Ep. 247 Planting with Purpose: Tree Equity and Our Communities | #GoodGrowing
In this Arbor Month episode of Good Growing, horticulture educators Chris Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart dig into the concept of tree equity—the idea that all neighborhoods deserve access to tree canopy and the benefits trees provide. From shade and stormwater management to mental health and property values, the hosts explore why trees matter and why their distribution across communities is far from equal.
The conversation traces how historical practices like redlining shaped today’s urban forests, explains why some neighborhoods still have far fewer trees, and introduces practical tools—like the Tree Equity Score and i‑Tree—that can help communities make more informed, equitable tree‑planting decisions.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0SFKXYs8yX4
Skip to what you want to know:
00:30 Hey Ken!
01:18 Welcome, Emily!
02:38 First topic of tree month: Tree equity
04:11 What are the benefits of trees? Ecosystem services
09:28 Social and Emotional benefits of trees
14:38 Not everyone has the benefits of trees. Diving into the topic of tree equity.
17:10 The history of tree inequity
17:57 Redlining and its effect on tree equity
23:41 What tools can be used to look at the need for tree planting in communities?
26:45 Tree Equity Score and i-Tree
44:44 So long and coming up next week!
Tree Equity Score https://www.treeequityscore.org/
i-Tree https://www.itreetools.org/
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu
Like what you see? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
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Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
--
Prefer audio? You can find us on most podcast platforms.
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us
The conversation traces how historical practices like redlining shaped today’s urban forests, explains why some neighborhoods still have far fewer trees, and introduces practical tools—like the Tree Equity Score and i‑Tree—that can help communities make more informed, equitable tree‑planting decisions.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0SFKXYs8yX4
Skip to what you want to know:
00:30 Hey Ken!
01:18 Welcome, Emily!
02:38 First topic of tree month: Tree equity
04:11 What are the benefits of trees? Ecosystem services
09:28 Social and Emotional benefits of trees
14:38 Not everyone has the benefits of trees. Diving into the topic of tree equity.
17:10 The history of tree inequity
17:57 Redlining and its effect on tree equity
23:41 What tools can be used to look at the need for tree planting in communities?
26:45 Tree Equity Score and i-Tree
44:44 So long and coming up next week!
Tree Equity Score https://www.treeequityscore.org/
i-Tree https://www.itreetools.org/
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu
Like what you see? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
--
Prefer audio? You can find us on most podcast platforms.
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us
Creators and Guests
Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties
Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
