Over 300 gathered at Skiddy Park to attend the “Trick or Trees: time-to-plant festival,” the largest ever volunteer based tree planting and tree giveaway in the City of Syracuse with a festival highlighting aspects of   sustainable communities.

Youth from the Onondaga Earth Corps and adult volunteers in the CommuniTree Steward program lead over 150 volunteers from Syracuse Housing Authority (SHA), b.i.k.e. Syracuse, SUNY-ESF, SUNY Morrisville, 40 Below, West Genesee High School, Home Headquarters, and GreeningUSA in planting 176 trees at the SHA James-Geddes Complex and on Shonnard, Seymour and Gifford Streets -- all within the Clinton sewershed, an area targeted by Onondaga County to reduce stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflow.

Tree planting was followed by GreeningUSA’s second Sustainability Academy festival of the year. Festival goers learned about energy efficiency, green schools, green jobs, planet friendly eating habits, soil health, neighborhood engagement, rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs, bike repairs and of course about the benefits of trees. Neighborhood youth developed a benefits-of-trees activity and a green infrastructure tour of the rain garden, rain barrels and green roof at 515 Tully St for the festival, and were responsible for giving away 130 trees to local residents and volunteers. People visited a series of stations with a festival passport and were rewarded with prizes such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, energy saving gadgets, cookbooks, gift certificates to local stores and trees.

Highlights of activities from each station included:

For:  GreeningUSA, Inc, a non-profit corporation   9.15.09.

Please contact David Ashley, Secretary at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Executive Director, herein know as ED, desirably should have qualifications of a similar nature to one already holding that position for another organization presently or in the past, but this is not a prerequisite. Knowledge and background in sustainability issues highly desirable, such as being a LEED AP. Skills required are: excellent communicator, technical knowledge of electronic programs, independent worker. Presently the ED needs to have a home or remote office and attend all board and executive meetings and major functions. Initial hours are flexible depending on the services needed.  An ED shared with other organizations is possible. The position is for an independent contractor - not an employee. 

The 2009 Sustainability Academy at Fowler High School commenced May 7^th with an introductory session about sustainability and recycling. Subsequent sessions were held on May 14^th and May 21^st with topics of food, gardening and green infrastructure, and green schools.

All sessions will be held at Fowler High School cafeteria

227 Magnolia St., Syracuse NY

• Sustainability 101, Recycling (May 7^th 5:30 - 7:30)

People, Planet, Prosperity and YOU. Find out what you and the community have to gain from “sustainability.”

• Food, Gardening and Green Infrastructure (May 14^th 5:30 - 7:30)

• Healthy and Green Schools (May 21^st 5:30 - 7:30)

Our children are our future. Find out how healthy green schools can make a difference in their future.