Our Work
Our mission is to restore, enhance, and protect the tree canopy of our nation’s capital. Since our founding, we have committed ourselves to shaping Washington, DC into a thriving urban forest. As part of that vision, we have set our sights on an ambitious goal: attaining 40% tree coverage by 2032. Right now, we’re so close—at 37%!
This progress is made possible by the collective efforts of our team, our volunteers, and our partnerships with community groups, residents, the DC Government, and surrounding municipalities. Together, we have planted more than 60,000 trees!
Join us as we work to make our city a greener, more sustainable place for everyone.
Our ambitious goal
Attaining 40% tree coverage by 2032.
Right now, we’re so close—at 37%
Our History
Known for more than 100 years as “the City of Trees,” DC’s urban canopy was shaped by former presidents George Washington, an accomplished horticulturalist, and Thomas Jefferson, who designed and executed the first street tree planting on record in the capital. Washington’s choice of Pierre L’Enfant as the architect of the city’s design proved significant. L’Enfant designed DC with tree-lined boulevards and tree-filled public parks, including Rock Creek Park, the oldest national urban park in the U.S.
Our founder, Betty Brown Casey, established Casey Trees in 2001 to preserve DC’s legacy as a renowned green urban environment. Today, the organization supports the beauty and health of the capital area region by planting trees, engaging volunteers, educating the public about the power of trees, and working with elected officials and community members to protect and care for green spaces.”
The Farm
Our farm occupies 730 acres of land along the Shenandoah River in Berryville, VA. Originally surveyed by our first president and avid horticulturalist George Washington, the land was previously owned by our founder, Betty Brown Casey, who gifted the property to us to grow trees.
We produce 7,000 trees at the farm each year, and have over 50k trees growing in our inventory. Also touch on sustainability and mission at the farm – We generally grow trees at the farm to help provide the trees that will increase the canopy of the region, and we have dedicated 100 of the 730 acres of that land to sustainable tree production using techniques that prioritize long-term soil health and productivity while safeguarding the overall environment.
Join Us
Volunteer
If you are passionate about trees, we have a variety of volunteer opportunities, from tree planting to adult and youth education.
Careers
We are always looking for talented individuals that are energized by our mission of greening Washington, DC. If you want to go beyond volunteering and think you might be a good fit for our team, we encourage you to apply.