By Glore Ruiz
“I think that there's probably no closer place to God than out in nature. I always say that even if I'm just out watering or planting something, I'm in my happy place. It feels good to plant something and watch it grow and nurture it.”
Pam Franke looked about her subdivision and admired the mature trees. Then it dawned on her that although these trees were being managed well, there weren’t any young trees. What would happen when these trees all matured to the point of death? No younger trees would be ready to take their place. Pam knew she had to act; she took it upon herself to plant new trees, not unlike the French fable ‘The Man Who Planted Trees’.
Pam knew that MODOT owned the land she hoped to plant in. She met with them to review plans and to apply for a permit to plant on the property, which she renews yearly. In the beginning, she would shop sales and slowly add a few trees here and there. When Pam found out about Forest ReLeaf in 2019, she immediately envisioned the success of the partnership. She suddenly had access to free trees and her tree planting efforts progressed quickly. Pam planted in small batches, making multiple trips in her car to get all the trees; sometimes she rented a van or truck; other times, she recruited volunteers to fill up their cars as well. Each time, she was adding to the number of young trees on the land. She estimates that she has planted over 200 trees.
Like the French fable, Pam was mindful about her planting locations. She could tell that some areas were higher and drier, while others were lower and swampier. Seeking advice, Pam had met with Forest ReLeaf staff to learn about “right tree, right place”. It was also important to Pam to place protective caging around the young trees that may otherwise be browsed by deer or lost to mower damage caused by the large riding mowers used on MODOT land.
Pam’s stewardship for these trees did not end there. These young trees were thirsty and far from water, so Pam’s husband designed a wagon for the back of Pam’s electric bike. This wagon would carry water jugs to quench the young trees’ thirst. With 1-2 gallons of water per tree, the watering trips would take as long as eight hours. At least once a week, and twice in exceptionally hot weeks, Pam would be taking trips all day from a water source to the newly planted trees.
Pam plans to plant forty more trees before dedicating herself solely to maintenance. She also shares that she has “hopefully planted things that are going to survive and thrive without having an irrigation system.” She continues to say “I hope that it cleans the air, helps the animals, and shields the subdivision from wind and noise. I’m hopeful that they’ll grow up and somebody will be able to enjoy the benefits of them.”
“Imagine the kids in your congregation growing up learning all the native plants in your area and how to take care of them, and being able to experience the divine in nature,” says Christopher Grundy.
Since 1999, the Ferguson Volunteer Flower Department has been caring for two gardens in downtown Ferguson.
With Forest ReLeaf’s help, Park Commissioner Peg Crockett is adding more trees to Hunter Park, giving the local community more opportunities for play and leisure.
I am Elijah Belz, the Field Operations Coordinator for Forest ReLeaf. I am a certified arborist and the primary person in the field for Forest ReLeaf, maintaining roughly 1000 trees planted in the St. Louis City, and maintaining our equipment our equipment used to maintain our trees! This job is a catch-all position that carries different responsibilities during the different seasons. Fall and spring are our planting, tree delivery, and inventory season; winter is our pruning, mulching, and planning season; summer is our watering season where we lead a crew of interns getting into the green industry.
My background is bicycle repair! I was in that industry for almost a decade, including running a bicycle repair shop, before taking a job with a tree planting organization in Atlanta. From there I moved to an edible landscape company. I became certified as an arborist while working at Forest ReLeaf this February! Trees rock, bikes are cool too.
De’Nonna Jones graduated from Knox College in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, driven by a commitment to environmental justice and community-based conservation. Since then, she has gained hands-on experience working across a range of green spaces throughout the St. Louis region, focusing on the care, restoration, and accessibility of urban natural areas. She began her journey at Tower Grove Park, where she developed a deep appreciation for public green spaces as vital community resources, before moving into a stewardship role with the Missouri Botanical Garden in partnership with Great Rivers Greenway. She now serves as the Stewardship Crew Coordinator at Forest ReLeaf. De’Nonna is passionate about creating inclusive pathways into environmental work and empowering tree lovers and emerging conservationists to see themselves as stewards of their communities. Through her work, she strives to strengthen connections between people, trees, and places in urban environments.
After 17 years in the non-profit and public sector, Jess remains committed to mission-driven work that tackles the challenges facing our communities. Their career began with a year of service as an Americorps St. Louis Emergency Response team member, responding to natural disasters and performing conservation projects. That foundation of service led to roles supporting the arts, affordable housing, mental health, and grassroots housing advocacy in St. Louis. During this journey Jess has worked to center the value “nothing about us, without us.” They do their best to ensure that the voices of people who have been marginalized guide the strategy and execution of work that honors their lived experiences. When they aren’t working, Jess is out paddling, hiking, working in their garden, or building something.
