletown and Portland in recent years is alarming and sad.  Even if we begin replanting now, it will take years to restore our declining urban forest. If we delay action, the situation may become extremely difficult to overcome.  We are passionate about trees and we know that many of our friends and neighbors are passionate too. The beauty, shade, majesty, and long lifespan of trees are inspiring, comforting, and hope-giving.  What better legacy can any of us leave behind on this earth than to plant a tree.  Let's plant lots of them.

Scientists, social psychologists, medical professionals, and urban planners all know that trees are essential to our quality of life and provide many documented benefits, including carbon absorption, air cooling, removal of air pollution, improved physical and mental health, enhanced beauty, increased property values, and reduced crime. An article in the Hartford Courant describes these benefits. Also, here is a link to a DEEP page on the many benefits of trees.

budget

Disbursement budget:

Purchase of trees $9542.78

Delivery and planting services $6679.95

Mulch, water bags, pruning and replacement $2862.83

Total to be disbursed: $19085.56



TOTAL RAISED = $19,416.00
ioby Platform Fee $35.00
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $295.44
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $19,085.56

Updated budget:

$7000  Purchase of Trees

$4900  Planting and delivery services

$2100   Mulch, water bags, pruning, and replacement



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $14,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $214
TOTAL TO RAISE = $14,249
Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.  

Updated budget



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $12,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $183
TOTAL TO RAISE = $12,218
Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.  

Updated 4.30.20:

$5500 for tree purchase 

$3850 for delivery and planting services 

$1650 for mulch, water bags, pruning, and replacement



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $11,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $168
TOTAL TO RAISE = $11,203
Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.  

Updated budget 4.27.20

$5000 purchasing trees

$3500  planting and delivery services

$1500  mulch, water bags, pruning, and replacement



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $10,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $153
TOTAL TO RAISE = $10,188

Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.

Updated budget 4.20.20

$4500 purchasing trees

$3150  planting and delivery services

$1350  mulch, water bags, pruning, and replacement



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $9,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $138
TOTAL TO RAISE = $9,173
Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.  

 

Updated Budget 3.25.20:

$4000 purchasing trees

$2800  planting and delivery services

$1200   mulch, water bags, pruning, and replacement



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $8,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $122
TOTAL TO RAISE = $8,157
Please note: ioby fees are estimated and will be calculated based on totals at the end of the campaign.  

Updated Budget:

$3750, purchase of trees

$2625 , delivery and planting services

$1125, pruning, water bags, mulch, and replacement



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $7,500
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $115
TOTAL TO RAISE = $7,650
Please note: ioby fees are estimated and will be calculated based on totals at the end of the campaign.  

Orginal budget:

Based on information from Middletown’s Urban Forestry Commission, each 2-2.5” tree planted costs approximately $500 on average — 50% for the purchase of the tree, and 35% for the delivery and planting, and 15% for mulching, pruning, watering bags, and replacement of trees that fail to thrive. 

If locations selected are suitable for smaller trees (i.e. sites where the trees are less vulnerable to damage and where they can be cared for by nearby residents) we will select smaller trees, enabling more trees to be planted.  If we are successful in raising $6000 in total, the budget will be as follows.

$3000 — purchase of trees

$2100 — tree delivery and planting services

$900 — pruning, water bags, mulch, and replacement.

Tree planting expenses will be allocated between Middletown and Portland-based on the amount of donations generated from each community.



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $6,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $92
TOTAL TO RAISE = $6,127
Please note: ioby fees are estimated and will be calculated based on totals at the end of the campaign.  

 

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Justin & Tisha
  • Brian S.
  • Tony Marino
  • Mark & Kathy Meyering
  • Cindy Andrus
  • Amanda Kenyon
  • Alain & Rosemary Munkittrick
  • Anonymous
  • Meg S.
  • Helen & Laura Sutkowski
  • Cathleen Glasson
  • Lori Kogut
  • Mary M. Coffield
  • Anonymous
  • Katherine Spada Basto
  • Alice Schumacher
  • The Jonah Center
  • New England Conservation Services
  • Arianna B.
  • Christopher & Kerry Darby
  • Denis & Linda Cunningham
  • Anonymous
  • Herb & Annemarie Arnold
  • Lauren & Ron Tomaschko
  • Ed & Diane Rubacha
  • Brownstone Quorum
  • In honor of Bill Wasch
  • Anonymous
  • Emmy B.
  • Susan M.
  • Joyce R.
  • Joan M Giesemann
  • Ken Kupec
  • Ken K.
  • Beth Emery and Mort Pearson
  • David G.
  • Anonymous
  • Kathleen R.
  • Laura B.
  • Peter & Andrea Stelma
  • Ruth
  • Anonymous
  • R. Hedrick
  • Melissa and Bill Roberts
  • Rick Sharr
  • Pear Family
  • Anika Dane
  • Jim & Liz Tripp
  • George L.
  • Helen
  • Jim Fellows
  • Thomas Bransfield
  • Brandon Chafee
  • ROBERT E.
  • Rebecca M.
  • Susie D.
  • Anonymous
  • Sally Grucan
  • Jule' & Linc
  • Gail and James L.
  • Cat Young
  • Ellen Lukens
  • John Shafer
  • Krishna Winston
  • Anonymous
  • George L.
  • RJ & Virginia R Rollefson
  • Anonymous
  • Susan Bransfield
  • Susan Chu
  • Ana P.
  • John F.
  • Anonymous
  • SueKArsenault
  • Izzi Greenberg
  • Anonymous
  • Sally Grucan
  • Maria H.
  • virginia zwelling
  • izzy and duffy
  • Anonymous
  • Bob and Judy Walsh
  • Sheila
  • Vijay and Jennifer Pinch
  • Elaine and Stephen Bank
  • Anonymous
  • Jennifer Kleindienst & Tyler Chamberlin
  • Alison Johnson & Justus Addiss
  • Rani Arbo
  • Elizabeth Bianco
  • Mitchell Curry
  • Erik Assadourian
  • Jane Harris
  • Jon M
  • John C. Hall