The Urban Tree Program Does it Again!

On Sunday, March 26, more than three dozen volunteers gathered to make a noticeable and sustainable difference in Ashburton all while having a great time!

Lead by Tori Burns, volunteers of all ages gathered on the corner of Callaway and Dorchester to plant, weed, prune and beautify the entrance to the Ashburton neighborhood.

Together neighbors planted nine fruit trees - three persimmons and six Asian pears. They also mulched around the new plants and pruned established trees.

This is not the first volunteer planting Tori organized in Ashburton. On November 6, 2022, AAA hosted its first tree planting event. We planted nine trees, seven shrubs, and 20 pollinators. We also pruned and weeded around established trees. After a 20 minute workshop about proper tree planting and pruning led by Josh Rosenstein, Executive Director of Edible Eden, 53 volunteers worked in small groups to plant, and put compost and mulch around the new trees, shrubs, and pollinators.

The goal of the Urban Tree Program reaches beyond just planting trees and shrubs but also to build deeper connections with neighbors in the Callaway-Garrison community that adjoins Ashburton. Also to engage students from two partner schools in service learning and tree stewardship, and to increase the quality of life for the residents of Ashburton, not through a single event but over the long term through advocacy and education.

The purpose of the Ashburton Area Association’s (AAA) Urban Tree Program is to reenergize the next phase of beautifying a nine-block long median that separates the Ashburton and Callaway-Garrison neighborhoods and create community by bringing together multi-generational volunteers to plant, mulch and prune trees. The project also seeks to create learning experiences for students, facilitated by For-Win-Ash Garden Club volunteers and Temple X, at the Nathan A. Pitts Ashburton Elementary/Middle (Ashburton E/M) School, and engage parents who are also neighbors.

What’s Going On with the Streets in Ashburton?

Driving through Ashburton these days you’re hard pressed to find a street that ISN’T under construction. Hilton Avenue, on many days, seems almost undriveable. Though finally completed, Wabash was under construction for months! Ever wonder why?

We wondered why too! So Ashburton Association president, AJ Foster, set up not one but two community meetings with city officials to find out what the heck is going on!

The ‘why’ is simple...the city is replacing the water mains throughout Ashburton as well as the Ashburton Tank Project at Hanlon Park. These projects are the primary culprit for the disruption on our streets according to Yolanda Winkler of the Baltimore Department of Public Works.

However, the problem isn’t why the work is happening but the ‘when.’ As in WHEN will the work be completed and WHEN will our streets be fixed? On that subject Winkler and her coworker ,James Patrick, Chief of Utilities, had no answers! Neither city official supplied a timeframe for completion instead insisting they will find the information and get back to us.

As of the publication date for the newsletter no answers have been provided. The only assurances that were made is our streets, once the projects are completed, will be returned to their original condition. Small comfort.

We’ll keep you posted through this newsletter or via email. If you, or someone who would like to join our mailing list please email me at: dolds@zebradesigns.net

To contact the DPW on their website at https://publicworks.

SPRING IS BUSTING OUT!

HAVE YOU GOT AN IDEA FOR A STORY?

Our newsletter is designed to keep the Ashburton community members informed, connected and entertained. The content in this edition was generated primarily by committee and board members. But there is a writer inside each of us!

Interested in submitting content for inclusion in future editions? Email your stories or photos to dolds@zebradesigns.net