Studies have shown that gardening is good not only for your body, but your mind. In fact, according to studies published by Ohio State University, the University of Edinburgh and the National Institutes of Health, regular gardening may even reduce the risk of dementia. Additionally, specific bacteria in the soils can boost serotonin levels.
Now is the perfect time to get outside and dig in the dirt, but if you live if an apartment or don’t have a place to create a garden, it can be challenging to get those mind and body benefits.
This is where organizations like Up With Trees and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful can help both garden novices and pros get their gardening fix – all while improving the community.
Up With Trees began in 1976 when a student reached out to the city inquiring about how they were replacing trees removed because of street construction, says Shawn Davis, the organization’s community outreach director.
“Nearly 50 years and 40,000 trees later, Up With Trees continues to plant trees in public spaces so that our Tulsa community can benefit from cleaner air and water, shaded and cooler landscapes, and an overall more beautiful and healthier home,” says Davis. “Our mission is empowering, educating and serving communities by utilizing trees for their environmental, economic, and social benefits.”
Up With Trees plants and maintains trees in many public spaces, including parks and schools, as well as along major highways and roadways. Volunteers interested in planting trees can reach out from October through April, while those more interested in supporting maintenance efforts, such as pruning and weed eating, can join the group year-round.
“Our 2024 planting season has some exciting projects ahead, where we will enlist volunteers to plant to enliven citywide median locations and neighborhoods,” says Davis.
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is another organization that depends on the enthusiasm of volunteers and their green thumbs.
“We have several unique programs designed for individuals, civic groups, communities, municipalities and organizations who want to make an impact,” says executive director Evelyn Schaefer. “We have an affiliate program of more than 50 organizations, from small towns to large cities. They are our boots on the ground, and are empowered through resources we provide, like grants, stipends and equipment, to host cleanup events, plan community gardens, paint dilapidated buildings and propose other projects that beautify, remediate litter and encourage recycling.
“We can provide free supplies like gloves, trash bags and safety vests throughout the year,” Schaefer continues. “Last year, we had more than 13,000 volunteers around the state perform some kind of cleanup activity.”
2026 marks the 100-year anniversary of Route 66. Keep Oklahoma Beautiful will be a leader in clean-up efforts in anticipation of the many events planned that year. As a part of the schedule, there will be flower and tree plantings as well as large-scale environmental clean-ups that include the collection of tires, batteries, dangerous chemicals, paint and other environmental hazards that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Next year marks another exciting anniversary: 60 years of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful.
“Last year alone, 2.3 million pounds of trash were collected in the three-month Great American Cleanup effort. Nearly 31,000 trees, flowers and shrubs were planted. More than 13,000 volunteers cleared 4,900 acres and 2,665 miles of land of trash and debris,” says Schaefer. “Extrapolate that by the impact of programs over 60 years and you can begin to see what an impact Keep Oklahoma Beautiful has made.”
Gardening Safety Tips
• Take frequent breaks.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Wear sunscreen and a hat.
• Use proper left mechanics – lifting with your legs, not with your back.
• Choose the right tool for the job.
• Use a gardening stool or chair when weeding, or kneel or sit on a padded foam cushion.
