A family plants a containerized tree in the Summit
neighborhood of Providence in April, 2018.
Can you tell us about your
Citizen Pruners program?
DS: Our Citizen Pruners program is about three
years old and is going very well. We modeled it
after the Trees New York Citizen Pruners program
and other programs around the country that
train citizens in tree biology, basic tree care, and
pruning techniques for young and/or small trees.
We have about 50 Citizen Pruners now, many of
whom were trained through the Rhode Island Tree
Council's Tree Stewards course and came to us to
put their skills to use. We provide a training spe-
cific to pruning needs in Providence and then they
self-organize, or sometimes we organize, the work
outings. They carry with them a badge that explains
who they are and lists the rules of engagement.
What do you wish you had
more time for in your job?
DS: I wish I had more time to write articles
about urban forestry and promote the City's
program in that way. Also, I would love to host
more interns. In 2018, we had a fabulous SMA-
funded intern, Candace Powning, who after her
internship ended is still working for us hourly until
she finds a full-time job. Our experience with
her has been really positive for all parties.
26 CityTREES
