In an effort to make the community a better place for the environment, Cabrini students joined other community members to plant trees in Norristown on Sunday, April 11.
“Planting the tress is beneficial to the planet,” Gabriella DeMichelle, freshman biology premed major, said. “Little things like this make a difference.”
Cabrini works in association with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and UC Green. Both organizations’ goals focus on bringing back the “green” that existed in the Philadelphia areas. This not only benefits the environment but also the surrounding community.
“The LLC, Earth, is about environmental awareness,” Dr. Ellen Panofsky, assistant professor of mathematics, said. “We (Dr. Caroline Nielson, assistant professor of biology and Panofsky) found it an appropriate activity for the group.”
Cabrini is part of the University Green program.
“The school goes green,” Stephen Eberle, coordinator of community partnerships, said. “The school’s responsibility is to have three people that have a certification and training of being a Tree Tender.”
The tree tenders of Cabrini College are Eberle, Nielson and Gus Feudale, Cabrini’s grounds manager.
Tree tenders are experts on caring for trees, from seedling to full grown trees. They write to PHS to get the grant that allows Norristown to fund the planting. Without the grant, Norristown wouldn’t be able to plant the trees.
This is the second year that Norristown has done the city planting.
“The volunteering has grown.” Gene Holland, project coordinator, said. “Each year more people help out.”
There were six other groups planting trees with Cabrini. Many community members helped with planting around 20 trees.
Norristown plans to have all the public building connected with sidewalks lined with trees. After that they will branch out to the neighborhoods and parks.
Having trees in the city helps with sewage back up during rainstorms, improving the water that community residences drink. The trees drink at least 20 galloons of water in a week. Many kids are given jobs to go through the town to water the trees, then as they grow trim the trees.
“It’s a county project,” Art Henry, work informant, said. “We just pitch in.”
“We try to help the community look better,” Juan Mariscal, community member and head of the soccer league, said. “It’s beneficial and works towards getting kids off the street.”
