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.
Marc Ghen
Education: Bachelor of Science, Forestry with Minor in Wildlife Conservation Biology, University of New Hampshire; Associates of Science, Forest Technology, University of New Hampshire.
Experience: Began working with the DCR in 2017, after receiving degree at UNH and working for 4 years in the Department of Woodlands and Natural Areas as a Forest Technician. Worked with the Rockingham County Conservation District as a technician, on projects such as invasive species control at Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH. Also worked as a Utility Forester with Eversource, and spent nearly 4 years with Exxon Mobil as an equipment operator and vegetation control specialist. ISA certified Arborist.
Interests: Arboriculture, Forestry, Gardening, Science and Mechanics.
Favorite Tree: European Copper beech (Fagus sylvatica) because of its grand size and burgundy foliage. Mature Copper beech are magnificent landscape specimens that are slow growing and have often witnessed hundreds of years of history.
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.
