Students garden Philly with UC Green
Amanda Gonzalez
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
Do you have a green thumb, but no way to put it to good use within the confines of your dorm room, high-rise apartment, or house with less space in your yard than your bathroom? Many Philadelphians feel that they have to sacrifice the sight of flowers and trees for the culture and convenience of living in a city. This does not necessarily have to be the case.
UC Green is a nonprofit organization that helps students who like to garden put their talent to good use. The group organizes and trains volunteers to plant new trees in Philadelphia, as well as maintaining and caring for existing ones. UC Green's mission is to build community, endorse sustainable practices, and champion environmental stewardship. Since their start in 1998 they have added just under 3,6000 new trees to the city.
Yelena Yankovskaya, a pharmaceutical student at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia volunteers as an intern for the organization on 4613 Woodland Avenue. She heads up public representation and is passionate about the cause.
"Sometimes I try to focus on school after I get off work, but it's just so tedious," Yankovskay said. "All I can think about is trees, trees, trees!"
Yankovskaya talked about a variety of UC Green's programs, including the Preening Club, a training program that meets once a week in the summer. Volunteers remove damaged and diseased limbs of trees to ensure future health and strength, Yankovskay said.
UC Green Corps is a very selective greening maintenance training program for high school students. College students can get involved by helping to teach younger students what they know about greening.
UC Green partners with many local organizations and colleges, such as Drexel, the University of Pennsylvania and USP, as well as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and TreeVitalize, which is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The majority of the tools that UC Green uses come from the West Philadelphia Tool Library, an organization which loans out a wide variety of tools for an annual membership fee. According to Yankovskaya, the most important goal of the organization is to unite the community, students, and local business.
Drexel students seem to be enthusiastic about the idea of giving back to the community through gardening.
"I would be interested in volunteering with UC Green because living in the city, it's hard to have a garden or have a green space to call your own..volunteer organizations like this give you a chance to [play] in the dirt!" Holly Casselman, a junior in the Lebow College of Business, said.
UC Green's next event is planned for Feb. 20 at the Woodland Recreation Center at the 1400 Block of South 47th Street. The organization is pruning 88 trees that they planted in the spring of 2008. No experience is necessary and free food will be provided, as well as all tools and gloves. However, the event does require registration; contact UC Green (www.ucgreen.org) to participate.
This article has been corrected.
UC Green is a nonprofit organization that helps students who like to garden put their talent to good use. The group organizes and trains volunteers to plant new trees in Philadelphia, as well as maintaining and caring for existing ones. UC Green's mission is to build community, endorse sustainable practices, and champion environmental stewardship. Since their start in 1998 they have added just under 3,6000 new trees to the city.
Yelena Yankovskaya, a pharmaceutical student at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia volunteers as an intern for the organization on 4613 Woodland Avenue. She heads up public representation and is passionate about the cause.
"Sometimes I try to focus on school after I get off work, but it's just so tedious," Yankovskay said. "All I can think about is trees, trees, trees!"
Yankovskaya talked about a variety of UC Green's programs, including the Preening Club, a training program that meets once a week in the summer. Volunteers remove damaged and diseased limbs of trees to ensure future health and strength, Yankovskay said.
UC Green Corps is a very selective greening maintenance training program for high school students. College students can get involved by helping to teach younger students what they know about greening.
UC Green partners with many local organizations and colleges, such as Drexel, the University of Pennsylvania and USP, as well as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and TreeVitalize, which is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The majority of the tools that UC Green uses come from the West Philadelphia Tool Library, an organization which loans out a wide variety of tools for an annual membership fee. According to Yankovskaya, the most important goal of the organization is to unite the community, students, and local business.
Drexel students seem to be enthusiastic about the idea of giving back to the community through gardening.
"I would be interested in volunteering with UC Green because living in the city, it's hard to have a garden or have a green space to call your own..volunteer organizations like this give you a chance to [play] in the dirt!" Holly Casselman, a junior in the Lebow College of Business, said.
UC Green's next event is planned for Feb. 20 at the Woodland Recreation Center at the 1400 Block of South 47th Street. The organization is pruning 88 trees that they planted in the spring of 2008. No experience is necessary and free food will be provided, as well as all tools and gloves. However, the event does require registration; contact UC Green (www.ucgreen.org) to participate.
This article has been corrected.
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