A Tree Subscription Community With a Mission

Shrubscriber brings together gardeners, schools, and climate-conscious individuals and organizations. We offer community workshops, seeds, and step-by-step instructions to grow a food-secure, biodiverse, and climate-resilient Edmonton.

Imagine a city in alignment with nature. Imagine old-growth trees in our backyards, parks, and boulevards. Imagine ecology soaking up stormwater, growing food, creating a sense of place, mitigating the effects of climate change, and bringing people together. We can grow that future together.

Hi, I'm Dustin Bajer, and in 2015, I fell in love with three apricot trees guerilla gardened on a city boulevard. That fall, I planted 100 pits in four square feet in my backyard (25 trees/ sq ft.). Ninety-six little trees sprouted the following spring, and Forest City Plants Urban Nursery was born. I started selling small trees to local gardeners while figuring out ways to grow thousands of trees in tight urban spaces. If I can produce hundreds of trees in their backyard, imagine what a community of tree growers could accomplish! That's why, in 2021, I started the Shrubscriber (Shrub-Scriber) community!

Member Perks

Your membership supports the growing, distribution, and planting of local trees. Shrubscribers receive seeds, propagation lessons, and access to events and workshops while supporting a growing network of urban tree growers.

What Members Are Saying

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How Are Tree Donations Selected?

Marginalized communities often have fewer trees, green spaces, and resources - let's fix that. Community partners are chosen based on Community Needs, Project Sustainability, and Public Access.

Q: Who's Growing Shrubscriber Trees?

By joining Shrubscriber, you become a member of a nursery network of backyard tree growers. I've been growing most trees in my Edmonton backyard at the Urban Farm. 

Q: How Large Are The Trees?

Tree size will vary from species to species, but Shrubscriber trees are generally between 12 and 48 inches when planted in their forever homes.

Q: How Can My Community Get Trees From Shrubscriber?

Please email us if you have a community-minded project that can benefit from free trees. Becoming a member is unnecessary to receive trees, but the excess resources and community support can be helpful.

Q: Does Shrubscriber Only Grow Trees For Projects In Edmonton?

We started in Edmonton, but we believe that food security and climate change adaptation are essential for all municipalities - the world needs more trees. So, while focussing on Edmonton, we'd like to grow the project over time.

Q: Can I Gift A Shrubscriber Membership?

Yes. Send me an email if you would like to buy a Shrubscriber membership on behalf of someone else. Upon payment, we will share an access link with the person of your choice.

Q: Why Are Memberships Annual?

Growing trees takes time, and we want to share the journey, so we ask our members to sign up for a one-year commitment. But we promise it's worth it for you and the trees!

Have Questions? Send Us An Email