Meet Lori Krampetz: Tree Champion
Have you noticed a sign on the median about an upcoming Tree event? Or have you been welcomed with a snack and a smile and fun activities related to the Concordia Tree Team? Maybe you appreciated the young trees making it through a tough winter, thanks to hand watering? Then you have benefited from Lori’s hard work for the Concordia urban forest.
When did you move to the neighborhood, and how did you get connected with the Tree Team?
I moved into Concordia neighborhood March 19, 2012. At the time, the Concordia Tree Team (CTT) didn't need any new volunteers.
I was involved with Friends of Trees (FOT), as the neighborhood coordinator for Kenton. When I first moved into my house in Kenton, there were absolutely no trees on the street except for a tree of heaven and big leaf maple which were clearly not planted, but volunteers. I saw an ad in our Kenton newsletter for FOT street trees and even though I had already planted trees in my planting strip, I said that I would help get trees planted.
The current coordinator was ready to hand the position off and even though I had politely declined the full responsibility, I'm grateful that she insisted I take over. I still have dear friends in Kenton, those who stepped up in big ways to help in any way they could.
One of our active CTT members, Mallory, who has been a long time friend, asked when we bumped into each other at FOT plantings, why I wasn't in the CTT. I relayed my earlier inquiry story and she assured me that there would be room for me to help.
What motivates you to volunteer for neighborhood tree work?
When I first attended the meetings, I learned about the varied projects CTT were working on and I was so inspired. The former Meek elementary school Concordia Learning Landscape (CLL), the care and tending of the Ainsworth Linear Arboretum (ALA) (they are now national Arboretums!) the street tree pruning, Jim's involvement with the Hiroshima-Oregon Gingko tree project, were things that I could get behind and help with.
I am very proud of the group for taking the initiative to do for our neighborhood and our city.
The members of the CTT are all passionate, intelligent, inspiring, organized and just downright interesting and lovely people.
What’s your favorite tree?
When asked which tree is my favorite, I always say "the most recent tree that I planted" because that means one more tree is in the ground and I learn about a new species.
Although difficult to choose just one favorite tree, I would say that the Gingko holds a very special place in my heart. Recently, neighborhood squirrels gifted me a number of Ginkgo nuts that have sprouted. I have carefully relocated them to nursery pots so I can tend to them and I'm very excited to see what variations of leaf patterns emerge.
In Concordia, I would say my most favorite tree is one that's on Ainsworth in the parking strip- I think it 27th, I honestly don't even know what kind of tree it is, I'm assuming a maple and it has the most amazing blazing red leaves in autumn that stop me in my tracks, in awe, every year.
What do you enjoy most about working on the Tree Team?
As far as what I like to do with the CTT, I love pruning trees as I love to sculpt and I prefer to do living sculptures, such as plants. I also love doing outreach and education such as the Sunday parkways this last summer, we set up in front of my house and spoke with many neighbors about our mission.
I made crossword puzzles and word searches for people to engage with the unique trees in our Arboretums
