Ric Vetter, Tree Team leader, from Hawaii to Oregon

Ric Vetter is an active member of the Concordia Tree Team. You might see him walking his dogs or pruning neighborhood street trees.

• How long have you lived in Portland?  What about your home here is connected to trees and Oregon forests?

We moved to Portland in 2019 after living on the island of Oahu for 22 years, we came for a different kind of paradise.  After 9 months spent coming to love Portland Covid happened which stopped our exploration of much of what the city has to offer, but we managed to see much of Oregon state park by state park.

• How did you get involved with the Concordia Tree Team?

Within a month of moving I encountered a tree team member while walking my dogs, and that evening attended my first tree team meeting.  Team members are friendly and fortunately for me, willing to talk to strangers they meet on the street (the dogs helped).

• What interests you or motivates you about caring for our neighborhood urban forest?

Livability, sustainablility, beauty and more.  Trees provide so many benefits and only require a few hours of care throughout the year.

• What is your favorite tree?

The Oregon white oak.  It’s magnificent and distinctive, just yesterday we noticed many along highway 26 as we drove to the coast.  Seeing our oaks just makes me happy.

• Any additional special messages for your neighbors? 

Concordia and our neighboring communities are so walkable and beautiful.  I really enjoy seeing on our morning walks so many well kept and/or unique homes and yards, I particularly love the many pollinator friendly yards and seeing native plants.