Stewardship of the Urban Landscape
SOUL is a joint initiative between University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
Stewardship of the Urban Landscape (SOUL)
Tree Steward Profiles
Q: If you could be a tree, what tree would you be and why?
A: Hard rock maple- because they grow slowly they have deep roots and provide many benefits!
Kyle Albee, Burlington, VT
SOUL Class of 2010
Kyle Albee is known in some circles as the "Tree Man." He has been caught answering questions about trees everywhere he goes. He's even been known to offer free trees to fellow worshippers at his synagogue.
A native Vermonter, Kyle grew up in Waterbury Center. He went to school for business to Saint Michael's College and Champlain College. Kyle's love of trees sprouted from his mother's love of gardening and by a neighbor, Phil Lintilhac. a botanist and UVM professor, who shared with him an appreciation for Vermont's forests. In fact, throughout much of Kyle's youth, you'd be more likely to find him exploring the woods afterschool than playing sports on the ball field.
Kyle was introduced to Burlington's volunteer tree group, Branch Out Burlington! (BOB!) through the Extension Master Gardener course. BOB!'s energy was contagious and after a few meetings, Kyle was hooked. Kyle put his background in business to work, helping BOB with fundraising. In 2008, he started a tree sale to help support BOB!'s community tree nursery. The first year, 100 trees were sold. This year BOB celebrated its 5th annual tree sale and sold over 900 trees. BOB!'s tree sale has been instrumental in providing trees to people who need them most from low income residents to non-profits to smaller communities around the state hit hard by Hurricane Irene, such as Hartford, Bethel, and Cabot.
When asked how he has benefited from becoming a SOUL Tree Steward, Kyle reflects "It has broadened my horizons and how I look at trees. I look at trees so differently now…everything from root system to canopy." In addition to what he has learned, Kyle reports the program has given him a network of experts and other volunteers. In fact, several 2012 SOUL students already come out to volunteer at various BOB! events. For Kyle, the SOUL program is not just about sitting in a room listening to a lecture; it is about going out and doing something. The program is about taking knowledge and using it in your community whether starting a tree board, or a community tree nursery.
When he's not caring for trees, Kyle can be found volunteering for several other nonprofit community and statewide organizations. In fact, once a month (?) you can find Kyle and his Burmese mountain dog, Cassie, cheering up residents in the Converse home in Burlington.
Burlington is lucky to have a strong community tree group with committed stewards, like Kyle Albee, filling the gaps in the community canopy.
Q: If you could be a tree, what tree would you be and why?
A: Maple or an oak….a tree that people climb in, sit in, or play in…..
Sarah Hoffmeier, Montpelier, VT
SOUL Class of 2010
Sarah grew up in western Pennsylvania with a secret love of gardens and gardening. With no history of a green thumb in her family, she studied business in college and began her career in the corporate world. The gardens didn’t stop calling to her, however, so she left her job to attend the Conway School’s graduate program in Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design. That’s where she met her husband Alex, and in 2009 they moved to Vermont to be among people who loved plants!
They settled in Montpelier and Sarah wasted no time getting involved in the community. She greened her thumb designing and installing rain gardens for UVM Extensions’ Low Impact Development Program and joined the Montpelier Tree Board. In 2010, Sarah enrolled in the SOUL Tree Stewards program to learn more about trees and meet people.
Since participating in the SOUL course, Sarah has been hard at work caring for Montpelier’s trees. On Wednesday nights, you can find Sarah in downtown Montpelier, hose in hand, watering the street trees. On Saturday mornings, you can find her and a handful of other volunteers from the Tree Board getting their hands dirty at one of the famous Tree Board ‘work days.’ She has also been instrumental in updating the Montpelier tree inventory and keeping track of the many trees planted out from the community’s tree nursery. Recently, she has taken on more of a leadership role on the Tree Board as the Co-Chair. In the past four months, she has logged more than 60 volunteer hours.
In addition to her volunteer efforts, Sarah and Alex own and operate a small landscape design and installation business called Rising Arbor Designs. This spring Sarah has gone full time with the business. Needless to say she loves it and I’m sure her customers love her!
When asked how she has benefited from becoming a SOUL Tree Steward, she reports “I have become part of a network. Since completing the SOUL program, I’ve met other landscape designers and gardeners. I’m now connected to like-minded community members…people with a passion for plants. I’ve also gained a tremendous amount of confidence in proper pruning, and knowing when to bring in other professionals, such as an arborist, and when to recommend trees be removed. “
Life in Montpelier is a shade better thanks to Sarah and the Montpelier Tree Board!
Last modified December 14 2012 02:15 PM