CREATING A

CREATING A MICRO-FOREST:
MICRO-FOREST:

A STEP
A STEP BY
BY STEP
STEP GUIDE
GUIDE

OFFICE OF
OFFICE OF URBAN
URBAN CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION

CITY OF
CITY OF EASTON,
EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA
PENNSYLVANIA
 Our purpose:
The focus and substance of this guide, based on the author’s lifetime of personal and
professional experience in the green industry, details the successful creation of a
Micro-Forest in Easton, Pennsylvania. It outlines the various stages of design and is
summarized for application in federal and state-level entities, local municipalities,
townships, boroughs, park systems, land trusts, non-profit organizations, commercial
and industrial property owners, and private property owners. Using Easton’s Micro-
Forest as a case study, this guide presents the protocol used to establish a densely-
planted forest within a small footprint, mimicking as realistically as possible the early
stages of a forest ecosystem which can be adjusted to any region’s indigenous
climate. Micro-Forests transform otherwise non-productive spaces, be it a lawn or
urban vacant lot, into thriving, self-sustaining ecosystems.

About the author:

Robert Christopher has worked in the environmental field
his entire professional career, with experience in all aspects
of the industry including landscape design and
maintenance, customer service and sales, greenhouse
management, organic farming, and urban forestry. Rob
incorporates his holistic vision and experience into dynamic
projects as Conservation Manager for the City of Easton.

Through his role, he has attained extensive experience in grant writing, volunteer
management, community engagement, advocacy, municipal ordinance enforcement,
and standardizing local urban forestry. He previously served as a City Forester,
Organic Farm Manager at Rodale Working Tree Center, and Landscape Maintenance
Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture from Delaware
Valley University and is an ISA-Certified Arborist. Read more about the author at
rchristopher.com.
about the office:
Easton’s Urban Conservation Office was established in
2022, transitioning from five decades of street tree
planning through Public Works’ Forestry Department and
a volunteer Shade Tree Commission. The office oversees
the Street Tree Program and numerous environmental
initiatives, working with residents for safe neighborhood
plantings, in public parks, and expanding green space.

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 table of contents:
I. What is a Micro-Forest? ................................................................................................................ 3
II. Easton Micro-Forest & Project Dimensions ...................................................................... 4
III. Ecological assessment ............................................................................................................... 5
IV. Conceptual Plan and plant education .............................................................................. 8
V. Budgeting ............................................................................................................................................ 11
VI. Installation ..................................................................................................................................... 14
VII. Maintenance ................................................................................................................................... 16
viii. education ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Ix. MICRO-FOREST LEGACIES ............................................................................................................... 21
X. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & SUPPPLY LIST ......................................................................................... 23

I. What is a micro-forest?
A Micro-Forest is essentially a sample of an ecosystem that mimics the
naturally occurring, native forestry of your area. It is the arrangement of
diverse plant genera that take root and thrive through the stages of
ecological succession, evolving into a miniature forest indigenous to the
region. This constructed ecosystem involves a multi-layered system of
native perennials, shrubs, understory flowering, foliage, fruiting trees, mid-
level canopy, canopy trees, soil biome and underground fungal network.
While this may seem like a long list, half is propagated by the plants and
animals (vertebrate and non-vertebrate) themselves, given that projects are
approached with careful planning and proper maintenance. In fact, the only
way to foster an authentic Micro-Forest is to allow nature to run its course,
refraining from interference beyond the removal of invasive species.

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 II. Easton micro-forest
& Project dimensions
New Micro-Forests are best suited for spaces that are currently unoccupied,
such as areas of public parks, cemeteries, and local government-owned
properties that are either public or accessible to employees. Dimensions can
range widely and can be adapted uniquely to your project site.
The Micro-Forest in Easton, Pa. is
approximately 120 feet wide by 165 feet long,
totaling 19,800 square feet or just over quarter
acre. While natural succession is the most ideal
approach, some may want to be proactive and
165'
reap the benefits of their Micro-Forest in a
limited timeframe. To do this, Easton
accelerated the process slightly by selecting a
120'
diverse number of plants of all varieties that
were already established. They were then
arranged according to how they grow naturally
in a forest ecosystem. You can add to this
footprint as the years go on and the Micro-
Forest will evolve on its own. For people living within smaller parameters or
in a wider variety of locations, this model can
be downsized to a “Nano-Forest.” With most of
society living in densely populated urban
spaces, a Nano-Forest can be designed to suit
limited green spaces like urban yards or
undefined patches of compacted soil that
would otherwise be a sterile, non-beneficial
and uninviting environment.

This area in Easton was chosen for the Micro-Forest due to the future
development of Lower Hackett Park transitioning into an
educational conservation destination.

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III.
Ecological assessment
Prior to taking on the task of laying out and designing what is going to be
planted in your Micro-Forest, begin with a physical inspection and inventory of
the areas that immediately surround the site you have chosen. To complement
your inventory, you may also consider utilizing the knowledge of your local
County Conservation District or local Extension Forester as they may have
records easily available and vital to this assessment. Contact your local
Municipality and Conservation District to inquire about possible planting and
Earth-moving permits depending on the size of your project, along with any
requirements for an Erosion & Sedimentation (E & S) Plan (see page 7).

Information gathering by simple observation and critical contemplation is a

key element in the process of creating your Micro-Forest and can save you the
trouble of obstacles in the future. As resilient as plant-life is with its capability
to adapt to most environmental circumstances, it is also well worth the time
spent gathering this environmental information in creating a strong foundation
for your Micro-Forest project.

Create a simple document

recording all these observations
before you start to consider plant
material and if fencing in your
Micro-Forest is necessary.

Example:
Soil composition at Easton’s Micro-
Forest changes from the southern
area being high in clay to the
northern edge having more organic
matter and moisture retention.

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 Here’s a list of things to consider during the ecological assessment phase:
1. Local inventory of trees and plants that are already established, noting
any species that are dominant.
2. Familiarize yourself with non-native, invasive plant species that are found
in your area so you can identify them in your project site.
3. Make note of exposure to sunlight, wind, and proximity to runoff from
roadways or downspouts particularly in urban areas.
4. Soil composition can be checked by taking three plug samples in the
project footprint at approximately 12 inches down. If you are considering
more than one land plot for your project, dig into each of them and make
note of clay or rock deposits, if it is sandy, very dry, moist and healthy,
dark in color, etc.
5. During this digging process you may also note if there are extensive root
networks running through the project site(s).
6. The pH should be checked to make sure the soil is not high in alkalinity or
acidic, especially if your location is an urban lot.
7. Make note of overhead and underground utilities to avoid.
Next you will want to conduct an Ecological Assessment
which is similar to the intake of plant species and
geographical characteristics outlined above. This
assessment encompasses other types of wildlife living in
the vicinity of your project site. These creatures are the
pollinators and caretakers of the ecosystem, vital to the
success of your Micro-Forest. Keep in mind that when
creating your Micro-Forest you are also creating a haven
for native wildlife from the ground level to the high
canopy, providing food, shelter, and a place to
reproduce. In urban settings in particular, a Micro-Forest
serves as a “Wildlife Bridge,” providing safe passage for
birds and mammals to move from one place to another
across a dangerous, largely concrete landscape.

Keep in mind that the relationship between plant and animal life is a delicate
balance. Some animals such as groundhogs, rabbits and voles among others, may
be a threat to your Micro-Forest in the beginning, greedily gnawing at leaves and
bark and digging holes in the soil. Make sure to adequately protect your freshly
planted trees, shrubs and perennials/herbaceous plants while your Micro-Forest
is young, until the plants mature and establish themselves in their new
environment.
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 Here are some protective measures to take:
Every young tree needs their trunk protected
by a trunk guard from the base to the first
layer of branches until it matures to at least 4
inches in diameter. Deer can still eat the
leaves of the lower limbs without damage to
the bark. Using crushed gravel around the
base of the trees will deter chewing mammals.
Make a fence at least 8 ft. tall around your
project site. This can be done in any variety of
ways with very basic materials from your local
hardware store or greenhouse. To keep out
burrowing animals, you may want to dig at
least 12 inches or more down into the soil
around the perimeter of the Micro-Forest and
place your fencing in this opening. Fill with Photo credit: Joel Jara Cano and Irina Khodanitska.
soil when fencing is secure.

Photo credit: Adapted by Jeffrey Miller and original by West Virginia University Extension Service.
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 IV.
conceptual plan & plant education
With all of the vital environmental information gathered from the physical
site inspection and a document created as a guide, you now have
everything needed to start planning the layout and choosing the right
plants for your Micro-Forest.

Determine the size you can manage or what the size is for the space you
chose, then start to draft on paper using an architect’s scale ruler your
project site boundaries, use a scale of 1 inch = 10 feet. This will provide
enough space to plot your plants, make notations and be easy to read.
After creating the boundaries of the Micro-Forest, decide where you want
your walking paths to be laid out, this way you can start to plot trees
around them. For larger projects, it is recommended to allow at least
48 inches wide paths, as it makes the paths easier to maintain with
mowers. In Easton’s Micro-Forest for example, these are the only areas
mowed, and all the other spaces are left natural. Between three and four
times a year they are cut back and managed to prevent invasive species
from taking over.

Working off your Ecological Assessment and the tree species inventory in
your area, use this data as a starting point for choosing plant material. Make
a list of any other native trees that are hardy in your area from the shrub
level, understory trees (flowering or foliar), mid-level and canopy trees to
guide your selections. Refer to the image on page 7 for clarification on these
classes of plants and their role in the ecosystem.

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 Original Lower Hackett Park Micro-Forest Plot Plan
WW BC PO AHZ - American Hazelnut: 9
WW
PO CV
CV BB BB - Bayberry: 8
PO
BB Log PO
Mul SO BC - Bald Cypress: 1
che bench
d path CV C - Catalpa: 8
CV th WH
AHZ pa CA - Crabapple: 5
PO
ed MSM
ch FS - Fragrant Sumac: 6
ul CA
M C
CV SO RB
LSM RB GD - Gray Dogwood: 5
RB
BB RB RO
MSM CV - Cranberry Viburnum: 8

RO WH AHZ RB MSM LSM - Legacy S. Maple: 2

WH
RO RB MSM - Majesty S. Maple: 9
Mulched path
AHZ
London Plane trees

WH RB PO - Pin Oak: 6
CA MSM
lched th

C QA - Quaking Aspen: 5
pa

RO RO
AHZ AHZ
RB
RB - Redbud: 23
WH RB
C RB
RO - Red Oak: 5
Mu

WH AHZ
RB MSM SO - Scarlet Oak: 2
RB RB
RB QA WH - Witch Hazel: 18
CA
AHZ RB WO - White Oak: 2
GD RB
M

WW - Weeping Willow: 2
ul

RB WO WH FS
RB RB
ch
Entrance road

WH
CA
GD WH MSM
RB
Log FS
MSM
Mulched path
AHZ bench
RB
CA QA MSM
AHZ
RB C
Park

C C
QA QA RB
WH C
MSM C

I started our initial planting at the Micro-Forest in Easton with 95

trees and 55 shrubs. They were a mix of all the layers mentioned
with a diverse assortment that would thrive in various
environmental conditions. Don’t worry about planning every
plant in this phase of the process; you only need a good-sized
sample of a variety of plants to start with. You can always add to
your Micro-Forest later down the line after your initial plantings
have established themselves. As of 2024, Easton’s Micro-Forest
has well over 200 trees and shrubs along with many others that
have naturalized themselves into the space.

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 When choosing trees, start with the foundation of the plantings first: canopy trees,
such as oaks. Visit your site and use labeled landscape marking flags, placing them
exactly where your canopy trees will be planted. Using different colored flags helps
to differentiate each level of the Micro-Forest to visually guide you during
placement. After marking which canopy trees you have chosen, move on to your
mid-level species, then understory flowering/foliage trees, and finally shrub level. It
is best to wait at least one full growing season to plant any perennials, as you will
see exactly where shade is cast throughout the season. In the early stages of a
hardwood forest, evergreens are present. So, consider Eastern Red Cedar and
White Pine. American Holly will thrive in the understory long term. When choosing
planting locations, keep in mind varieties that do well growing on the edge of a
forest. These demand more sunlight. Those that need filtered shade under the
canopy are flowering understory trees. Think about which shrubs will do well in
specific areas within the site. Which areas stay wet, are sloped, or have full sun?

These are suggested percentages

for tree type when choosing those
in your Micro-Forest inventory.
Use this example as a guide:
1) Canopy Trees: 40%
2) Mid-Level: 20%
3) Understory: 15%
4) Shrub: 25%

It is best to choose trees that are not too large. An ideal size for many reasons
would be trees ranging from 5-gallon to 25-gallon containers at most. Keep in mind
that the younger the tree, the quicker it establishes itself and the less stress it has
undergone from either being freshly dug or sitting in a nursery for a long period of
time. However, they do require more care until they mature. Choosing cultivars of
native trees is beneficial in several ways as the majority tend to be resilient to
disease, insects, and higher drought tolerance as compared to the straight species.

After all of your plantings become established in their new environment, your
herbaceous layer will come in on its own. At this phase of growth, you may add
native perennials now that you can see where shade and sun levels vary. These are
all guidelines, but each Micro-Forest will demand specific adjustments that only
you as the designer and caretaker will be able to determine.
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V. Budgeting
You are now at the stage where you need to procure tree/plant sources. These
can be local nurseries and garden centers, or those that are able to ship to your
region. Finding a nursery that grows plant material in fabric/fibrous containers is
ideal, as the roots grow through the pots and are naturally pruned when the nylon
fiber material is pulled away. These types of pots are also reused by the nursery.
Balled and burlapped trees are another option, but as mentioned above, these
more mature trees can take longer to adjust to their new home. If you do select
older trees from the nursery, make sure to cut the wire cages when planting, if not
removing the cages entirely to prevent eventual girdling at the base. Trees being
grown in large plastic containers are also suitable, but the roots may have to be
pulled apart during transplanting to promote outward growth. Bare root trees are
a good option but require much more coordination in the way of planning and
accurate delivery times coinciding with your planting event. These are typically
shipped in a hydrating gel in early-spring or very-late-fall after dormancy.

In addition to procuring plant material, ensure that you have all items needed for
the plants selected to go into your Micro-Forest. Keep in mind you will need trunk
guards (black poly grid) for the trees, zip ties to secure them, tree stakes when
doing the initial planting, etc. Either 2 inch square oak stakes are sufficient at 6
foot lengths or we also have used a three-quarter inch poly coated round metal
stake 6 feet tall. We placed quarter inch crushed stone (sold by the ton or in bags)
around each tree trunk to protect from chewing rodents and hardwood mulch
(sold by cubic yard or in bags) to create a 2-3 inch layer around each tree/shrub
about 24 inches across. Be careful to keep mulch away from base of tree.
A reference list for vendors and items we used can be found on page 23.

If interested in educational components, you can label your trees and shrubs or
add signage. Weatherproof, interpretational signage can be designed in house or
by a graphic designer. Having several signs throughout the project site is helpful
for visitors. I installed ones detailing the purpose of a Micro-Forest, and
information on regional hardwood forests, mycorrhizal networks, and pollinators.
Our hanging tags include the species’ common name, scientific name, and the
year it was planted.

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 If fencing is necessary due to high deer populations, a minimum of an 8 foot tall
rolled wire fence is recommended with groundhog/rabbit proof wire at the
bottom. It is also recommended that the fence be buried 12 inches down, as
groundhogs will push their way under the bottom of the fence. Typically, 4 inch
square pressure-treated posts are used along with one pair of 6 inch square posts
for an entry gate, the doors of which are spring loaded to shut themselves if a
visitor forgets to. We also added signage to our gate to inform the public of these
precautions. The cost to fence in the size of our Micro-Forest was around
$10,000.00. This one-time cost outweighs the loss of your plant material and
efforts should you decide not to fence it and your area has several pests. Fences
also provide additional opportunities to grow native vines, add bird and bat
houses to the posts, or espalier a few fruit trees.

There are many resources out there to help in this

project, from your local Extension Forester,
Conservation District, landscape consultants, and
municipal leaders (like ourselves in Easton!). They
should be able to point you in the right direction for
quality plant materials, recommended species and
cultivars, placement, and ongoing guidance.

Most organizations utilizing this guide should be eligible for wholesale pricing and
be tax exempt, so keep this in mind when seeking quotes and documents vendors
will request. If you are working off a budget, ask your supplier to send you
something in writing, especially if this is required for a grant application or an
upcoming annual budget. Later on, this documentation can be used as a reference
for future projects. Thoroughly vet any contractors you might use, ask for proof of
the proper liability insurance, terms of payment, warranty on plant materials
including duration, and if there are specific exceptions to their warranty.

Once you have decided on the vendors

you will be doing business with and have
gathered all estimates for materials, you
can make your final choices and decide
on scheduling the work and deliveries.

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Sample nursery stock invoice.
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 Vi.
INSTALLATION
Next steps are preparing for the delivery of your plant materials and supplies. To
avoid last minute confusion and disruptions to your project day, confirm with
your vendors the correct delivery address and time of day the product will be
delivered so you have the necessary people available to unload materials. If the
project planting day is within a few days after delivery, the plants will need to be
watered and cared for until the event and be stored in a secure space. Fencing
should already be installed before the planting day so deer and other wildlife will
not damage the plants right after your Micro-Forest is planted.

Make sure, well ahead of time, that you have an 8-foot-wide double gate as your
entryway to allow for small equipment to enter the Micro-Forest as needed. To
clarify, this is two, 4-foot by 8-foot high gates: one that can be left closed most
of the time and the other for visitors to access (the spring-loaded hinges to keep
it shut should be installed on this door).

Now you are ready for your

planting event! Recruiting
volunteers should be done at
least 4-6 weeks in advance of
the day of planting.
Many sources can be tapped into from local universities’ environmental groups, high
school STEM programs, Girl or Boy Scout troops, civic groups, etc. Whether it is a
one-day celebration involving community volunteers or something done in-house
over a day or more by employees, having extra hands on deck is vital.

All plant materials, tools (such as shovels, hand pruners, picks), topsoil, mulch,
trunk guards, zip ties, work gloves, bottled water, paper towels, wire cutters,
crushed gravel, and a first-aid kit will need to be delivered to the project site. If
restrooms are not already onsite, a portable restroom should have been
reserved and delivered the day prior. Make sure to have a water source! The list
can be extensive, but it is better to prepare well in advance.

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 Set up a table with an attendant manning it at all
times to direct volunteers where needed and
disperse any personal protective equipment upon
arrival. Volunteer sign-in sheets, to account for all
those who attended the event, should include
name and email addresses, so that after the event
in any social media posts all those that contributed
to the planting event receive due credit. Those
organizations where grant funding may have been
awarded or provided for by the municipality will
also need to be acknowledged.

As volunteers and organization members arrive on site, anyone designated to

manage the project along with an assistant or two should be ready to greet, explain
the process, do a planting demonstration and then get everyone motivated and
start the planting process. Emailing all volunteers ahead of time with a simple tree
planting instruction guide is always helpful but there is nothing better than doing a
brief demonstration from start to finish.

After the plantings are completed, hardwood mulch should be wheelbarrowed in

creating rings around each tree with a 1-3 inch layer keeping mulch away from the
root flare at the base of the tree, as this leads to oxygen deprivation, compromising
the tree’s immune system, which in turn attracts insects and disease. Installation of
the trunk guards are next: place them to a level just below the first set of lower
branches, using three zip ties to secure them. Deer still try to scrape the tree and if
there are not enough zip ties on the trunk guard, the deer will pull it off. If a Gator
Bag or Tree Diaper is going to be installed around each tree, that should be the next
step. Then fill the Gator Bag with water. If using a Tree Diaper, these need to be pre-
soaked so the hydrating crystals gel up, at which point they can be placed around
the base of the tree trunk (ideally before mulching) with the solid surface facing up.
Tree Diapers rehydrate after each rainfall or if manually watered, keeping the tree
moistened for a prolonged period. With all plant material now having been mulched
and watered in and the area secured from wildlife, the project site can be cleaned
up of all debris and tools.

Easton’s Micro-Forest is filled

with redbuds and crabapples
in bloom in springtime.

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 vII.
mAINTENANCE
This stage of your Micro-Forest and its success now lies in your hands and
through keen observations. Pruning needs, disease and insect issues, invasive
plants, and environmental changes are all elements that need to be of concern
and action must be taken promptly as a routine.

To prevent minimal disturbance and compaction to the root systems of all plant
material, only mowed paths should be created throughout your Micro-Forest.
Paths should be at least 48 inches wide or slightly larger for ease of public access
and if any equipment for maintenance is needed. Creating two-to-three larger
mowed areas for educational events, tours, or seating areas is suggested along
with placement of your educational signage along your pathways where
appropriate to the subject matter. During your first full season after planting, the
herbaceous layer will mainly be a thick lawn that will now go to seed and any
native or non-native perennials will have the ability to mature, flower and seed.
You will start to see a hint of aggressive non-native annual vines trying to
establish themselves such as Japanese hops and teasel. These will need to be
removed immediately to prevent seed pods from forming. Canadian thistle is also
a contender in the race trying to take over. I have kept this at bay by repeatedly
cutting it to the ground with a battery powered long-handled hedge
trimmer/brush cutter with a two-sided blade. We use this trimmer two-to-three
times during the season to keep the natural areas cut back and keep overgrowth
from encroaching the mowed pathways.

Monitoring the base of all your trees and shrubs during their first winter and
spring is important, as voles, orchard mice, and rabbits could do considerable
damage to your young plants. If you installed crushed gravel around them, they
should be greatly prevented from burrowing rodents. However, rabbits will eat
above ground and sometimes climb into the multi-stemmed shrubs, girdling the
tender stems. If you see any signs of this, you can apply a product made by
Espoma, called dried blood. It is all natural and will cause the rabbits etc. to
believe a predator is in the area, keeping them away. You can also spray a natural
product called Liquid Fence at the base of all the plants. This will last 30 days or
more depending on the frequency of rainfall, but will last longer during the colder
months. There are many other natural products that do the same, such as Deer
Out, Deer Off, or Repels All. Each has a slightly different active ingredient from
mint oils, clove, putrescence of egg, red pepper, and so on.
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If you installed trunk guards around the trees and base of your shrubs, they
should be prevented from these issues. Monitor all your young trees and
perform “train pruning” to promote strong structure. This is vital during the first
few years of growth: crossing branches, branches growing inward towards the
main leader, anything damaged or dead needs to be pruned out and removed.
This will help your trees thrive. For each genus-specific tree, monitor for any
insect or disease issues that may appear on weak or immune compromised
specimens. Remember that in nature everything takes care of itself by allowing
for limbs to die then waiting for them to decay and fall off. You are creating an
outdoor educational classroom that will hopefully last for generations and
inspire other communities to repeat this living experiment.

Monitor any unusual leaf color or structural changes as deficiencies in macro or

micronutrients may arise, too much or too little moisture, a change in pH, or
environmental changes due to extreme weather patterns etc. Utilize the help of
those professionals you collaborated with during your planning and
implementation stages to figure out these deficiencies.

If tree stakes are no longer needed after 1-2 years, remove them and make sure
there are no ties left around a limb or the trunk to prevent girdling. As your trees
age, pay careful attention to the trunk guards and remove them as soon as they
start to tighten. The general rules is that as the trunk of the tree has outgrown
the trunk guard (which is a minimum of 4 inch caliper), deer typically do not
scrape trees during the rut. Although, some continue to scrape up to 6 inch
caliper trees, especially some of their favorites like tulip poplar, magnolia, cedar,
or any trees with a flakey bark. Deer seem to love the smell given off when bark is
torn open. They can get into every groove of their antlers with young, flexible
trees, which alleviates irritation from the shedding velvet.

Another task to consider is directional pruning. Since the Micro-Forest is a

public place, you want to correctly trim back limbs sticking out into pathways for
safety reasons. If your Micro-Forest is fenced, keep limbs from growing through
the fence, as they will eventually fuse around the metal. You may also want to
elevate canopies on some of the trees to prevent vines from growing up them or
for ease of maintenance in the natural areas. One rule in pruning a tree is never
to remove more than 30 percent of the canopy. As a tree matures, the higher up
you remove the lowest limbs, the greater the chances are that you create much
stronger wind shear within the canopy which causes the tree to easily fail. Every
poor or incorrect choice made when pruning a tree has a long-term
consequence.

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 As dry spells occur, make sure plant material that is not as drought-tolerant
continues to have their Gator Bags filled. After a two-to-three-year period your
trees will be well established, creating shade from their canopies and being
planted so close together this should not be a concern unless there is a severe
drought. Excessive rainfall can also cause concerns like powdery mildew,
fusarium wilt, root rot/vascular disease, and fungal issues. All compromise the
immune system of trees, which then send chemical signals into the
environment letting insects know it is time to move in.

What about fertilizing? I have not used any

fertilizers or amendments in our Micro-Forest, as I
believe that trees are very resilient and adapt to
the conditions they are subjected to. But in our
case the soil was very healthy with a relatively
balanced ratio of organic matter. In more urban
settings, the site may have poor soil composition,
be highly compacted, or have other environmental
concerns. For these cases, it may be necessary to
annually supplement each tree with a granular
organic fertilizer or have liquid injections
administered until the trees are well established
with deep root systems. The addition of pelletized
mycorrhizae fungi is also highly recommended.

Your Micro-Forest will constantly be evolving and adapting to its changing

environment. High concentrations of light will lessen over time on the Micro-
Forest floor, which will prevent any sun-loving native plants from surviving in
the interior portions. They will begin flourishing on forest edges and the
interior will start to exhibit shade-loving plant life: ferns, mosses, sedges and
an array of seasonal perennials that otherwise lay dormant. After being
transported by birds and ground-traveling mammals or the wind, these will
now thrive. After the second or third year, you will see native tree seedlings
sprouting up through the herbaceous layer and will need to make a decision on
what you want to keep and what to remove. Between black walnut, mulberry,
box elder, and swamp maples, you may not want aggressive competition. Not
to mention the many species of Asian honeysuckle, multiflora rose and Russian
olive trying to take root. Always try to fully remove these. In respect to the
additional natives taking root, there are no wrong choices. It comes down to
balance: the positive and negative results of what to leave or remove. Choose
natives that will benefit your specific Micro-Forest scenario.
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 Lastly, ongoing environmental and climate issues are a considerable factor in
monitoring the health and success of your Micro-Forest. No matter the region you
are in, the changes are evident, ongoing, and becoming more severe. By maintaining
routine pruning, disease and insect, fertilizer, and wildlife control plans, you can
ensure a greater level of success. As your Micro-Forest matures over four-to-five
years, you should start adding more understory plants where space allows, from
small species trees, multi-stemmed shrubs, additional herbaceous plants, all
according to the previously mentioned changing conditions of your Micro-Forest.
Even though it is on a very small scale, your forest still needs a successional planting
plan as those trees, shrubs etc., will eventually succumb to something. You will
always need the next generation of plantings to take over; the initial Micro-Forest
planting was not a once and done. By observing trees that may need to be removed
due to storm damage, disease, insects and so on, a replacement preferably of any
native variety should be installed to fill that gap. Observe what varieties are thriving
or suffering, create a list of others to blend into your Micro-Forest, and keep the
process going. This is no small undertaking, but one that requires dedication, passion
and a devotion to a future where these applications of “out of the box” forestry are
necessary. Inspire younger generations to observe our changing environment not
strictly from a textbook. The best teachers of field experience are our eyes, nose,
and hands for keen observation, found through sensory knowledge.

viii.
education
The benefits of introducing a Micro-Forest into mowed areas or where vacant lots
once existed are endless. We have observed ecological and community benefits,
such as outreach at local elementary schools, STEM programs, regional
environmental organizations, and colleges.

First and foremost, the priority for the application of the Micro-Forest in Easton was
to improve the local environment in the face of climate change, reduce lawn
maintenance, and cut back on labor, fuel, and air pollution which produces an
environmentally detrimental space.

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 Beyond this intention, many other positive outcomes followed. With climate change comes
the affects of storm water runoff, erosion, excessive sediment flowing into waterways,
excessive carbon and greenhouse gasses, heat island effect, free flowing pollution
particulates, and loss of native environments due to imbalance. These are all the primary
effects of climate change, many of which we are trying to mitigate. Even on a small scale, the
Micro-Forest’s effects will create a wave of long-term positive ecological benefits.

The diverse number of native plants introduced to the site affect the specific location, but in
only a short period of time they become the nucleus from which positive effects radiate. For
example, the 18 or so Cercis canadensis (American Redbud) that were included attracted an
enormous amount of pollinator insects in early spring that never frequented the location. A
hive may appear in the nearby wooded areas. After seeds are set in the fall, dozens of
seedlings will start to germinate. Or, blown by the wind, they will start to sprout outside the
borders of the Micro-Forest, slowly replicating in nano form the same stages taking place
within the Micro-Forest. This can be repeated with the Northern Catalpa, Red Oaks,
Hazelnuts and so on.

The Micro-Forest is an attractant to all types of wildlife from birds, small mammals, insects,
pollinators and the microbiome. It becomes a storage facility for carbon, supplies clean air,
and provides nourishment, shelter, and breeding grounds. It cools and filters air, stabilizes
soil, and filters water. Plus, it creates a network for communication above and below ground,
promoting a way station for nature’s migrating travelers. Micro-Forests boost the human
immune system and well-being by emitting gaseous stimuli, and serve as a restorative place
for human and nature connection. These ‘head librarians’, within the ‘card catalogue of their
trunk and limbs, hold eons of ecological historical records - an eventual port of entry and exit
for diversity.

As stated in the well-known film Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” This
philosophy applies to a Micro-Forest. Of course, helping spread the word a little doesn’t hurt.
After endless social media posts, educational workshops, events, media coverage, and
ongoing news stories, people did come. The Micro-Forest must passively and actively teach.
When a guide is not available, our Micro-Forest teaches visitors through labeled plants (listed
with their botanical and common names) and several educational signs from the entrance
and within the Micro-Forest. Local elementary schools and colleges have visited the Micro-
Forest for guided tours. STEM program students have used the Micro-Forest as part of their
curriculum through field trips. Lafayette College has had an engineering class conducting a
metrics study since 2021, creating ID tags and making annual visits to record data. I continue
to have group and personalized tours, and recently had several outside organizations contact
us as a leader in creating and promoting the benefits of Micro-Forests.

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Educational aspects are evolving at our Micro-Forest, as we hope to add QR codes for
guided tours and more educational signage, and continue events such as an annual Earth
Day Festival and periodic workshops. We also entered trees into our then inventory
database (utilizing iTree.com) to quantify over 40 years of benefits the Micro-Forest’s trees
will provide, and populate and track trees and plants into our current database regularly.

Ix. MICRO-FOREST LEGACIES

Living in a time where societally our daily life is overwhelming and stressful, one
recommended prescription would be a Micro-Forest! In Japan there is a practice
called “Forest Bathing” (Shinrin-yoku) which is used to mitigate the mental and
emotional obstacles we sometimes are faced with in this “artificial” life. These
practices aren’t just used by the Japanese alone. Indigenous peoples, not only in
North America, spend extended amounts of time outdoors and in physical
contact with the Earth. They awaken with the rising of the Sun and go to sleep as
it sets, living in harmony with the natural processes of Earth.

Original peoples and early Colonial Americans farmed. This direct contact kept
the human body in balance as people were surrounded and immersed in the
natural world. It is said that through the practice of “Grounding” (when our bare
feet are physically touching the Earth), we are resetting our vibration back to
that of Mother Earth. Our bodies instantly start to heal as this magnetic energy is
symbiotic to Earth’s. This measure of resonance in the human brain promotes
creativity and performance, regulates stress levels and anxiety, and boosts the
immune system. Think of the percentage of the human population living and
working in urban environments, or “artificial” surroundings, rarely in contact with
the Earth - in essence “disconnected” from Earth’s heartbeat (pg. 23).

Winfried Otto Schumann and Dr. Ankur Miller discovered that Earth resonates at
7.83 Hz, referred to as the “Schumann Resonance.” Ironically, it was also
discovered by Hans Burger that “Earth’s heartbeat” is 7.83 Hz, and is an exact
match to the alpha waves of the human brain. There is an old Native American
proverb by Alanis Obomsawin, a member of the Abenaki from the Odanak
reserve near Northeast Montreal, which states, “When the last tree has been cut
down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that
one cannot eat money.”

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 Legacy. What does this mean to us and what does
a Micro-Forest have to do with it? In general, this
refers to the long-lasting effect of actions or a
specific event. At this point, having read through
this guide, you should be familiar with the long-
lasting effects of creating a small-scale, densely-
planted, green space where one did not previously
exist. The legacy of a Micro-Forest is not only that
of the Micro-Forest itself, but of those that
created it: those who stepped out of the realm of
routine, textbook practice; those who understand
our current climate situation is quickly changing
and adaptation is a requirement; those who have a
vision thriving on creativity and possess a deep
passion for creating something that may not
benefit the architect themselves. The long-lasting
effects of a Micro-Forest will leave impressions on A seed today,
future generations as they watch it establish, a legacy tomorrow.
grow, evolve, and stimulate continued inspiration
for others to create Micro-Forests.

As the Micro-Forest matures, the fruits of its labor (literally and figuratively!)
will be carried far distances and dispersed by wildlife, wind, and water, adding
to an ever-expanding and evolving ecosystem. With the Micro-Forest at the
nucleus of this system, each ripple outward at specific distances will
demonstrate what has taken root. The evidence will be in the inventory of these
newly introduced plants growing within the intermittent radial spaces of the
Micro-Forest and will prove how impactful it can be. Legacy brings with it a
drive, motivation, and a sense of purpose not only for oneself, but for others
and generations that follow. It invokes within us the preservation of our human
experience. Today, as we reflect on this project and the enormity of its effects
on the community and ecosystem, we are humbled and honored. After the
entire process of creating, maintaining, and watching the Micro-Forest evolve
since 2019, we invite you to challenge yourselves to undertake a profound,
monumental project. Imagine. Plan. Implement. Experience. And then be
present in the benefits of a Micro-Forest, the legacy will carry on in ways you
could never have imagined.

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 x.
Acknowledgements
Without programming, funding, organizational and community support, this project
would not have been made possible. An individual can initiate and manage such a
project, but continued interest and ongoing support is necessary for success. At this
time, we would like to thank all those that helped in the implementation of the Micro-
Forest in Easton, Pa.

The Arbor Day Foundation, Grant Administrator.

Enterprise Holdings, Grantor of $35,000 funding award.
Enterprise Holdings employee volunteers (60+).
Ongoing support of The City of Easton Administration, Mayor Sal Panto, City Council,
David Hopkins, Director of Public Services, supporting bureaus of Dept. of Public
Works.
Community volunteers.
Tree Authority LLC, Dublin, Pa.
Arbor Fence Company Inc., Bethlehem, Pa.
Lark Signs, Wichita, KS
Graphic Artist, Jocelyn Canfield, Communication Results, Easton
Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, administered by D&L National
Heritage Corridor, Easton
Nurture Nature Center, Easton
Haley Weber, Miranda Wilcha, and Kate Semmens

supplies
Educational signage: designed and printed through Lark Label (larklabel.com).
From start to finish, an 18"x 24" sign cost around $1,500.
Brush cutter: two-sided, battery-powered Makita brand.
Tree stakes: 2" square oak stakes and/or 3/4" poly-coated round metal stakes,
both at 6' in length. Both are available at A.M. Leonard Horticultural Tool &
Supply Co (www.amleo.com).
Trunk guards: black poly guards available at A.M. Leonard.
Gator bags: 20 gallon at A.M. Leonard

references
Li Q. Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and
disease prevention -the Establishment of "Forest Medicine". Environ Health Prev Med.
2022;27:43. doi: 10.1265/ehpm.22-00160. PMID: 36328581; PMCID: PMC9665958.
“7.83 Hz Schumanns Resonance - Frequency of Earth.” Chiangmaiholistic.com, 2019,
www.chiangmaiholistic.com/7.83hz.php.
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City of Easton, PA
City of Easton, PA

Micro-Forest
Micro-Forest

2025
2025