Austin is home to a million people and a sprawling urban landscape. Despite the high-rise buildings and self-driving cars, the city is also defined by its lush greenery and parks. That balance between urban development and nature is exactly where TreeFolks has planted its roots.
With a love for the city and a commitment to the environment, the founders of TreeFolks first began planting trees in the community in 1988 and launched the nonprofit a year later with the goal of educating the community and making the city green.
“[Austin’s] got such a culture of being outdoors, enjoying our parks and being active in our green spaces. Our work fits extremely well with the persona of Austin,” says TreeFolks’ Executive Director Andrew Smiley.
What started as a handful of seeds has now grown into a massive operation. TreeFolks estimates they’ve planted more than 3 million trees in the nonprofit’s lifespan; the nonprofit has grown 30,000 themselves this year alone. Last year, they distributed 7,700 free trees through local events and delivery programs, helping residents bring more shade to the streets and more life to the neighborhoods.
These accomplishments are only possible through a wide network of volunteers and partners. With more than 2,500 volunteers annually, the organization is able to sustain its mission of keeping Austin green. TreeFolks hosts educational workshops and volunteer events where attendees learn everything from collecting seeds to raising mature trees.
Beyond neighborhood planting, TreeFolks leads reforestation efforts after natural disasters. The group has planted more than 40,000 trees on floodplain and watershed land, and it is already preparing to restore areas affected by this summer’s July 4 floods.
“All the components of it can be pretty profound, in terms of re-vegetating floodplain land, helping to prevent erosion, create wildlife habitat, and offset our carbon impacts,” Smiley says. “The work has developed immense meaning over time.”
For Smiley, the impact is personal. A decade before joining the staff, he picked up a free tree at a community event. Today, a small forest of about 15 TreeFolks trees grow in his yard. The direct action of giving out free trees and the benefit to the environment is what made him a long-term fan.
“What drew me was just the simplicity of the action and the commitment to community. That’s what keeps me involved,” Smiley explains. “Our mission has not changed very much over 36 years in existence – we’re still committed to strengthening the community by planting and caring for trees.”
This article appears in November 28 • 2025.