Fitchburg Planting Goal Progress:
589 Trees Planted
Last Updated: January 22, 2024
Am I In The Zone?
Meet Your Local Foresters:
Larissa Parse
Education: B.S. Plant, Soil and Insect Science UMASS-Amherst. International Society of Arboriculture certified.
Experience: I started my professional career as a grower at a wholesale native plant nursery. I accepted a job with DCR as a Forester with the Asian Longhorn beetle program before transferring to Urban Forestry in 2016. I took a few seasons off during covid to care for my children but now I am back and happy to be planting trees in Leominster and Fitchburg.
Interests: My family and I enjoy growing and preserving food, swimming, hiking, sledding, going to parks and exploring.
Favorite Tree & Reason: Tuliptree and Bur Oak – The trees of my childhood have remained my favorites. I grew up with a gigantic tuliptree outside my window. I especially love how the tree’s canopy provides ample shade over a large area without restricting use under the tree. Bur oaks are found dotted throughout the pastures of the upper Midwest. These trees were selected because they were hardy enough to handle extreme heat and drought and tough enough to survive the frequent visits of cattle.
Nathan Tobey
Education: Bachelor of Science in Forestry with a concentration in Urban Forestry from University of Massachusetts Amherst, Associate of Science in Arboriculture and Park Management from Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
Experience: ISA certified Arborist. Member of the International Society of Arboriculture and the Massachusetts Arborists Association. Has worked for the Department of Conservation and Recreation since 2004 in various roles and locations including park ranger at the Wachusett Reservoir, Wompatuck State Park, and Walden Pond, and as a Forester in Worcester. Nate was born in Lowell and has spent most of his life living and working in the Greater Lowell area. Currently working in Haverhill and Lowell as a Forester for the GGCP, since 2016.
Interests: Outdoor adventures, traveling, finding awesome trees, and my rescue dog Nugget.
Favorite Tree & Reason: Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum). I love the orange red peeling bark.
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. You can learn more by visiting growingplaces.org.
