Community: Farnam Population: 227
Name of Project: Tree Board Activities
Contact Person: Dick Speck
Day/Night Phone: 308-569-2513
Category: Community Development
Subcategory: Parks, Recreation, and Environmental Awareness
Annual/Ongoing: Yes
Date Project Began: September 2009
Date Completed: August 2010
Number of Volunteers: 23
Volunteer Hours: 175
Nominated for Special Awards: Yes
1. Give a brief description of the project.
Each year, the Tree Board does an inventory of city trees to identify trees that need to be removed because they are diseased, dead, or dying. Last year’s inventory revealed a number of spaces in need of trees as well as those that need removed. The purpose of this project was to remove a number of dead, dying, and diseased trees from the community and replace them with new ones that are more hardy and disease resistant as well as fill in spaces where trees were needed.2. Identify the planning and implementation of the project
a) Describe methods used to plan and implement the project.
The Tree Board first held a tree clean-up day in the spring to trim trees that were in need of it and remove some of the trees that were in bad shape. This was accomplished with the help of a number of volunteers, along with many tractors,loaders, trucks, and muscle power.
The first thing needed to complete the second part of the project, the planting of new trees, was to find a way to pay for them. A grant was written to the Natural Resources District (NRD) which was approved. The grant required a 50% match. The matching funds were obtained from the Carnival Committee which approved $1,000 for the spring, $1,000 for the fall and $1,000 for next year if it is needed.
The Tree Board members purchased trees and planted them with the help of several volunteers. Volunteers supplied the initial watering as well as keeping the new trees watered as needed.
b) Describe how the project relates to the communities overall goals(including the goals identified by the community on its Intent to Enter form)
One of the goals carried over from past years was to “continue support of the Tree Board as they removed dead trees and plant new ones." This also fits in very well with the carry over projects of Vacant Lot Clean-up and Clean-up of Neglected Areas in town.
c) Describe how the project was identified as a priority for the community.
3. Describe volunteer involvement in planning and implementing the project.This project was identified at our annual Goal Setting Meeting held in November each year as well as through the efforts of the Tree Board Committee.
a) Describe how responsibilities were delegated among volunteers.
The Tree Board Members were in charge of the project. They set a date for the clean-up and asked for volunteers, trucks, tractors, and loaders. They orchestrated the activities that needed to be done and were able to tell the volunteers where they were needed.
With the tree removal and replacement aspect, Tree Board members asked for permission to remove dead trees and replant a new young healthy tree. Land owners signed an agreement to water and mulch the tree for 5 years. On Arbor Day, the youth in the area helped plant a tree, also.
b) Describe how volunteers were recruited for the project.
4. Identify Project OutcomesVolunteers were recruited through articles in the newspapers and flyers at business locations. A barbecue and refreshments were also incentives for people to help.
a) What did the community intend to change as a result of the project.
The main purpose of this project was to improve the overall appearance of the community.
b) Describe community-wide support behind the project.
The project was well accepted by the community with citizens removing trees themselves and agreeing to maintain care of the new plantings.
c) Describe how the final project impacted the community, including measurable data. (Measurable data includes both qualitative and quantitative information).
5) Describe how resources were identified and used to successfully implement the project.With this project, so far 16 trees have been removed, 13 new ones planted, 1 tree has been relocated and 18 stumps have been removed.
a) Monetary (grants, fund-raising, bonds, etc.)
NRD grant in the amount of $1,000 out of a possible $5,000 made available over a period of three years and funds from the Carnival Committee in the amount of $2,000 for this year.
b) Materials and supplies (purchased and donated)
Eleven trees were purchased. The trees purchased included Burr Oak, Linden, and Maple. Mulch for all tree plantings was donated as was the use of equipment such as a chip grinder, chain saws, tractors and trucks.
c) Labor (volunteer, in-kind, and paid services).
6. Future plansAll labor was volunteer with a conservative value of $1,750.00.
a) How will the community build upon or follow-up with this project in the future?
The committee plans to plant ten more trees this fall. We will also have a fall tree clean-up with volunteers, trucks, chain saws, tractors and loaders.
b) What has the community learned from this project that can be applied tofuture development efforts?
7) Please describe what aspects (if any) of the project were especially unique or creative?Citizens have been made aware that by joining together various resources in the community, things that seemed unaffordable can be accomplished.
The planting of Oak trees south of the fire hall represent the future as more events are planned at the fire hall every year.
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