Seed Enrichmond's Urban TreeLab

Where Will the Trees Be Used? 
The trees will be used for beautifying public spaces throughout the City of Richmond with a focus on low-moderate income neighborhoods.  

How Are We Making Strong Roots?
We purchase the all-native stock of trees as saplings, then when the sapling is "ready"  it is moved to a Missouri Gravel Bed. The Missouri Gravel Bed is a 6 Month Bare Root Planting System. This is not a growing method but a way to prolong the life of trees through growing a fibrous and extremely hearty root system. Furthermore, the growing in gravel helps make transport of the trees easier with a higher likelihood of thriving.

Milestones:
- partners found 
- site secured
- cleared site
- electricity installed
- site plumbing

Next steps: 
- informative website for the public
- gather all materials and supplies
- begin planting our first harvest of native trees 

 

Did You Know?

According to ArborDay.org...
- trees add property value - studies show that trees raise property value over 20%
- one acre of forest absorbs SIX TONS of carbon dioxide and puts out FOUR TONS of oxygen. This meets the annual needs of 18 people
- the net cooling of a young, healthy tree is equal to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day
- trees can reduce AC needs by 30% and can save 20-50% in energy used for heating
- visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within 5 minutes!
- trees can be a stimulus to economic development, attracting new business and tourism. Commercial retail areas are more attractive to shoppers, apartment rents more quickly, tenants stay longer, and space in a wooded setting is more valuable to sell or rent
- trees improve water quality, result in less runoff and erosion (which allows more recharging of the ground water supply)

Our Project - 
Much like a city is only as strong as its system of citizens, a tree is only as strong as its system of roots. The root system, which lays largely unseen under the ground plays a VERY important role in the health and general well-being of tree health and urban tree canopy. Enrichmond and our partners are setting out to improve our urban tree canopy by working to bring healthy and strong trees to the City of Richmond through our Urban TreeLab. The Urban TreeLab's tree stock will promote a sustainable urban forest, aid with erosion + runoff, reduce pollution, and will bring trees where they are most needed! We are growing strong roots for the citizens of the City of Richmond.