News & Announcements

Page 1 of 7, Showing 1 - 10 of 66 records

Springtime is Finally Here and that Means Allergies!

Springtime is finally here, and along with the longer days and warmer temperatures comes pollen and seasonal allergies.  Trees provide one of the earliest and most productive sources of pollen, with peak pollen typically arriving between March and May.  Those allergic reactions that drive us to sniffle and sneeze are caused by proteins and glycoproteins from pollen grains which interact with affected people’s immune system.  

Spring, Strength, and Song: The Story of the Rowan Tree

Mid-March is not yet spring in the cold expanses of central Vermont. On the sunniest and warmest of days, snow transforms to ice, only to be covered by snow again the following week. And while it’s only the beer that is green on Saint Patrick’s Day, Vermonters are still thinking about the green shades of spring to come. Latching onto all things Celtic, let’s reflect on how a certain tree has shaped the spiritual health of a culture for centuries.
 

Trees Start Small and Live Big for your Heart

February is American Heart Month. It’s time to get back to a big, healthy life with simple steps to improve your heart health.  Spending time near trees where you live, work and play can improve your overall well-being.  A growing pool of research shows that trees reduce pollution, lower blood pressure and heart rate, lower stress and increase physical activity. 

Trees help achieve resolutions to get in shape and be healthy

The sedentary lifestyle has become more common, and the shift has been costly.  One result is an increase in obesity. Childhood obesity rates have tripled (12–19 years old) or quadrupled (6–11 years old,) and adult rates have doubled since the 1970s.  Obesity increases risk of chronic diseases and conditions such as: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cancer and mental illness. This rise in chronic diseases related to obesity results in billions of dollars in medical costs and lost productivity each year.

National Diabetes Awareness Month

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 30.3 million Americans (or 9.4 percent of the population) had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in 2015. Both types affect how the body uses or produces insulin.

Trees Have Got Your Attention!

October is National ADHD Awareness month. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) a real, brain-based medical disorder. It is a non-discriminatory disorder affecting people of every age, gender, IQ, religious and socio-economic background. While we often think of ADHD as a “kid’s” disorder, the Harvard/NIMH National Comorbidity Survey Replication found that 4.4% percent of adults, ages 18-44 in the United States, experience symptoms and some form of disability of ADHD¹. 

Baby it’s hot outside!

August.  It’s one of the hottest months of the year and getting hotter.  In NJ, continued warming is projected with the state’s average annual temperature expected to rise another 4.1 to 5.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050 (2020 New Jersey Scientific Report on Climate Change). Heat, especially in our urban communities, is difficult on everyone but especially so for pregnant women and their unborn babies. When a woman is pregnant, her body is already working hard to keep her and the developing baby healthy, so adding the extra work of keeping cool can cause major body stress.  In communities of color, high temperatures are one of several factors that drive higher rates of premature deliveries, stillbirths and other dangerous pregnancy outcomes.¹  

Downtown Trees for Comfort and Health

In Vermont, people know that winters are long, summers are glorious, and there are an awful lot of trees. But while the Green Mountains boast healthy forest cover that reflects their name, sustaining trees in Vermont’s urban and built environments is a challenge. Lack of adequate healthy soil, too little water, stresses from road salt, construction, or tree pests, and even normal aging and decline of downtown street trees require local urban foresters to stay on the lookout for appropriate places to plant new trees.

Every Kid Healthy Week

April 26-30 is Every Kid Healthy Week. This national celebration promotes the importance of well-rounded health in children – not just physical, but also social and emotional health. One easy way to maintain each of these types of health is to spend time outside among trees. Spending time among trees is scientifically proven to reduce stress and boost the immune system. And when kids appreciate the benefits trees provide not just us, but also our planet, it can start them on the path of lifelong love for the natural world.

New report shows economic importance of wood products industry in Michigan and in Midwest, Northeast regions

The importance of forest products industries in the Northeast and Midwestern states are highlighted in a report published by the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance.  The report summarizes estimates of economic contributions to local economies in 20 northern states.