Planting Skills for the Future

Our Baton Roots agroforestry apprentices recently put their training into action by planting 26 native, fruit, and shade trees in the community.

Tree planting gives apprentices the chance to take what they’ve been learning and apply it in the field — from preparing planting sites and handling young trees to thinking about long-term care, healthy growth, and how different species can support the surrounding landscape. It’s practical experience that builds confidence while also creating something the community can benefit from for years to come.

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These plantings are part of the larger work apprentices take on throughout the year as they build skills in horticulture, arboriculture, and sustainable land care. So far this year, 88 trees have already been planted, and there’s still more to come.

We have two more tree plantings planned this fall. In late October, apprentices will plant 41 trees, followed by a final planting in mid-November with approximately 23 more trees.

Together, those projects will bring the year’s total to more than 150 trees planted across the community.

These trees are going into places where people live, gather, and spend time, creating more shade, more food-producing trees, and greener shared spaces for years to come. Through partnerships with organizations like East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA), we’re able to bring that work directly into neighborhoods and create something residents can enjoy long after planting day.

For our apprentices, each planting is also a chance to build real experience while contributing to something visible and lasting in the community.