SF volunteer’s commitment brings trees to the city’s urban landscape
For all our eco-awareness here in the Bay Area, our standard-bearing city of San Francisco is remarkably short on trees. Shady, life-giving greenery covers a mere 12% of the city – and chances are, if you pass by one of these precious trees, Charlie Starbuck had a hand in putting it there.
Starbuck, a former tax lawyer and member of the San Francisco city planning commission, began volunteering with the city’s Friends of the Urban Forest organization (FUF) back when it first took to the streets to plant trees in 1981. Since then, he’s dedicated unpaid hours each week, in all weather (quite a feat in some our chillier seasons!) to planting trees with loving, expert care. In reference to his work with FUF, Starbuck (quoted in the Christian Science Monitor) says “it’s easy to be obsessed with it because of the whole transformation that occurs. You change so much [by planting tress] in one morning. It’s an emotional high for me.”
Get inspired by a Starbuck that has nothing to do with mass produced coffee products: if you live in the city, plant a tree – or better yet, reach out and get involved with Friends of the Urban Forest yourself. Visit www.fuf.net for more info.
Contributed by Lauren Westerfield
April 28, 2011 at 1:47 am
Please forward this information to anyone interested.
Some 10 trees are scheduled to be cut down in front of CBS TV in SF Battery street. Looks looks the only reason is to make room for TV truck parking. SAVE THOSE TREES PLEASE.