Become a citizen pruner and help your neighborhood's street trees

Image source: TreesNY

One of the ways to contribute to the health of your neighborhood is to become a citizen pruner. The Citizen Pruner Tree Care Course is run by TreesNY (an environmental and urban forestry nonprofit organization), and teaches ordinary New Yorkers tree care, biology, identification and pruning of trees. There are many, many street trees in New York City, but limited funding to care for them. That’s were educated volunteer tree pruners come in.

Completing the course means you are certified by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation to legally prune New York City street trees, and help them stay healthy, safe, and pretty. It makes a more pleasant place for everyone, residents and visitors alike.

The course schedule has been posted and there are courses in all five boroughs. In Queens, the course takes place at 47-40 21st Street in Long Island City on the following dates:

• Thursday, September 27, 6-8pm
• Thursday, October 4, 6-8pm
• Thursday, October 11, 6-8pm
• Saturday, October 13, 10am-2pm
• Thursday, October 18, 6-8pm

Four of these dates are in the classroom and one is in the field. The course costs $100, so that’s $20/class. You can register here.