Trees Greenville

Trees Greenville is a non-profit organization formed in 2005 to plant, promote and protect trees. While trees often are considered for beautification, Trees Greenville touts the ecological and economic benefits of trees such as improved air quality, reduced storm water runoff, and lower utility bills. In this video, Trees Greenville Executive Director Joelle Teachy takes viewers to the Freetown Community in Greenville, SC where 40 volunteers from the Home Depot Foundation have gathered to plant 53 trees along neighborhood streets and in yards. Viewers also hear from Jarrod Lieu, Director of Programs for the Alliance for Community Trees in College Park, MD, who talks about the Home Depot Foundation grant that made the Freetown tree planting possible. Trees Greenville was one of ten organizations selected among the Alliance’s 160 members in 41 states to receive a 2009 NeighborWoods grant. Lieu, who made the trip to Greenville for the Freetown tree planting, talks about how trees that shade a house can cut utility bills by 30 to 50 percent, and how trees planted in an affordable housing neighborhood can revitalize a community and increase property values by one to 10 percent. Also in this video, viewers hear from Edward Robinson, president of the Freetown Community Association. In addition to tree plantings, Trees Greenville offers education and outreach programs for schools, garden clubs and community organizations.