Greening San Francisco
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The extreme heat events we’re witnessing in the West are frightening. We’re way past the point of a “wake-up call” when it comes to our rapidly warming planet. Science tells us that 20 years from now, extreme heat waves are likely to increase in San Francisco — and we’ll need to be ready. How are… read more »
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Charlie Starbuck, known for his astounding record of volunteer service to San Francisco’s urban forest, died at age 84 on Sunday, September 5 at a Kaiser hospital. Charlie participated in most of the community tree planting events organized by Friends of the Urban Forest since we were founded in 1981. We estimate that he planted… read more »
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by Brian Wiedenmeier, Executive Director If you’re like me, you feel anxious this time of year. Drought and heat mean wildfires in Northern California, along with the bad air they create. As these fires become worse, it’s easy to feel helpless. Bringing neighbors together to plant and care for San Francisco’s urban forest is an… read more »
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by Sammara Audi, Public Relations Intern As we all know by now, trees are amazing sources of oxygen, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere via photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of taking in carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen as a by-product. It is primarily used by plants… read more »
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by Sammara Audi, Public Relations Intern Trees are a vital part of our environment, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen to clear the atmosphere. They’re one of our main sources of oxygen and are essential for the survival of humans and wildlife. We get 16% of our overall oxygen from the trees and plants… read more »
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Hi, my name is Sammara Audi. Friends of the Urban Forest is starting its first Public Relations Internship and I have been offered the opportunity to be the first intern! I started becoming more aware of climate change and how important saving the environment is at around age 12. We were taught about the environment… read more »
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From Dan’s Desk Good news for San Francisco’s urban forest: after an extensive search, Friends of the Urban Forest has hired Brian Wiedenmeier as our next executive director. He’ll start on June 8, which is when I’ll begin my long-awaited retirement. Members of the FUF community may already be familiar with Brian, because he’s currently… read more »
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The Inner Richmond neighborhood is the winner of the 2021 Brian Tsai Greener Block Award. Each year since 2013, FUF has recognized an area in San Francisco that has undergone the greatest “green” transformation during the past year. We evaluate candidates for the award on the basis of their progress in planting and maintaining street… read more »
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Forty years ago this year, the city of San Francisco cut the budget for the planting of street trees due to budget constraints. Five folks came together to start a non-profit to ensure that the city’s already meager urban tree canopy would continue to grow. Friends of the Urban Forest was born. One of the… read more »
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“Under the canopy of the trees, daily dramas and moving love stories are played out. Here is the last remaining piece of Nature, right on our doorstep.” ― Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees Like us, you may be enjoying the much-needed rainy season and noticing hints of spring, such as the fragrant… read more »
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“The best available technology for pulling carbon dioxide from the air is something called a tree.” ― Al Gore Sometimes the urban forest needs advocates — people who can “speak for the trees.” This is one of those times: the City is seeking public input on its Climate Action Plan. You and other friends of… read more »
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Dan Flanagan, executive director of Friends of the Urban Forest since 2008, has announced plans to retire this spring. FUF’s board of directors has engaged an executive search firm to find the next successful executive director for the organization. Below, Dan shares thoughts about his decision to step down, and board chair Dawn Kamalanathan provides… read more »
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The key to a healthy garden (vegetable, habitat, or ornamental) is understanding your soil. Soil requirements can vary among different garden types, but there are a few tried and true tips for building healthy soils. Test your soil Although it’s not required, knowing the primary nutrient levels and pH (scale of acidity) of your soil… read more »
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Very few of the tree species we plant are native; they include Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) and California Buckeye (Aesculus californica). But few tree species are native to San Francisco, and their populations were small; the western land was mostly sand dunes and the rest was mostly shrubs, grasses, and rocks. Monterey Cypress (Cupressus… read more »
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If you notice a street tree that has been damaged or knocked over by a vehicle, or vandalized, or that has dropped a limb or fallen over, or looks like it might fall over, please report it! Friends of the Urban Forest can provide emergency care for small young trees (for about the first five… read more »
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San Francisco is a challenging place for street trees and sidewalk gardens because of our sandy or clay-like soils, strong salty winds, rainless summers, and many dogs. Even so, we have many mature and beautiful street trees and sidewalk gardens to learn from. We recommend: Regular watering helps plants and young trees (even drought-tolerant species)… read more »
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Thanks to the efforts of three local tree experts, you can enjoy more than a dozen self-guided walking tree tours in various San Francisco neighborhoods. Since April, Mike Sullivan, former FUF board member and author of Trees of San Francisco; Jason Dewees, author of Designing with Palms; and Richard Turner, retired editor of Pacific Horticulture… read more »
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A gardener’s knee-jerk reaction to pests (whether animal, insect, OR plant) is usually “kill it!” or “pull it!” — but is there a better alternative? Rather than pest eradication, let’s talk about pest management — specifically “integrated pest management” (IPM). IPM is a proactive system that strives to use a variety of pest control methods with… read more »
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Every year, Friends of the Urban Forest recognizes a community with the Brian Tsai Greener Block Award (formerly called the “Most Greenified Block Award,” and renamed for a beloved longtime staff member who died earlier this year). We have chosen two winners for 2020: the Oceanview Neighborhood and Carr Street. The award recognizes an area… read more »
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We want to live in a world where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) don’t have to bear the burden of environmental injustice, violent over-policing, job discrimination, and inequitable health care, housing, and educational services. We regularly plant trees in neighborhoods that are subject to and affected by discriminatory police practices, institutionalized racism, and… read more »
