PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2023
As Portland’s city arborist, Jeff Tarling has overseen the planting of thousands of trees, built nearly a dozen community gardens, visited schools across the city and led the cleanup after major storms. But after 34 years working for the city, Tarling, 67, is preparing to retire at the end of the month. Tarling oversees management of city trees and horticulture at parks, playgrounds, schools and other public property. In 2007, using grant funding, his staff started an inventory of all of the nearly 20,000 trees in public parks and on right-of-ways to improve knowledge of the city’s resources and how to better manage them. He manages 27 employees and also reviews site plans from a landscaping perspective.