On October 24th 2015 Taking Root held its first annual Make a Difference Day Event. Together with over 400 volunteers making up 32 teams we planted 1,096 trees in 21 communities throughout the region. Our project was one of 10 projects chosen nationwide to receive a $10,000 grant from the Make a Difference Day Foundation! This year, we plan to make the event even bigger. If you would like to get involved, consider attending one of our free classes at the Civic Garden Center on either June 20th or August 15th.
Make a Difference Day is a national day of volunteerism. Taking Root is participating by hosting a region wide, community tree planting event. Last year 32 teams planted trees in neighborhoods throughout the region including Boone County Arboretum, Newport, Covington, Walnut Hills, Great Parks of Hamilton County, Spring Grove, Mount Washington, Anderson Township, Madisonville, Pleasant Ridge, Lockland, Wyoming, Glendale, Westwood, College Hill, North College Hill, and Clifton.
Adding trees to communities has been shown to increase property values, decrease crime and make residents feel younger and wealthier. The Greater Cincinnati, Tri-State area is currently faced with the historic loss of our tree canopy due to invasive pests such as Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle and many others, as well as invasive plants such as honeysuckle, an over population of deer, and unenlightened development. Together we can reforest our area by replacing lost trees with a diverse selection of native and non invasive ornamentals so that we may all enjoy the social, economic and environmental benefits of trees.