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THE NEIGHBORWOODS PROGRAM <br /> Volunteers Planting and Caring for Young Trees <br /> The philosophy of Eugene's NeighborWoods Program is simple: Volunteer labor and <br /> reduced dependence on machines, combined with innovative planting and care tech- <br /> niques, provide young trees with what they require to thrive. The high quality and <br /> frequency of care that neighbors can provide for the new trees reduce the likelihood <br /> of expensive maintenance problems later in the trees' lives. While caring for and <br /> learning about their trees, neighbors also develop a better sense of purpose and <br /> community that, over time, provides a host of benefits for everyone. <br /> Neighbors agree to help plant and care for young trees that will grow in the public <br /> right -of -way by their homes. Their participation includes the removal of sod prior <br /> to Planting Day, helping to plant their tree(s) and those of their neighbors, and <br /> then providing water to the young trees while preventing other vegetation from <br /> growing in the mulched planting area. <br /> Tasks which need to be performed by neighbors, the neighborhood's volunteer Project <br /> Leader, and the City of Eugene's NeighborWoods Coordinator follow. <br /> BEFORE PLANTING DAY <br /> Project Leader canvasses neighbors with available planting sites to explain the <br /> program, then collects names and addresses of willing participants (minimum of 20 <br /> trees required), notes site constraints, and submits list to NeighborWoods <br /> Coordinator (April to June) <br /> NeighborWoods Coordinator conducts a handlebar survey of the project area to spot <br /> check Project Leader's recommendations, examine the areas soils, then make <br /> species recommendations (May to July) <br /> Trees ordered from nursery and transported to City holding bed for storage until <br /> Planting Day (August to November) <br /> Utility checks called in ten (10) days before Planting Day by Project Leader, and <br /> planting areas then marked at corners with white paint <br /> Removal of sod from the marked planting areas, at least six feet across, and <br /> composting of the sod on -site or nearby <br /> Digging of planting hole about 3 feet across and 2 feet deep <br /> ON PLANTING DAY <br /> Planting Team leaders in private pick -ups meet at City holding bed at 8 am to <br /> pick up trees, required tools, stakes, planting map, and receive verbal instruc- <br /> tions <br /> Planting Team leaders and trucks drive to neighborhood meeting site, where other <br /> volunteers sign in and are assigned to Planting Teams (5 -10 per team) <br /> Each Planting Team proceeds to first site at 9 am, where Planting Team leader <br /> demonstrates proper planting technique, explaining the importance of adhering to <br /> the highest horticultural standards <br /> (please turn) <br />