Is there anything more satisfying than a before and after? The best before and after is one that happens right in front of your eyes. We have a lot to do, especially since DC’s canopy has declined over 1% in the last five years, but it’s worth taking some time to look back at how far we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished together.
Reminiscing about our past planting projects is not complete without someone who was there at the very start: Barbara Shea. A founding Board Member, she’s known Casey Trees since its infancy. We chatted with her to get her perspective on starting something completely new 21 years ago and if this is a fraction of what she expected. Without further ado, let’s reflect on how far we’ve come and join Barbara in feeling pleased and proud at our work and resolute in pushing for more.
Can you imagine sitting in a room with colleagues and dreaming up a wild dream and slowly seeing it take shape? That’s precisely what Barbara described to us, “Casey Trees would not be what it is today without the foresight and hard work of the original board. They were 13 ladies from the Garden Club of America, all volunteers, who began Casey Trees with only a generous gift and Mrs. Casey’s vision of returning DC to the City of Trees.”
She continued, describing the intent of Casey Trees’ was set from the beginning. “They were determined to bring all stakeholders into the conversation and build a business case for trees, not just an aesthetic one. They would be amazed to see Casey Trees today. Instead of two and a half employees and a small rented space, they would see a headquarters modeling best practices, an incredible staff of 60 people, a 728 acres Farm using cutting-edge methods of growing trees, and a tree canopy goal well on its way to becoming a reality. They would also be pleased to see that the mission they crafted all those years ago has stood the test of time.”
Looking back on how far we’ve come is fun and all, but as we continue to work towards our 40% canopy by 2032, we also need to look forwards. DC as a city is constantly changing, the pace of development is increasing, climate change effects are intensifying, and there is so much more. As for what the next 20 years will bring? Barbara elaborated, “…the Casey Trees mission will be even more critical in the next 21 years. Washington faces ever more pressure from development as it grows but stakeholders are increasingly aware of the crisis of climate change and the need for equitable access to green space, and the benefits of trees. It will be even more important to connect people to trees, through trees, and to Casey Trees.” We couldn’t agree more. The final frontier of our efforts to get to 40% will be the most challenging, but we are up for the task!
We’re celebrating our birthday all month long. After all, 21 is a big deal! We’re giving you the gift of $10 off any item in our store* but have another gift to give.
