Fitchburg Planting Goal Progress:
214 Trees Planted
Last Updated: December 14, 2021
Am I In The Zone?
Meet Your Local Foresters:
Ahron Lerman
Education: M.A. Ecological Design, The Conway School (2011); B.A. American Studies, Brandeis University (2005).
Experience: 7+ years of tree planting, recent member of the City of Cambridge’s Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force; former Greenhouse & Nursery Intern at the Arnold Arboretum; former board member of ReGreen Springfield; organic farming in Hawaii, CT, and MA.
Interests: Exploring wild places; learning about history and horticulture; plant-based food.
Favorite Tree & Reason: I first got interested in trees while farming in Hawaii, and always love thinking of the giant banyan trees I encountered (and climbed) there. I love the way their branches grow new roots and continuously explore new territory, growing the tree’s canopy larger and more complex. I also love planting swamp white oaks (Quercus bicolor) because of their beautiful leaves and bark, and for all the wildlife they support!
Fitchburg Partners:
Growing Places
Growing Places (GP) is a nonprofit serving North Central Massachusetts (NCMA) since 2001 that seeks to improve the health of our region through an equitable, just local food system and sustainable environment. Our volunteer-driven organization is rooted in our history of providing backyard vegetable gardens to empower residents to supply their own healthy food and improve their well-being, but we have expanded in response to community need. Today, we work to create long-term, sustainable changes in our community – changes focused on increasing fresh food access and environmental sustainability through programs such as our community gardens, mobile market, farmers markets, CSA program, HEAL Winchendon food system rebuilding initiative, and outreach for Greening the Gateway Cities tree canopy program.
