How We Got Started

Since it’s beginnings in 2013 when a few volunteers began raising money to plant public shade trees, Tree Northampton Inc. has truly exploded with hundreds of volunteers planting and caring for trees all around the city.  Dramatic growth began in earnest after 2015 when our city began, for the first time in decades, allocating money to purchase trees. Volunteers embraced the opportunity, planting more trees each year and in 2019 to great fan fare we planted the thousandth tree!  Our robust growth attracted attention from tree professionals throughout New England and Tree Northampton was recently recognized with the  Harry J. Banker Gold Leaf Award by the International Society of Arboriculture.  The award shone a light on our winning model of a private citizens group partnering with a municipal shade tree program. 

MEET THE TEAM

THANK YOU TO OUR CONSULTING SPECIALISTS AND SUPPORTERS:

Bob Goss is an expert arborist and frequently attends pruning events to teach and offer guidance.

Jay Girard is a lifetime resident of Northampton and currently Forester 1 at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. He is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist since 1993, holds a degree in Urban Forestry and an Associates in Applied Forestry, and is formerly a Landscape Manager at Smith College.

Andrew Putnam is Superintendent of Urban Forestry and Landscapes in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a  Massachusetts Certified Arborist and holds a BS in Urban Forestry from UMass Amherst.

Jen Werner is a longtime Northampton resident and holds a BA in Horticulture from Penn State, a Masters in Horticulture Science North Carolina State and is a Professor of Landscape Design and Management Technologies at Springfield Technical Community College. She has spent countless hours planting and pruning city trees and is always happy to share her expertise while volunteering. As a 5 year member of the Urban Shade Tree Commission, she spearheaded and helped write the “Northampton Tree List and Planting Guidelines.”

Kristina Bezanson is Lecturer in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry at UMass Amherst and an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist / Municipal Specialist and a Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. Kristina holds credentials in Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Design, and Sustainable Installation and is also a Massachusetts Certified Arborist. You can often find Kristina volunteering to plant and prune trees around the city, lending her expertise and knowledge about all things tree related.

Susan Roy holds degrees in Plant and Soil Science (BS) and Entomology (MS). She has worked as a grower, pest management scout, Arborist, florist and in wholesale flower sales. Susan also taught as an adjunct in the Landscape department for eight years at Springfield Technical Community College. She has maintained a perennial garden at her home for almost fifty years and collects daylily and hosta varieties. She has also overseen the weekly flower decor at the Episcopal church since 1981 and is a regular contributor to the Festival of Flowers each April at the Springfield Museums.

Vicki Van Zee is our super-volunteer who spends many hours organizing our volunteers for tree plantings and events. She also documents plantings and boosts morale, thank you Vicki!