2024 SPRING DAY OF SERVICE

On Saturday, April 20^th, we held our annual Spring Day of Service in honor of Earth Day. Employees and their families, friends, and business associates joined together to perform spring clean-ups and spread 17,000 lbs of mulch on seven non-profit properties in our community. This initiative is especially important to me as it reinforces my personal passion for what we do as landscape professionals: “We believe that everyone everywhere benefits from a connection with nature.” -Shayne

After coffee and bagels, safety reviews, and remarks from Shayne, the volunteers split into their assigned teams and loaded up the trucks with the needed equipment. Groups worked downtown at Village Center for the Arts, New Milford Public Library, Nathan Taylor House for the New Milford Trust for Historic Preservation, and The Children’s Center. Other teams cleaned up at Pratt Nature Center, The Nature Conservancy at Sunny Valley Preserve, and a Habitat for Humanity home. We also had a team volunteer to pick up roadside litter on Aspetuck Ridge Road and Candlewood Lake Road.

YardScapes recognizes that community engagement is beneficial for employee morale and helps our team members feel connected to the neighborhoods in which they live and work. These events also help them showcase their unique talents and professional skills while demonstrating not only their commitment to YardScapes’ mission, but also a commitment to the entire town.

Well-landscaped areas benefit the community as a whole in many ways too. Studies have shown that nicely landscaped areas can reduce stress, improve concentration, curb crime, and promote general feelings of well-being. Quality landscaping can also strengthen local economies by attracting new residents and investors to a town.

2023 FALL DAY OF SERVICE

2023 Spring Day of Service

Each year YardScapes hosts two Days of Service. The Spring Day of Service is usually held in April to kick-off the green season and coincides with Earth Day while the Fall Day of Service is held at the end of the season when most of the leaves are on the ground and we’re getting properties ready for winter. These occasions are great for team-building with our staff but also helps us bring our communities together for the benefit of everyone. The days typically start with a kick-off meeting at YardScapes with coffee and pastries and ends back at headquarters for a cookout. In 2020 & 2021, instead of cancelling due to Covid-19, we altered our Day of Service to adhere to CDC guidelines and keep everyone as safe as possible. We hope you’ll consider volunteering at one of these events!

“I am deeply gratified to have employees who volunteer their time, friends and colleagues who volunteer—and strengthen—our effort, and to have nonprofits and homeowners show our volunteers unbelievable support and kindness. Each year we meet new people who share their stories with us, who inspire us, and who we are privileged to know. We are fortunate to count them as new friends”. -Shayne Newman, YardScapes

YardScapes Joined Hundreds of Landscape and Lawn Care Professionals Volunteering to Enhance the Grounds at Arlington National Cemetery and The National Mall (READ MORE)

On Saturday, May 7th, YardScapes staff, friends, and business associates came together for our annual Spring Day of Service. We cut back invasive barberry from the Mt. Tom trails, and performed spring cleanups and mulching at Pratt Nature Center, Village Center for the Arts, Nathan Taylor House, The New Milford Senior Center, and Bull’s Field.

2021 Fall Day of Service Rake & Bake

Here are some photos from our Annual Rake & Bake Fall Day of Service! Teams of volunteers went to: The Children’s Center of New Milford, Inc, Pratt Nature Center, St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Nathan Taylor House, and Village Center for the Arts to clean up the properties, remove debris, and even help put up a yurt! THANK YOU to our friends and business associates who also joined us for this special event!

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW ALL PHOTOS

YardScapes Joined Hundreds of Landscape and Lawn Care Professionals Volunteering to Enhance the Grounds at Arlington National Cemetery and The National Mall (READ MORE)

2021 Spring Day of Service

Fine weather and an impressive turnout for our Spring Day of Service made for another successful event. Locally, we picked up litter from sections of Boardman Rd, Paper Mill Rd, River Rd, Aspetuck Ridge Rd, and Young’s Field while other volunteers cleaned their neighborhoods. Other teams descended on Pratt Nature Center and The New Milford Trust for Historic Preservation for a spring clean-up. We estimate our volunteers picked up over2,000 individual pieces. Our allies in Mexico joined us too, as well as friends from Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts and Maine! Great Global Cleanup – Find a Cleanup (earthday.org)

Click to View Photos

2020 FALL DAY OF SERVICE COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP

On Saturday, November 7th, we held our annual Fall Rake & Bake volunteer Day of Service event. Our staff, family, friends, and fellow BNI Business Bobcats of Danbury members helped tidy up St. John’s Episcopal Church, Harrybrooke Park, The Children’s Center of New Milford, Inc, and Pratt Nature Center on a beautiful autumn day. Many thanks to everyone!

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth

who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience,

and just plain loving one another.” – Erma Bombeck

Fine weather and an impressive turnout for our 2020 Spring Day of Service made for another successful event. Locally, we picked up litter from sections of Boardman Rd, Paper Mill Rd, River Rd, Aspetuck Ridge Rd, and Young’s Field while other volunteers cleaned their neighborhoods. Other teams descended on Pratt Nature Center and The New Milford Trust for Historic Preservation for a spring clean-up. We estimate our volunteers picked up over2,000 individual pieces. Our allies in Mexico joined us too, as well as friends from Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts and Maine! Great Global Cleanup – Find a Cleanup (earthday.org)

2020 SPRING DAY OF SERVICE COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP

As landscape professionals our staff is always committed to improving the environment in any way, both personally and professionally. This is clearly stated in our founding philosophy – “We believe that everyone, everywhere, benefits from a connection with nature.” We know that beautifully maintained green spaces have a positive impact on the Earth, public safety, and our general well-being. Our annual Day of Service is an event we look forward to each year as a way to support our local communities and also as a great team building event for our staff. With the Covid-19 pandemic and physical distancing rules, we decided that instead of cancelling this important event, we would have to be creative. In less than a week we put together and hosted a VIRTUAL COMMUNITY LITTER CLEAN UP.

Along with our staff, we invited the community, friends and family to join us on April 25th by picking up litter in front of their homes, on their streets, while walking the dog, at their places of business, or any other location they frequent. We kicked off the day with an online Zoom® meeting, some Do’s and Don’ts, and a heartfelt “thank you” from Shayne. The enthusiastic volunteers then went out to pick up some trash!

2020 Spring Litter Clean Up Day of Service Photos

“Day of Service” is particularly near and dear to our hearts. In 2009, we became Day of Service charter participants, partnering with the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) in a nationwide volunteer outreach. In October 2016 we formally added another day where employees and partners from the community join forces to assist in a massive Fall clean-up in local parks and at non-profits.

We sincerely enjoy a day working together with the common goal of making a difference in our community. NALP, through its Day of Service, has given YardScapes an unparalleled opportunity for team building. In the end, our community’s green-spaces were renewed, as is our belief in volunteerism and community outreach.

Thank you to our awesome employees, volunteer friends and their families for always making our Fall and Spring Day of Service a great success! It is truly a pleasure to serve the New Milford Community and surrounding areas.