Earth Day 2011

There is a lot happening in Austin this week in celebration of Earth Day.  TreeFolks is participating in three fundraising campaigns that allow you to support us and environmentally responsible businesses with money you already spend.  We’re celebrating urban forestry partnerships at City Hall this Thursday and will have certified arborists around town to answer your tree questions this Friday.  Read on for details about events and opportunities to raise funds that help us keep planting trees and providing education in Central Texas.

Photo: Escarpment live oak (Quercus fusiformis) – Philip Hawkins

Help us plant more trees in Central Texas

Please join TreeFolks on the Mayor’s Balcony of Austin City Hall from 5:15 to 7:15 pm on Thursday, April 21st to celebrate Austin’s urban forest. You’ll have a chance to meet TreeFolks’ new Executive Director, April Rose, and to catch up with TreeFolks’ recently retired Executive Director, Scott Harris. There will also be a City CouncilTree Proclamation in Council Chambers at 5:40 pm. Come enjoy food, drink, music and conversation with others working to grow the urban forest. Food, drink, eco-utensils, and music are generously donated by: The Salt Lick, Sweetish Hill Bakery, Constellation Wines, Eco-Wise, and Norm Ballinger & Friends. See you there!

Over 80 businesses will donate 5% of sales on Earth Day to local environmental non-profit organizations. Show these businesses you appreciate their support of TreeFolks, Hill Country Conservancy, Texas Land Conservancy, Clean Water Fund, Sierra Club & Friends of Barton Springs Pool. Plan your Earth Day shopping by checking the list of participating businesses. There are bound to be a few near you that offer what you’re looking for. Not to play favorites or anything, but, well… here are some of our favorites: Dillinger’s, Eco-Wise, El Interior,Genuine Joe Coffeehouse, Matt’s El Rancho, Jo’s Coffee,Light Harvest Photography, Zhi Tea, Sazon, Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop

Find an earth-loving business near you

In support of businesses participating in our various Earth Day campaigns this month, TreeFolks Executive Director, April Rose, and Board Member, Lisa Schissler of Austin Tree Experts, will be available to answer your tree questions this Friday, April 22nd at three different locations throughout the day. Leaf samples and photographs are always helpful in diagnosing tree ailments, so bring one or both if you can.

Genuine Joe Coffeehouse – April from 8:30 to 10 am
Eco-Wise – Lisa from 2 to 4 pm
Spec’s (Brodie Lane) – April & Carly from 3 to 6 pm

Photo: Leaf scorch from heavy winds (Quercus muehlenbergii) – April Thomas Rose

During the month of April, Banrock Station wines will donate $1 dollar to TreeFolks for every bottle purchased at Austin Spec’s locations. So, do yourself AND TreeFolks a favor and go buy a bottle!

Learn more about Banrock Station

Austin Parks Foundation is looking for up to 50 volunteers to help remove ligustrum and other invasive species to give native trees and plants room to grow.

When: Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 9 AM – 12 PM
Where: Robert E. Lee Drive, Austin, TX 78704

H-E-B has selected EarthShare of Texas to benefit from its in-store coupon promotion for April, in recognition of Earth Day. Customers who support EarthShare of Texas are supporting the work of organizations like TreeFolks who will receive a portion of the contributions. H-E-B has supported many EarthShare of Texas organizations with corporate grants or in-kind contributions. Look for the EarthShare of Texas display and tear-off coupons in H-E-B and Central Market stores through April; add a $1, $3, or $5 coupon to your basket to support EarthShare of Texas, Earth Day, and TreeFolks!

Learn more about EarthShare of Texas or sign up for a workplace giving campaign

We’d like to thank the folks at Breed & Co. for their generous donation supporting TreeFolks’ education and tree grant programs.

Visit Breed & Co.