Tree Steward Spotlight

Melanie Van Guilder, a graduate of the 2009 Class of Tree Stewards, is the group's Administrative Coordinator. In this interview, Melanie talks about Tree Stewards.

Q. Where did you grow up and where did you live before you came to Roanoke?

A. I grew up in Rome, New York. It is smack in the center of the state, on the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal. I spent all of my summers in the Adirondack Mountains with my grandparents. My high school years were in a Buffalo suburb. After graduating, I moved from New York to southern California, returning east after 12 years there. I settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, where I met my husband, Harry.

Roanoke Tree Steward Melanie Van Guilder

Q. Why did you move to Roanoke?

A. By coincidence, Harry also grew up in the Adirondacks. The Adirondack Forest Preserve, at more than 6 million acres, is the largest designated wilderness outside Alaska. It was the first preserve constitutionally established to be “forever wild,” and remains the only park in the country with that distinction. The experience of that environment made nature lovers of us both. When we retired, we came to Roanoke for the mountains, the beauty, and the hiking and other outdoor opportunities.

Q. What is your work experience?

A. My work was all indoor and confining. I worked my way through college at California State University Fullerton by proofreading for a local newspaper publisher. Later I worked at Cedars-Sinai hospital as a research technician in nuclearcardiology, then as a tech in the heart catheterization lab at Santa Monica Hospital. When I moved back East, I landed in Raleigh, where I went back to proofreading and expanded into copyediting at Oxford University Press. I worked mostly on medical journals. My last job before we retired to Roanoke was teaching yoga. I have more than 800 hours of yoga teacher training and am certified to teach advanced hatha yoga and some special yoga programs.

Q. What drew you to the Tree Stewards Program?

A. When we arrived in Roanoke, we were on the lookout for volunteer opportunities. One of the first things I learned about was Tree Stewards, but there was no Roanoke group. So, I guess the first thing that drew me to Tree Stewards was the opportunity to serve the community. I have always been a big fan of trees. They comfort and inspire me. I remember a third grade lesson on the role of trees in the watershed led me to write a poem. I wish I still had it. Although I do volunteer with other organizations, I can’t imagine a better fit for me than Tree Stewards. I get to have my hands on trees, nurture and protect them, enhance the beauty of public areas, and improve the environment.

Q. What surprised you about the program?

A. There was a lot to learn about the value of trees in the urban environment. I learned about the urban canopy and the environmental effects of hardscapes not only the trees, but also on the water quality.

Q. What is the most fulfilling thing about being a Tree Steward?

A. Planting trees not only makes an urban space prettier, it improves the air, controls water runoff, creates habitat for birds and other small animals, and moderates urban temperatures. Planting and caring for trees is the holistic approach to the environment, and it's good outdoor exercise too.

Q. Of all the things the Tree Stewards do, what is your favorite?

A. My favorite activity within Tree Stewards is definitely pruning trees. I like being outside and assessing the tree's needs and best interest. It's part science and part art to work through the steps and to know when to stop.

Q. What words of advice do you have for current and future Tree Stewards?

A. Participate. Identify your areas of interest, stay current with the projects that are underway, and show up for the ones that interest you. The satisfaction is in the commitment that follows through.