About Us
Our Mission
To Improve the Community Environment by Investing in People
History
Tree Trust was founded in 1976, to help reforest the Minnesota Twin Cities Metropolitan area in the wake of Dutch Elm disease. At that time, Twin Cities communities, like so many urban areas, were forced to cut down most of their mature boulevard trees - all of them elms - because of the Dutch elm infestation. The urban forest, which contributed to the beauty, environment and land values in the cities, was fast disappearing.
The cities faced other problems at the time. The economy was in a downturn and many families were living in poverty. Tree Trust founders, G. Rolf Svendsen and Donald Willeke, envisioned a program that would provide jobs and training for low-income residents helping to replant trees in their own neighborhoods.
Jobs and Training
From the beginning low income and special needs youth found jobs and employment training at Tree Trust. While they learned and earned money, they improved the parks and public areas of their communities. They began by planting over 10,000 trees in community tree nurseries. These trees became the original Tree Trust, and although today we rely mostly on stock from area nurseries, Tree Trust continues to operate a nursery to assure a healthy supply of trees for our programs.
Urban and Community Forestry
In 1992, Tree Trust added a forestry division in order to educate individuals and organizations about the uses, care and benefits of community trees and the urban natural environment. Like the employment programs, Tree Trust's urban & community forestry program emphasize hand-on projects that help communities and schools improve their community's natural environment.
Landscape Services
Over the years, Tree Trust became known for its high quality landscape construction projects, as well as its grounds maintenance, landscape installations and tree services. To help support both our training programs and further the greening of the community, Tree Trust began a Landscape Services Division to earn income through market rate landscape construction, installation and maintenance services. Workers in this division are graduates of our training programs and learn even more advanced skills as they help create income to support Tree Trust's programming.
Tree Trust
2350 Wycliff Street Suite 200
Phone: 651-644-5800
Fax: 651-644-1469
