of foundational disciplines. Knowledge flows from the
leaves down to the roots representing that all nourishment
travels both upwards and downwards; this is repre-
sented by the green process flows. Given that the leaves
are a dominant aspect in practicing urban forestry con-
siderations (i.e. increasing canopy cover)—then arguably
these social narratives are equally represented as such.
Fruits
The fruits are the yearly outputs, deliverables, and/or results
in and of urban forestry work (Figure 1). These include
research endeavours, policies, operational plans, tree
inventories, strategies, curriculum plans, artistic impres-
sions—the possibilities are infinite. The fruits of the tree
change each year; some are built upon, some are not. The
process is represented by the small arrows coming off the
smaller branches. Under non-human, I have avoided any
diction to better reflect that language is also a construc-
tion of the human, and that non-human agency deserves its
own depiction as represented by the apple, insect, and bird
illustrations. The fruits are produced and then reproduced.
The collection process-metaphor can be applied to work
outputs represented, nationally, regionally, and locally.
Much like the leaves, fruits are sometimes collected
for community benefits—for example, think of the
company Not Far From the Tree, a Toronto-based urban
fruit collection company that mobilized volunteers to
pick fruit from private property. The distribution of the
fruit is split in thirds: 1/3 is offered to the tree owner,
1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is deliv-
ered by bicycle to be donated to food banks, shelters,
and community kitchens in the neighbourhood.
Stem
As a conceptual process model, the stem is fluid (Figure
2). It embodies the theoretical frameworks and method-
ologies that offer critical insights into analysis and should
be considered as xylem and phloem continually moving
through the tree to feed and nourish its roots and limbs
(think nervous system or veins). The leaves (i.e. stories)
provide nourishment (think photosynthesis) and feed the
rest. The xylem and phloem receive nutrients from the
roots (the foundational fields), and the leaves (stories and
drivers of lived experiences) then move through the rest
of the tree: this is represented by the orange words and
orange arrows and the green dots and green arrows; this
fluid process in urban forestry is ubiquitous and constant.
The phrase Disassemble & Reflect at the base of the
stem is intended as part of the process to remind users
that the normative frameworks of foundational dis-
ciplines can be broken down and examined to better
understand how interdisciplinarity is woven into or
reeved through urban forestry. Similarly, the phrase
Reassemble & Reflect at the top of the stem, where
the limbs begin, is where the threads are braided back
together and then flow into the dominant narratives.
The process model I present here is ultimately a
fluid and draft concept that was first seeded when I read
T. A. Barron's The Great Tree of Avalon (2006), then per-
meated through my readings of scientific literatures and
social theories around urban forestry and urban nature.
The model is symbolic as a biological organic entity onto
itself, or a process depending on the avenue of entry. The
visual representation of inclusive concepts, theories, prac-
tices, methodologies, and outputs is conceptually inspired
by actor-network theory as a process for urban forestry,
weaving threads of transdisciplinarity towards effective
or transformative change (Ledwith & Springett, 2010).
Like with most conceptual frameworks, there are gaps that
must be considered, and other representations than the tree
could possibly be used. It is impossible to capture everything
that urban forestry constitutes, because it is ever-evolving
and a complex and interdisciplinary field with multiple
layers: socially, ecologically, economically, and politically.
The division of space and distribution of resources are a
constant contest. Thus, the tree model figure is helpful in
thinking more holistically; but it is also a revolving door.
Acknowledgements
Doctoral Committee: Dr. L. Anders Sandberg, Dr. Cecil
Konijnendijk van den Bosch, Dr. Leesa Fawcett, Dr. Don Dippo
References
Bardekjian, A. (2015). Learning From Limbwalkers:
Arborists' Stories in Southern Ontario's Urban
Forests. (Accession No. 10315/30088) [Doctoral dis-
sertation, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York
University, Toronto, Ontario]. YorkSpace.
Barron, T. 2004. The Great Tree of Avalon (Vols
1-3). New York, NY: Philomel Books.
Eisenhardt, K. (1989). Building Theories
from Case Study Research. The Academy of
Management Review, 14(4), 532-550.
Ledwith, M. & Springett, J. 2010. Participatory
Practice: Community-based Action for
Transformative Change. Policy Press.
Lima, M. 2014. The Book of Trees: Visualizing Branches of
Knowledge. New York, NY: Princeton Architectural Press.
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