Community Forest:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What kinds of trees are available?

You may choose between 1) an indoor tree—a Ficus ginseng bonsai (miniature) tree, 4” tall, that arrives in a grower’s pot; or 2) an outdoor tree—a Red Maple bare-root sapling, 6-12” tall, that will need to be planted in the ground. After consulting with several tree experts, these were found to be the most suitable for this project.

2. Which planting zones are the trees appropriate for?

The Ficus ginseng bonsai is best kept indoors, in a spot where it can get sunlight; it can also be placed outdoors in the summer in temperatures above 60°F (15°C). If kept indoors, it can potentially survive in any planting zone. The Red Maple is appropriate for planting zones 3-9. You can check which zone you’re located in by going here.

3. Will there be instructions on how to care for my tree?

Instructions will be emailed to the email address you provide at purchase, and/or sent with your tree. Help in caring for your tree can be obtained from the community that is created through this project, or by reaching out to communityforestproject@gmail.com.

4. Where do you ship?

At this time, the trees can be shipped only within the 48 contiguous U.S. states.

5. Are the trees toxic to animals?

The Ficus ginseng is toxic to animals, particularly the leaves, so make sure it is out of reach of your plant-loving pets. The Red Maple is known to be toxic to horses.

6. Are the trees native to the U.S.?

The Ficus ginseng is native to Southeast Asia, and was chosen for this project due to its indoor hardiness and relative ease of care. The Red Maple is native to the U.S., and was chosen for this project due to its hardiness across planting zones and relatively rapid growth.

7. What if I can’t make the online welcome and orientation?

The welcome and orientation on May 14 will be recorded and made available via email to those who cannot attend.

8. How do I access the ‘living document’?

An invitation to the living document (Google Doc) will be emailed to the email address you provide at purchase.

9. What if I don’t have access to the internet, or my access is limited?

You may either engage the occasional assistance of a relative or friend who has internet access to help you contribute to the living document, or you may obtain a mailing address to send written contributions to, by reaching out to communityforestproject@gmail.com.

10. Will I be able to find out who my sponsor/sponsee was?

In the interest of privacy, this information will not be shared.

11. Is participation really for the life of the tree?

Everyone who receives a tree is encouraged to contribute to the living document every 3 months, as the seasons change, for the life of their tree. Prompts will be provided so that participants can easily respond, and see each others’ responses. In this way, a community can grow out of a mutual interest in caring for our trees.