Santa Fe Extension Master Gardeners Edition - February 2026

February 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Panel interview on a community radio show, with host-led questions driving an educational discussion on urban trees.
The Key Players:
- Athena Basure: Arborist, certified urban forest professional, owner of Seeds of Wisdom LLC, master gardener, co-leads Santa Fe Public Spaces Tree Inventory Project—brings data-driven passion for equity.
- Tracy Neal: 50+ years as arborist, nursery manager, landscaper; long-time Santa Fe Municipal Tree Board member—shares practical wisdom and cautionary tales.
- Michael Davis: Environmental planner, master gardener, co-leads Tree Inventory Project, new Municipal Tree Board member—focuses on policy and city resources.
- Host Alexa Bradford: Enthusiastic guide, ties topics to local elections and equity, keeps pace lively.
The Vibe: Educational and optimistic, blending data, inspiration, and calls to action; community-focused with a subtle urgency about Santa Fe's disparities.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Athena Basure, Tracy Neal, and Michael Davis**
2 (02:48) **Key Benefits of Urban Tree Canopy**
3 (04:28) **Tree Equity Score Overview**
4 (11:38) **From Data to Action: Local Efforts**
5 (15:03) **Why Tree Planting Programs Fail**
6 (18:06) **Santa Fe Initiatives for Equity**
7 (24:06) **Citizen Action and Recommendations**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Join host Alexa Bradford in conversation with Master Gardeners, arborists, and Municipal Tree Board members Athena Beshur, Tracy Neal and Michael Davis, in a discussion about the concept of “tree equity”, the American Forests national Tree Equity Score and how to use data and resources to improve access to the health and social benefits of expanding the tree canopy in underserved urban areas.

https://www.americanforests.org/tools-research-reports-and-guides/tree-equity-score/

https://treesmart-thecitydifferent.hub.arcgis.com/