October 3, 2022
Putting Down Roots — Imagine Grinnell
Volunteer-operated and dedicated to the reforestation of Grinnell, TreeCorps functions under the leadership of the Imagine Grinnell program. The corps offers volunteer opportunities for multiple generations of Grinnell residents, as well as educational and community opportunities to connect.
The $4,300 grant given to Imagine Grinnell in fall 2022 via the Grinnell College Community Mini-Grant program supports the purchase of a watering trailer that also functions as storage for a variety of planting supplies. This makes it easier for the organization to implement several tree care strategies that benefit those with disabilities, no running water, and/or in a position of income inequality. Prior to this, TreeCorps had to use equipment loaned to them by the city of Grinnell, which limited the number of volunteers who could help and the times during the week that tree maintenance could occur. With hundreds of trees of many species planted and still more likely to take root in the future, it is even more critical to make the process of caring for them more effective, efficient, and accessible.
Along with caring for the newly planted trees, the Marvin Avenue Giving Garden (a project directed by Todd Armstrong, Grinnell College professor and chair of Russian, Central European, and Eurasian studies) has put the new watering trailer to good use.
“We set this watering trailer up to answer several needs,” said Tim Ellsworth of Imagine Grinnell. “For the past two years, our model for 1000Trees has been to raise money; identify possible planting locations; help with city permitting if needed; determine diverse, healthy species; and offer delivery and/or planting help. After the Oct. 21 Tree Event, we’ll have planted around $80,000 worth of new trees since our devastating derecho a few years back.”
