December 17, 2009 9:13 PM
- Text
A Modern-Day Johnny Appleseed in L.A.
(CBS)
Given his name, it makes sense that Brent Green's view of the world is a bit colorful.
"I kind of see the world in plants," said Brent. "It's an odd thing. It's just what I do."
It's always been that way for Green, CBS News Correspondent Ben Tracy reports. As a kid, when his parents gave him $5 Green didn't spend it on candy or toys, he bought plants. When his siblings followed their father into careers in law, Green heard the calling of the great outdoors. He became a landscaper.
"Always been my thing - plants and trees and greenery," he said.
To submit an idea for The American Spirit send us an e-mail: theamericanspirit@cbsnews.com
But when he and his family bought their first house in Los Angeles six years ago, the color was in all the wrong places, as graffiti. And it wasn't exactly welcoming, with bars on the windows.
So he added some serious curb appeal to his house by adding plants and trees.
Brent Green's Web site
"People saw that and they said, 'Wow, I would like my home to look like that too,'" said neighbor Sylvia Rubalcava.
And so began Brent's Green revolution on Orange Drive. For 11 years now Green has been planting his age in trees.
"On my 30th birthday I wanted to give something back to the city of L.A.," said Green. "I mean I love this city -- I really do. So I planted 30 trees that year."
This year he'll plant 41 trees.
Some of his neighbors wanted to know what the catch was for getting a free tree. Green said, "some people were like what's in it for you? What's it gonna cost?"
Each tree is about $20. Brent has now paid for and planted more 420 trees in his part of the city. He's also helping transform his neighbor's yards - bushes are replacing bars on the windows. The street, now shaded, is beginning to bloom.
"It's not this baking sun asphalt jungle that it once was," Brent adds.
Yet, Brent planting all of those trees hasn't just made the neighborhood look better. It's changed the landscape in ways he never imagined.
His neighbors formed a block watch group and their efforts have branched out to include newly repainted fire hydrants, speed bumps to slow down traffic and increased police patrols.
"Being involved, meeting people," said neighbor Laura Franklin, "it can just transform the place where you live."
In fact, overall crime in the area is down nearly 30%.
It's made LAPD officer Erid Mollinedo's job easier. "The changes have been dramatic. It's a lot safer. You have kids walking up and down the streets instead of prostitutes strolling the streets now."
And it all started with one man. The older he gets - the more he gives back.
"I kind of see the world in plants," said Brent. "It's an odd thing. It's just what I do."
It's always been that way for Green, CBS News Correspondent Ben Tracy reports. As a kid, when his parents gave him $5 Green didn't spend it on candy or toys, he bought plants. When his siblings followed their father into careers in law, Green heard the calling of the great outdoors. He became a landscaper.
"Always been my thing - plants and trees and greenery," he said.
To submit an idea for The American Spirit send us an e-mail: theamericanspirit@cbsnews.com
But when he and his family bought their first house in Los Angeles six years ago, the color was in all the wrong places, as graffiti. And it wasn't exactly welcoming, with bars on the windows.
So he added some serious curb appeal to his house by adding plants and trees.
Brent Green's Web site
"People saw that and they said, 'Wow, I would like my home to look like that too,'" said neighbor Sylvia Rubalcava.
And so began Brent's Green revolution on Orange Drive. For 11 years now Green has been planting his age in trees.
"On my 30th birthday I wanted to give something back to the city of L.A.," said Green. "I mean I love this city -- I really do. So I planted 30 trees that year."
This year he'll plant 41 trees.
Some of his neighbors wanted to know what the catch was for getting a free tree. Green said, "some people were like what's in it for you? What's it gonna cost?"
Each tree is about $20. Brent has now paid for and planted more 420 trees in his part of the city. He's also helping transform his neighbor's yards - bushes are replacing bars on the windows. The street, now shaded, is beginning to bloom.
"It's not this baking sun asphalt jungle that it once was," Brent adds.
Yet, Brent planting all of those trees hasn't just made the neighborhood look better. It's changed the landscape in ways he never imagined.
His neighbors formed a block watch group and their efforts have branched out to include newly repainted fire hydrants, speed bumps to slow down traffic and increased police patrols.
"Being involved, meeting people," said neighbor Laura Franklin, "it can just transform the place where you live."
In fact, overall crime in the area is down nearly 30%.
It's made LAPD officer Erid Mollinedo's job easier. "The changes have been dramatic. It's a lot safer. You have kids walking up and down the streets instead of prostitutes strolling the streets now."
And it all started with one man. The older he gets - the more he gives back.
Latest Now in CBS Evening News
- Evening News Online, 02.10.12
- Diplomat: U.S. military not the answer in Syria
- On the Road: Noah's Dream Catcher Network
- Salvaging the Costa Concordia
- Bank deal won't protect federal mortgages
- Ambassador Ford on military help in Syria
- Rare moment of relief in Syria
- Romney touts conservatism at CPAC
- Obama's contraceptive compromise
- American company may salvage Costa Concordia
- A small taste of freedom in one part of Syria
- 12-year-old saves grandma's home from foreclosure
- Evening News Online, 02.09.12
- One mortgage mess culprit: Signature mills
- Remembering Kodak cameras
- Obama frees 10 states from "No Child Left Behind"
- Assad continues relentless attack on Homs
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
on CBS News
