Programs
Planting
Since 2018, we have worked to bring trees and other plants to the areas where they can have the most social and environmental impact. Our focus is where the need for trees, greening, community health, and human well-being is the greatest. We are primarily planting in the neighborhoods of Hilltop, Eastside, South Tacoma, South End, Parkland, and Spanaway.
Tree Shares are an opportunity for you to pick up a free tree or shrub to take home! Check out the Events page for upcoming Tree Share dates.
Branch Out is our biggest annual tree share, where you can pick up beautiful trees, or get them delivered to you. We will have volunteers available to help with planting if desired as well, or you can help plant a tree!
Green Blocks is our neighborhood-specific program that includes community outreach about tree planting, tree delivery, and planting assistance in areas with low tree equity. Click the link to find out where we’ll be in next.
Education
Learn more about tree equity, human and environmental health, and the trees that call Tacoma home with our community programming! Many of our programs are supported by Tacoma Creates.
A training program where you will learn proper planting techniques, tree care practices, local regulations, and how to answer tree-related questions.
Tacoma-Pierce County Climate Leadership Cohort
A training opportunity on how to organize around climate change in our community. This includes organizing around equitable housing, green and good paying jobs, and healthcare.
Greening Research in Tacoma (GRIT)
This project is a collaboration with the City of Tacoma, University of Washington, and Nature Conservancy that is studying the impacts of city greening efforts on community and environmental well-being.
Throughout the year we take Tree Walks across Tacoma. Participants get to learn tree names and stories, practice mindfulness, or learn about tree policy.
A lo largo del año, caminamos en parques y bosques urbanos para aprender los nombres y las historias de los árboles, practicar la atención plena, y también sobre las políticas públicas de silvicultura.
Our kid oriented website that has lessons about local nature! Find out about how trees communicate, what animals you can spot in the spring, how to make a bee home, and print zines (mini-magazines) by Tacoma artists.
We regularly host online and in-person presentations from local experts on topics like urban heat, tree equity, and the benefits of trees, and much more. We also invite local artists and writers to help us cultivate tree appreciations. Watch our past webinars at your leisure on our youtube channel.
Keep up to date on what we’re doing and what we’re learning by reading our blog and monthly newsletter.
Advocacy
Advocacy is central to our mission and vision at TTF of working towards a future where everyone in Greater Tacoma has access to the benefits and shares the responsibility of our collective urban forest.
Local government policy plays a significant role in protecting and managing trees as a public asset. Growing the urban forest involves preserving existing trees on public and private property, reducing conflicts with other infrastructure, increasing plantable space, and of course planting trees! Civic engagement in policymaking is crucial to making progress on these issues. Community input can embolden political leaders to make pro-environmental choices and investments.
The goal of our Advocacy program is to follow local and regional developments in environmental policy as it relates to trees and the urban environment. We envision TTF as a resource for the community to understand these complex issues and how they can make their voices heard.
Influencing Policy and Planning: A Civic Engagement Toolkit
To learn more about the civic engagement process, the key players involved in environmental and land use decision making, and tools for effectively communicating your advocacy goals, check out this toolkit from the Puyallup Watershed Initiative and Puyallup River Watershed Council!
