From The Forest: Recent Episodes
fromtheforest
Talking all-things-forestry, every Wednesday, for 10 years and counting. New guest speakers every week. Listen to the archives at catskillforest.org/radio. Contact us at cfa@catskillforest.org.
This week Zane Lawyer, CFA’s Program Manager, and Jen Betz, CFA’s Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator, discuss what they’ve been up to at CFA and outside of work. Recent and upcoming events, Jen’s ongoing timber harvest, and other sightings and topics will be discussed. One of CFA’s Education Foresters may also make an appearance to round out the episode.
Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the hackberry tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
America is turning 250 years old, but for the last century it has been without one its most cherished trees--the American chestnut--due to an invasive blight. SilvaBIo is now ready to bring this tree back through a scientific breakthrough.
SilvaBio is a Public Benefit Company committed to developing and supplying superior seedlings to restore America’s forests and strengthen the ecosystems and economies they support.
Michael Bloom--Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Entrepreneur and lifelong outdoorsman who previously founded and successfully built two education technology companies. Combines more than 25 years of leadership experience with a passion for conservation, forestry, and restoring the American chestnut. Holds a B.S. from Boston University and an MBA with High Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Occasionally, each 1st Wednesday, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Erik Heidenfelder, Forest Technician
Jen Betz, Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator
On this week's show we'll be talking to Ethan Cramton. Ethan will discuss past, present, and future forests in the Catskills region, industry trends, and highlight the recent development of Baillie Forestry Division's Private Land Management Program.
Ethan Cramton is the Manager of Baillie Forestry Division's Private Lands Program, a growing division of the Baillie Group. He received his BS from Cornell University in Development Sociology with a focus on environmental and social dynamics within the Appalachian coal belt, and nearly a decade later received his Master of Forestry from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. His top interests include dendrology (shout out to Dr. Don Leopold), forest ecology, land use history, and the intersect of forests and humans.
Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the pitch pine tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Join Zane and Erik as they discuss their experiences working in the landscaping and tree care industry. They'll discuss their first impressions, learning on the job, what they liked about it and what they didn’t.
Each spring, Ryan takes a walk near where he grew up--the Shawangunk Ridge. We'll talk about this unique area, its history, how it's changing, & where it might be going.
On this week's show, we'll discuss some "Forest Forensics." Forest Forensics can be defined as the "Study of the history and ecology of forests by analyzing visual clues in the landscape... It helps us understand past human activities and natural events that have shaped the forest environment."
Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the bald cypress tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll be discussing some of the most melodic summer songsters of the Catskill Mountain forest--the thrushes. Mike Porter knows his birds & we'll get some insight about these summer migrants.
Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
Tom's been on the show before discussing his business--Woodsman Forest Products. However, Tom is also a long-time listener of the show and has questions for the Staff of Catskill Forest Association. We'll "talk shop" with Tom about the forest, wood products, forest management, mushrooms and mushroom logs, sawmilling, and more.
ABOUT TOM
Tom is a retired EMT & still is an EMT (volunteer). He serves small forest owners to get started. He has decades in the woods that is supplanted by field training in Silviculture, Tree Logger Certified; Best Management Practices; Timber Stand Improvement; & wildlife habitat improvement
Tom is using this “last 3rd of his life to do things he enjoys, make some folks happy along the path, learn new things, and enjoy family, friends, and music. Hopefully, he will make a few bucks along the way to buy food.”
On this week's show, we'll be talking to Jason Egan from Egan Performance Saws. He custom builds parts & accessories in Idaho--with his wife Kara-- to make your
saw awesome.
Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the American persimmon tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Spring is in full swing now, and it's time to reflect on all that firewood we burned this winter. We'll get Mike Porter's thoughts about all that and more.
Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
On this week's show, we'll be going through the process of grafting mainly "wild" or volunteer apple trees. CFA's grafting season normally runs from mid-April into May.
Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. This week Zane, Jen, Giovanna, and Erik will dive into what they've been up to and what their plans are for Spring.
CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Jen Betz, Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator
Erik Heidenfelder, Forest Technician
On this week's show, we'll be discussing how Giovanna inoculates mushrooms--mainly shiitake and now oyster--through CFA's FOREST FARMING PROGRAM. Giovanna is also looking into growing other mushrooms for members.Giovanna was hired full-time as CFA’s Education Forester in December 2024. She earned her Associates of Applied Science from The New York State Ranger School of SUNY ESF in May 2024. She leads the Forest Farming Program and assists in the development, implementation, and marketing of CFA’s programs and events. She additionally creates written content for the CFA newsletter and weekly email blast. She strives to foster reconnection with our lands through education of the public to promote land stewardship.
Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing Gary's recent trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be discussing Apple Tree Pruning, especially those overgrown ones.
On this week's show, we'll discuss with Joel Riotto & Carl Grocholl the benefits of food plots to deer and other wildlife.
About Joel Riotto
Joel Riotto resides in New Jersey and the Catskill Mountains of New York State. He is also an author of many archery and bow-hunting publications such as:
- Bowhunter Magazine
- Traditional Bowhunting Magazine
- Archery World Magazine
- Professional Bowhunting Society Magazine
- Bear Hunting Magazine
Joel is also a Senior Member of the Pope & Young Club; Life Member #9 of the Professional Bowhunters Society; Life Member #95 of the NY Bowhunters; Life Member of the NJ Foundation of Sportsman’s Clubs; Founder, past-President, & member of the Traditional Archers of NJ; Past-President of the United Bowhunters of NJ; & Past-President & Life Member of the Bergen Bowmen Archery Club.
About Carl Grocholl
Carl is the Owner of Grocholl Landscaping and Catskill Mt. Quality Whitetails. He designs, installs, manages food plots, and other aspects on property to manage wildlife. Carl is an avid bowhunter and outdoorsman.
The 2026 maple sugaring season has begun. On this week's show we'll discuss some of those stories and topics that often come up while sitting around the maple boiler.
Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. Last month it was pear; This month we'll be the peach tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll be discussing the importance of prescribed fire on deer habitat with Oklahoma State University's Mark Turner. Mark Turner is an Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. His research and Extension programming focuses on applied habitat management practices including prescribed fire, forest stand improvement, and nonnative species management. Research Interests: Prescribed fire; Forest stand improvement; Nonnative plant control; White-tailed deer; & Wild turkey.
On this week's show, we'll be talking to John Musacchia about his experiences with burning his land in the Catskill Mountains. John used to live down south where burning is far more common. He is an avid hunter & former owner of Muzzy Broadhead.
On this week's show, we'll be talk about how humans can co-exist better with beavers--and some of the cool things about this busy animal-- with Aaron Hall. Aaron is the Program Director for The Beaver Institute. The Institute's Mission is "to be a catalyst for advancing beaver management and watershed restoration, training mitigation professionals, supporting scientific research, and increasing the public’s appreciation of the beaver’s critical role in creating climate resilient ecosystems."
Dr. Aaron Hall is an aquatic biologist who works to protect species in aquatic and riparian habitats, finding scientifically sound and pragmatic solutions for the threats these species face. He holds a BS and MS in Environmental Science from The Rochester Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from The University of Toronto. Aaron has a diverse background in field ecology and has worked with many species groups and in many ecosystems, and has lived in Central New York, Alaska, Maine, Colorado, and currently resides in Ontario, Canada. His primary focus for the past decade has been working with beaver by leveraging their ecosystem engineering skills to create and enhance habitat for many at-risk species including freshwater fishes, amphibians and reptiles, shorebirds, aquatic insects and others. He is passionate about protecting the delicate balance of the natural environment in an increasingly human-influenced world. Aaron is an avid outdoors person and enjoys hiking, canoeing, camping, birding, disc golf, woodworking, board games, and gardening. Contact: aaron@beaverinstitute.org
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the pear tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. We'll also introduce CFA's new Forest Technician--Erik Heidenfelder.
CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Jen Betz, Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator
Erik Heidenfelder, Forest Technician
On this week's From the Forest radio show, we'll be discussing the "sustainability" of managing vegetation, the tools or methods used (i.e. livestock, chemicals, and mechanical), as well as future options like fire.
Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. This week Zane, Jen, and Giovanna will dive into what they've been up to and what their plans are for Winter.
CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Jen Betz, Forest Technician
On this week's show we'll have 4th generation deer hunter--Jen Betz--on to discuss this important forest heritage in the Catskill Mountains.Jen was hired at the Catskill Forest Association (CFA) in August of 2025 and oversees their Legacy Tree Program and helps support their IT & business systems. Prior to this she served a short stint on the CFA Board of Directors, before taking a leave of absence to work as a contractor, then transitioned to staff. She has an A.A.S degree in Park and Recreation Management from SUNY Delhi and a bachelor’s in business administration, as well as Green Belt and Agile Project Management Certifications from Villanova University. She has over 20 years’ customer service and business systems knowledge. She is a lifelong resident of the Catskill Mountains. When not working, Jen gardens and enjoys the trails on her family farm.
On this week's show, we'll be talking to Todd Heyn from the New York Farm Bureau about how they advocate for and promote farming & forestry in New York State.The mission of New York Farm Bureau is "Supporting today’s agricultural needs and creating member opportunities for tomorrow through advocacy and education."
Todd lives in East Meredith and has 120 acres that he manages himself. His background is an AAS degree in Pre-Professional Forestry from Paul Smith’s College ('89) and a BS degree in Environmental and Forest Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry ('91). Todd has worked for the New York Farm Bureau for the past 12 years after leaving the Boy Scouts of America and an 18-year career there.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing birch trees.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Allyson Levy of Hortus Arboretum about all the plants they grow and educate others about near Stone Ridge, Ulster County. Allyson & Scott Serrano are co-Founders of Hortus Arboretum, which traces back to 2001. They are also co-Authors of their book, "Cold Hardy Fruits & Nuts."Mission"Located in the Mid-Hudson Valley countryside of Stone Ridge, New York, Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a family-run arboretum and botanic garden whose mission is to sustain the native, unusual, and historic plant life of our area and serve as a vital educational resource for the public. We are also focused on saving rare and endangered plants worldwide to ensure that species diversity lives on.
We welcome garden groups and individuals to come to visit Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens! The gardens have been growing for over 20 years, with several specific collections such as the Chinese Garden, Native Woodland Garden and Japanese shade garden, in addition to a large collection of unusual edibles and hardy cacti.
We have the most diverse selection of plants in Ulster County! Hortus Arboretum exists as a ‘Living Textbook’ of plants that can be grown in the Hudson Valley."
Recently, a reader of CFA's column--From the Forest--in the Shawangunk Journal asked what the forest would look like if humans didn't exist. We'll talk about what that forest might look like, the possible advantages and disadvantages too.
On this week's show, we'll be talking about the State of the Catskill Mountain's hiking trails and outdoor recreation with Peter Manning, Executive Director of the Catskill Mountain Club.
The Catskill Mountain Club is a member-directed, not-for-profit organization formed to promote sustainable and safe outdoor recreation within the Catskill Park and on public lands throughout the Catskill Mountain Region.Peter has been visiting the Catskills since the 1960s and lives in Bovina with his wife and two sons. He has 25 years’ experience in municipal planning and land use training at the local, county, regional, and statewide levels. He’s worked in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in areas that include promotion of tourism and outdoor recreation and the development of scenic byways. An avid outdoor recreationist, he also holds a BA in Geography from SUNY New Paltz and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University.
On this week's show, we'll be talking to Jerry Michael--a prior member of NYFOA's Board of Directors--about "front-burner" and "back-burner" issues surrounding forest ownership and management.
"The mission of the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) is to promote sustainable forestry practices and improved stewardship on privately owned woodlands in New York State. NYFOA fulfills this critical mission by being the leading organization to provide education, peer-to-peer networking, and advocacy for the woodlot owners of NY."
Jerry Michael was born & raised near Binghamton, NY. He graduated from Cornell University, Business & Human Resources. Jerry was a US Army Reserve Infantry Officer. He was with IBM for 32 years filling a variety of management jobs in the US and overseas. After retirement 33 years ago, he took on forestry as a 2nd career. He purchased a family tree farm in Broome County in 1972. He joined NYFOA in 1989, served on its Board of Directors for 12 years and Chaired NYFOA's Restore New York Woodlands initiative. Jerry participated in Cornell's Master Forest Owner Volunteer training at Arnot Forest in 1995, where he has since assisted over 200 woodlot owners under the program. He has hosted on his property about 20 woodswalks.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the black cherry tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. We'll also introduce CFA's new Forest Technician--Jen Betz.
CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Jen Betz, Forest Technician
On this weeks' show, we'll have "mushroom guy" & Owner of Catskill Fungi--John Michelotti along with CFA's Education Forester, Giovanna D'Angelo. We'll get into what being a beginning 'mushroomer' is like, what we've been seeing out in the woods fungi-wise, cultivation, fungi firsts, and more.Catskill Fungi is founded and cultivated by mycologist John Michelotti and friends. As former President of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association (MHMA), John co-founded the Catskill Regional Mycoflora Project as well as the Gary Lincoff Memorial Scholarship. He serves as Medicinal Mushroom Committee Chair and is a Poison Control Consultant for the North American Mycological Association. He is an instructor for the Wild Mushroom Food Safety Certification courses in NY. He was chosen by the Catskill Center as a "Steward of the Catskills" for his contribution to the environment. He served on the Mushroom Advisory Panel for Certified Naturally Grown to develop ecological standards in mushroom production. His goal is to educate and inspire people to work with fungi to improve their health, communities, and the environment.
On this week's show we'll be talking about "Oath Soil Life with Arborist Andrew Freeman. Oath Soil Life is "a product designed to restore and enhance the soil microbiome, which is crucial for healthy plant growth. It focuses on replenishing the microbial communities in degraded soils, thereby improving soil health and plant vitality."Owner and Operator Andrew Freeman has over 30 years of experience in Landscape Contracting and Arboriculture. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualified) through the International Society of Arboriculture. Andrew has a bachelor's degree from The Pennsylvania State University in Landscape Contracting and has extensive field and management experience.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the linden or basswood tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.Description
On this week's show, we'll be talking to Paul Steely from Parks & Trails New York. We'll see how New York State's vast network of parks and trails are doing.
Mission: Parks & Trails New York works to expand, protect and promote a network of parks, trails, and open spaces throughout our state for use and enjoyment by all.Former Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, an organization that became a model for effective public interest advocacy.
Paul has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Montana. He spends his Saturdays and Sundays brick oven baking, bicycling, and hiking the parks and trails of the Hudson River Valley with his wife Zoe and their three rascally children. Paul joined PTNY in March 2023, succeeding the legendary Robin Dropkin.
It's been 5 years since we last talked to Mike Porter about what's on his mind pertaining to forest issues. We'll see what Mike has been up to: From firewood, birding, preparing for maple sugaring, outdoor education, changes in the forest & people's perspectives, and more. Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Taylor Moyer from the LandTrust Recreation Access Network. LandTrust is a 2-Way marketplace for "Connecting farmers, ranchers, and landowners to people that want to recreate in the outdoors." Choose an activity: Hunting, fishing, bird-watching, mushroom picking, camping, etc. LandTrust can then find a willing landowner throughout the US. Sounds like a great way to keep rural land viable, while filling a demand for outdoor activity.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the sycamore tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.Description
Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. We'll also go into Ryan's recent 3-Day trip in the woods over the 4th of July weekend. CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
On this week's show, we're grabbing a seat with Katie Grove, full-time artist, wild basket maker and soon-to-be author. We'll get into the unique challenges and delights the wild weaving process presents and discuss how active forest management intersects with the legacy craft that is basketry. How does a tree go from forest to basket? What kinds of plants can be utilized? Can basketry be another outlet for managing invasives?
Katie Grove is an artist and educator whose passion is to inspire both viewers of her art and students in her classes to build a relationship with the plants growing around them. She holds a BFA in Printmaking from SUNY New Paltz and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from the NOMAD program at University of Hartford. She teaches basketry from her studio in Stone Ridge and enjoys a robust studio practice that merges traditional basketry techniques with sculpture.
On this week's show we'll be discussing the role and responsibility of active forest management with Ethan Tapper - an internationally recognized forester, bestselling author, and content creator from Vermont. Join us as we get into his book and all that active land management entails - reimagining what acts of compassion in the woods can look like, choosing imperfect action over the comfort of doing nothing, and so much more.Ethan started writing How to Love a Forest in 2016, after realizing that there was no book that captured his understanding of what forests are, how they work, and what it means to take care of them. He wrote the book over the following eight years, one hour at time — from 5:00-6:00 AM each day. It was published by Broadleaf Books in September, 2024. Since being published, How to Love a Forest has sold thousands of copies, been named to several bestseller lists, been named a finalist for the Vermont Book Award and has been endorsed by prominent nature writers including Bill McKibben, Doug Tallamy, and Ben Goldfarb.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the hickory tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.Description
Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. We'll also go into Ryan's recent 3-Day trip in the woods over the 4th of July weekend. CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
John Unverzagt, Education Arborist
On this week's show we'll be discussing American chestnut with Vasiliy Lakoba from the national organization--The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). As many of you know, American chestnut has been made "functionally extinct" from the devastating chestnut blight brought in from Asia in the last century. We'll discuss how TACF plans to bring back the tree as well as their recent parting with SUNY College of Enviornmental Science & Forestry's transgenic chestnut project as well.
Vasiliy Lakoba is Director of Research and Restoration with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). TACF's mission of restoring the American chestnut tree has been driving diverse approaches to establishing disease resistant trees throughout the eastern U.S. for over 40 years. Vasiliy's work with TACF spans applied tree improvement and evaluation, species reintroduction, and public engagement. He holds a PhD from Virginia Tech and his prior work includes forest understory restoration, invasion ecology, species distribution modeling, and ecophysiology. Vasiliy serves as Board Vice President of the North American Invasive Species Management Association and is passionate about nonprofit models of long-term environmental conservation.
On this Wednesday's show, we'll be talking to Nick Dietschler at the Hemlock Initiative to see how things are going with combatting the devastating hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). HWA is an exotic insect that has wreaked havoc on the eastern US's hemlock trees beginning in the mid-1900s.
Nick grew up in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, and moved to Ithaca in 2014. He received an Associates in Natural Resources Conservation from Finger Lakes Community College, Bachelors in Conservation Biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a Masters in Natural Resources from Cornell University. Before coming to the Hemlock Initiative at Cornell, he spent a season with the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation conducting hemlock and balsam woolly adelgid surveys throughout New York. At NYSHI, Nick manages many aspects of the program’s field work, works with statewide collaborators, and coordinates NYSHI’s bio-control release program. Nick’s research focuses on understanding plant-pest interactions and predator community ecology, and their influence on integrated pest management in forest systems.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the yellow poplar tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll be talking to Allen Nichols, President of the recently created American Chestnut Restoration (ACR). Allen was previously the President of the NYS Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (NY-TACF).
In December of '23, the national TACF decided to discontinue its support of SUNY College of Enviornmental Science & Forestry's Darling 54/58 transgenic chestnut program; A project heavily supported by NY-TACF. This disagreement ended in the termination of the NY Chapter, going back to 1990 and the creation of the ACR. We'll get Allen's opinion on how this occurred and where the transgenic chestnuts stand.Allen Nichol's first exposure to American chestnut was growing up in the 1950s above the Pepacton Reservoir when his father and brother returned from hunting with some burs. At that time many believed there would be some survivors of the chestnut blight. Allen saw his first American chestnuts when his father pointed out the remains of dead trees as a boy. He was aware of the resprouts that kept coming up and then dying back from the blight. As a teenager, he witnessed the death of all the great American elms on his farm, which gave him a vision of what must have happened when the chestnut blight killed all the chestnuts 50+ years earlier.
Allen believes the death of the ash today is probably giving the next generation a glimpse of what has happened in the past.
On this week's show we'll be discussing how one company is seeking to bring back the American chestnut tree. A pathogenic fungus introduced from Asia knocked out the mighty American chestnut early on in the last century and represents one of the greatest losses to North America's forests. We'll see if SilvaBio has a solution.Michael Bloom is a serial entrepreneur and avid outdoorsman, having successfully developed, led and sold two pioneering ed-tech companies, Great Courses and Learn25. Coming from a family of master gardeners & outdoor enthusiasts, Michael combines a passion for forest restoration with over 25 years of leadership experience. Michael has a B.S. degree from Boston University and an MBA with High Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
SilvaBio's Mission—“To create the disease-tolerant seedlings needed to restore the health & resilience of North America’s forests through science-driven solutions to tree disease.”
On this week's show, we'll be discussing Open Space Institute's (OSI) new land acquisition in the Town of Neversink of 3,100 acres. Known as "Blue Hill", this purchase represents the largest potential addition to the NYS DEC forest preserve in 25 years. OSI plans to turn over this property to the DEC in the future. "The Open Space Institute protects scenic, natural and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities."
Tom Gravel is a senior land project manager at the Open Space Institute (OSI) where he manages the conservation of open space and environmentally sensitive lands in the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and northern New Jersey by facilitating complex real estate transactions. After graduating from Middlebury College, Tom began his career in land conservation in 2004 with the Trust for Public Land before joining OSI in 2012.
Abigail Weinberg is Vice President for Science & Conservation Policy for the Open Space Institute (OSI). She develops nature-based solutions to climate change, water quality and land-based inequities. Her work translating science to conservation practice and policies informs the work of foundations, state and federal agencies and land conservation organizations. Her recent work focused on using data and tools to optimize forest carbon mitigation through land protection and quantifying the impact of land protection on water quality. Abby has a Master of Forestry degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Bachelors degree from St. John’s College (the “Great Books School”), Santa Fe.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the amazing process of water uptake by trees.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Occasionally, each 1st Wednesday, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest.
CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
John Unverzagt, Education Arborist
On this week's show we'll talk to John Bartow & Jennifer DeFrancesco from Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) about pressing policy issues impacting New York State's forests and forest products economy.John Bartow was appointed Executive Director of the Empire State Forest Products Association on July 18, 2015. The Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA), a non-profit organization for businesses and individuals, whose mission is to improve public awareness and promote public policy in support of productive and healthy New York forests and the forest products economy to meet the needs of society, today and for future generations.
Heritage means passing something down from preceding generations. Both trees and humans rely upon deep roots to pass their role in the forest down to the next generation. Some of our heritage in the forest has disappeared and some has not. On this week's show, we'll discuss some heritage in the Catskills that is "from the forest."
On this week's show we'll interviewing Food Forest Farm's Owner & Operator--Jonathan Bates.
Forest Food Farm operates in Ithaca, NY and "creates low maintenance, regenerative food systems. They grow, supply, and teach about perennial vegetables and other multipurpose plants. Forest Food Farm works with clients to design landscapes, and lives, that are sustaining and nourishing for people and planet."
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing some of the trees we've lost--or are losing--over the years--American chestnut, American elm, American beech, white ash, and hemlock.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Eli Arnow on how deer are impacting New York State's forests and their possible solutions.Eli Arnow is a land steward and environmental advocate serving as chair of the Forest Health Task Force at Partners for Climate Action. He has a Master's degree from SUNY ESF in Environmental Science with a concentration in ecological restoration and lives in southern Columbia County.
Partners for Climate Action (PCA) provides funding and support to local communities who are taking action to address the climate crisis and improve the ecosystems of the Hudson River Estuary Watershed. PCA's mission is to catalyze bioregional climate action.
Occasionally, each 1st Wednesday, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. We'll introduce new Staff members that you may not have met yet--Giovanna D'Angelo & John Unverzagt. CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
John Unverzagt, Education Arborist
On this week's show we'll be talking to Twisted Tree Farm's Akiva Silver. Twisted Tree Farm is "dedicated to growing healthy trees, food, and family." They specialize in "low maintenance fruit & nut trees, berry bushes, and useful perennials." Maybe some of these make sense in your backyard.
"Akiva Silver owns and operates Twisted Tree Farm, a homestead, nut orchard, and nursery located in Spencer, New York, where he grows around 20,000 trees per year using practices that go beyond organic. His background is in foraging, wilderness survival, and primitive skills. He has been observing nature intensively for the last 20 years, cultivating a deep appreciation for life."
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing some history of sawmilling and logging.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Spring is right around the corner and that means that the clock is ticking for when buds pop and flowers bloom. Join Zane and Mike as they talk about the science of phenology, or the timing of periodic biological events on plants and animals. They’ll discuss why phenology is important, what influences these seasonal and cyclical changes, how these cycles are shifting, and how anyone can become a phenologist by keeping good records of what they see.
On this week's show we'll be discussing wood heat with the Alliance for Green Heat's (AGH) John Ackerly. AGH "seeks to promote modern wood & pellet heating systems as a low carbon, sustainable & affordable energy solution." President John oversees the group's policies and programs and partnerships with other stakeholders in the residential renewable energy and energy efficiency community. He has 25 years of experience in advocacy and non-profit management with the International Campaign for Tibet, Public Citizen and the Center for Constitutional Rights. He earned a BA from Dartmouth College and a JD at the Washington College of Law and practiced civil rights law with a firm in Mississippi. John serves on several boards of directors, including the Biomass Thermal Energy Council and the Advisory Board of the Maryland Clean Energy Center. He is a certified by the National Fireplace Institute as a pellet stove technician. He lives in Maryland and heats his home with 2 cords of very dry wood.
The Alliance works to advance cleaner and more efficient residential heating technology, particularly for low and middle-income families. Founded in Maryland in 2009, the Alliance is an independent non-profit organization and is tax-exempt under section 501c3 of the tax code.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Bill Edwards--Co-Owner of Star Tree Wildfire Protection (STWP). STWP provides Services that includes: Consulting, Prescribed Fire, Prescribed Burn Plan Writing, Fire Line & Fuel Break Construction, Project Management, and more. The demand in New York State seems to be increasing for prescribed fire. Private outfits like STWP make it happen. "Star Tree Wildfire Protection offers safe and trustworthy prescribed fire to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions. Co-owner, William P. Edwards, has more than 40 years of experience in the field and has traveled throughout the country as a wildland firefighter. As a family-owned company, we can deliver personalized and organized customer service, and we’re proud of our track record of bringing multiple groups and agencies together on fire and other land management projects. We take our role seriously and understand how important prescribed fire and mechanical forest fuel removal tools are in managing land for environmental and safety goals and objectives."
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the hemlock tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be discussing Thomas Molnar's optimistic work at Rutgers University on hazelnut. Hazelnut has been devastated by Eastern Filbert Blight, making it difficult to grow in the eastern US. Tom is seeking to bring hazelnut back east as an opportunity for backyarders, hobbyists, and orchards.Thomas Molnar received his PhD from Rutgers University in 2006. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Plant Biology Department of the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA). His research program concentrates on the genetic improvement and study of hazelnuts (Corylus) and large-bracted dogwoods (Cornus). Part of this work includes germplasm exploration, collection, and evaluation. A major aspect of his current research is developing and characterizing genetic resistance to eastern filbert blight, a fungal disease which is the primary limiting factor of hazelnut production in the eastern North America. Breeding objectives in both woody ornamentals and hazelnuts emphasize selection for high levels of disease and pest resistance and cold hardiness.
We spoke to Jesse back in November about his leather tanning business in Montgomery, Orange County--Pergamena--Parchments & Leather. The Meyer family has been tanning leather for 474 years! On this 2nd show with Jesse, we'll get more into the industry and process side of things.
Pergamena's connection to the forest is the chestnut bark they use to tan their leathers. In addition to livestock, they will tan deerskins too.Jesse Meyer has worked in his family’s business since he was young; going to the tannery with his father Karl on days off from school continued through high school and even during his college breaks. After graduating with a BFA from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz, he planned on getting as far away from the tannery as he could, or at least moving to NYC to try his hand at being an artist. While working on long term plans, he continued working at the tannery, and in his off hours working on his artwork and his research in animal skins and possible applications in his artwork.
Using his artistry background, Jesse revived and refined the age-old process of hand-making parchment (parchment defined as a raw animal skin that has had the hair and flesh removed, then stretched and dried under tension).
Jesse rebranded the Richard E. Meyer & Sons Tannery into Pergamena Artisanal Parchments and Leathers, taking the name Pergamena from the Latin word for parchment.
On this week's show we'll be talking all about deer, deer management, and their conservation with National Deer Association's Matt Ross. About NDA--"Re-forged on November 10, 2020, from the combined strengths of two deer organizations with 38 years of action, the National Deer Association is united for deer with a new vision to make an impact for conservation immediately and for future generations. Our mission: ensuring the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting."
Matt Ross is NDA’s Senior Director of Conservation, and he has been with the organization since 2006 earning several promotions during his tenure. His prior positions include Director and Assistant Director of Conservation, Conservation Coordinator, Certification Programs Manager, and New England/Canada and Northeast Regional Director. Before coming to NDA, he was a project manager with Moreno Forestry Associates and a wildlife technician with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts and master’s at the University of New Hampshire. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist® and Licensed Forester.
Matt grew up in Hyde Park, New York and currently lives in Saratoga Springs. He is an NDA Life Member, Brothers-Hamilton Society member, and longtime Branch volunteer. He and his wife, Sadie, are proud parents of two daughters who he loves sharing his outdoor passion with.
(The 1st half of this show can be found 15 minutes into Part 1) On this week's show we'll be talking to Dr. Jane Lucas from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies about the importance of soils in northeastern forests. Jane will cover soil composition, the role of microbial communities in soils, global change impacts on soil health, human influences and soil degradation, and what you can do to improve soils.Jane Lucas studies microbial communities, which exist in nearly every environment and play a key role in nutrient cycling. These tiny and abundant microorganisms help fertilize plants and recycle organic debris, with important implications for agriculture and ecosystem health. Lucas is working to uncover the hidden complexity of microbial life, primarily in soils, from tropical forests to farmlands around the world. A central question: How are people impacting the composition and function of microbial communities?
Lucas’ current research is investigating how livestock practices shape antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics given to livestock inject biologically active compounds into the environment – with unknown consequences. Using field studies and new molecular tools, Lucas is examining how livestock antibiotics affect soil microbes, soil carbon storage, nitrogen cycling, and the rise of antibiotic resistance.
The ‘One Health’ approach is central to Lucas’ work. This is the idea that agriculture, the environment, and public health are inextricably linked. Lucas aims to work with farmers and government agencies to encourage sustainable agricultural practices that support healthy ecosystems and meet global food demands.
Before coming to Cary, Lucas completed a USDA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Idaho. She received her PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Oklahoma, where she studied how nutrient availability and antibiotics influence tropical soil communities. Past work has looked at how antifungal and antibacterial compounds affect decomposition in soils, and how activities of a tropical ant impact microorganisms and nutrient cycling in its environment.
(Unfortunately, you must "fast-forward" 15 minutes into this show to begin From the Forest.) On this week's show we'll be talking to Dr. Jane Lucas from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies about the importance of soils in northeastern forests. Jane will cover soil composition, the role of microbial communities in soils, global change impacts on soil health, human influences and soil degradation, and what you can do to improve soils.Jane Lucas studies microbial communities, which exist in nearly every environment and play a key role in nutrient cycling. These tiny and abundant microorganisms help fertilize plants and recycle organic debris, with important implications for agriculture and ecosystem health. Lucas is working to uncover the hidden complexity of microbial life, primarily in soils, from tropical forests to farmlands around the world. A central question: How are people impacting the composition and function of microbial communities?
Lucas’ current research is investigating how livestock practices shape antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics given to livestock inject biologically active compounds into the environment – with unknown consequences. Using field studies and new molecular tools, Lucas is examining how livestock antibiotics affect soil microbes, soil carbon storage, nitrogen cycling, and the rise of antibiotic resistance.
The ‘One Health’ approach is central to Lucas’ work. This is the idea that agriculture, the environment, and public health are inextricably linked. Lucas aims to work with farmers and government agencies to encourage sustainable agricultural practices that support healthy ecosystems and meet global food demands.
Before coming to Cary, Lucas completed a USDA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Idaho. She received her PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Oklahoma, where she studied how nutrient availability and antibiotics influence tropical soil communities. Past work has looked at how antifungal and antibacterial compounds affect decomposition in soils, and how activities of a tropical ant impact microorganisms and nutrient cycling in its environment.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Nadia Steinzor about wolves. Nadia facilitates the recovery and protection of wolves throughout northeastern US and eastern Canada. Nadia Steinzor is an environmental consultant with 25 years of experience in policy analysis, research, writing, and communications. She has developed and managed projects to investigate the oil and gas industry’s impact on the climate and communities, secure governmental protections for air, water, land, and wildlife, and engage the public in advocacy efforts. Nadia works with the Rewilding Institute to ensure that wolves and other carnivores thrive and roam in the Northeast and beyond. Nadia holds an M.S. in environmental policy from the Bard College Center for Environmental Policy.
Last time we had Author M.R. O'Connor on the show, we discussed her book--"Ignition: Lighting Fires in a Burning World." On this week's show, we'll discuss her recent article in The New Yorker: "The Northeast is Becoming Fire Country." O'Connor's article was inspired by the abundance of forest fires last fall in the Northeast US. About M.R. O'Connor: M. R. O’Connor is a journalist who writes about the politics and ethics of science, technology and conservation. Her work has appeared online in The Atavist, Slate, Foreign Policy, The New Yorker, Nautilus, UnDark and Harper’s. Her first book, Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-Extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things (St. Martin’s Press, 2015) and was one of Library Journal and Amazon’s Best Books of The Year. Her second book, Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World (St. Martin’s Press, 2019) is an exploration of navigation traditions, neuroscience, and the diversity of human relationships to space, time and memory. Its writing was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan’s Program for the Public Understanding of Science, Technology, & Economics. She recently wrote a book called Ignition (September 2023, Bold Type Books) on fire ecology and prescribed burning, for which she became certified as a wildland firefighter.
In 2008/2009, O’Connor was a reporter for The Sunday Times, an English-language newspaper in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her investigative reporting on topics like disappearances in Sri Lanka’s civil war, global agriculture trade in Haiti, and American development enterprises in Afghanistan have been funded by institutions such as the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, The Phillips Foundation, and The Nation Institute’s Investigative Fund. For a long time, she made her bread and butter as a stringer covering crime, courts, and breaking news in New York City for publications such as The Wall Street Journal and New York Post, and covered the criminal justice beat for the online investigative site The New York World. She is a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and was a 2016/17 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner, the screenwriter Bryan Parker, and their two sons.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the ash tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
We had Nate on the show last year to share his story of his first ever time bear hunting in the Catskills. He was successful and is now hooked! We will hear about his second year of hunting and what he's learned.
This fall was abnormally dry here in the Catskills, resulting in an uptick in wildland fire activity. We will be discussing fire in the Catskills with NYS DEC Region 3 Forest Ranger, Erich Horn. Ranger Horn spent some time on the Peekamoose Fire last month and will give us some first hand accounts as well as discuss his role as a Forest Ranger to prevent and suppress forest fires in the region.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Jesse Meyer from Pergamena--Parchments & Leather. Pergamena is based out of Montgomery, Orange County and the Meyer family has been tanning leather for 474 years! Pergamena's connection to the forest is the chestnut bark they use to tan their leathers. In addition to livestock, they also will tan deerskins too.Jesse Meyer has worked in his family’s business since he was young; going to the tannery with his father Karl on days off from school continued through high school and even during his college breaks. After graduating with a BFA from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz, he planned on getting as far away from the tannery as he could, or at least moving to NYC to try his hand at being an artist. While working on long term plans, he continued working at the tannery, and in his off hours working on his artwork and his research in animal skins and possible applications in his artwork.
Using his artistry background, Jesse revived and refined the age-old process of hand-making parchment (parchment defined as a raw animal skin that has had the hair and flesh removed, then stretched and dried under tension).
Jesse rebranded the Richard E. Meyer & Sons Tannery into Pergamena Artisanal Parchments and Leathers, taking the name Pergamena from the Latin word for parchment.
(2nd half of show)
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the maple tree, both red and sugar.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
(This show unfortunately is broken up over 2 parts. Just "fast-forward" towards the middle or so of Part 1 to hear the beginning)
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the maple tree, both red and sugar.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be discussing how "kids in the woods" has changed from the past. I know playing in the woods as a kid definitely had a great influence on my life as someone who plays and works in the woods today.
On this week's show, we'll be talking about bogs in the Catskills with Dr. Michael Kudish. Dr. Kudish uses bogs to decipher forest history going back thousands of years!Michael Kudish received his Ph.D. at the New York State College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. In 2000, Purple Mountain Press published The Catskill Forest: A History. As a professor emeritus in the Division of Forestry at Paul Smith's College, he has also written four books on the vegetation of the Adirondacks, including Adirondack Upland Flora and a number of articles on forest history of both the Catskills and Adirondacks. As a railroad historian, he has written volumes on the subject of railroads in the Adirondacks and the Catskills.
On this week's show we'll be talking about the history, status, and recovery of mountain lions with Chris Spatz. Chris is the former President of the Cougar Rewilding Foundation that seeks to bring cougars back to the northeast.
The raven (Corvus corax) reminds me of my campsite in the mountains. I hear them often throughout the day uttering a variety of "vocalizations" from the nearby cliffsides where they reside.
On this week's show we'll discuss this bird that often gets confused with its look-alike, the crow. Both birds share the prize though for being one of the smartest birds in the world.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the black locust tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
October 1st marked the Opening Day of Archery Season for hunting deer and bear. We'll discuss how we think this year will shape up, what we're seeing, and why and how we bow hunt.
On this Wednesday's radio show we'll be talking to Brian Bethke, Founder & CEO of Bear Maple Sparkling Ginseng Elixir. Brian has taken 2 of our favorite Catskill Mountain ingredients--ginseng & maple sap--and made a super delicious and nutritious drink. We'll see how he came to developing Bear Maple and how it's going.In 2020, in the heart of the pandemic, Bear Maple founder and CEO Brian Bethke and his family moved to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. On their daily outings, he and his daughter discovered maple trees and ginseng growing in the wild. A serial entrepreneur and lifelong learner, Brian set off on a journey of discovery and a deep dive into the voluminous research documenting the functionality of ginseng as well as maple water. He combined the two in a beverage and Bear Maple was born.
The Bear Maple team set out to be the first to bring hydroponically grown ginseng to the beverage market in an adaptogenic, sparkling elixir. Bear Maple’s mission is to craft innovative, functional beverages that help nourish both the body and mind while fostering a sustainable future for the planet. Its functional sparkling ginseng beverages are crafted with high-quality ginseng, naturally sweetened with maple water, and are caffeine free.
Bear Maple is 1% for the Planet certified, and the company donates 1% of its annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners. For more information visit drinkbearmaple.com, follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn, or email info@drinkbearmaple.com.
In the northeast, wind is the dominant natural disturbance factor that influences the size, density, and age class of trees in the forest. In this week's show, we will discuss how wind affects individual trees, how it impacts forest structure, which species depend on it for pollination, and what you can do for your property after a high wind event.
Normally, each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.
Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani — Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught — Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer — Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci — Education Forester
Many of us have heard about fire in the forest out west or somewhere else other than the northeast. The northeastern forest has been labeled the "Asbestos Forest" or one that doesn't include fire. But, has this always been the case? What positive role can fire play in New York State's forest? Andrew Vander Yacht will explain the historical role of fire in New York and how it might be used today.Dr. Andrew (Andy) L. Vander Yacht is an Assistant Professor of Applied Forest and Fire Ecology in the Department of Sustainable Resources Management at SUNY ESF. He teaches silviculture, fire ecology and management, and forest management for wildlife. Broadly, his research program seeks to: 1) understand how disturbance, particularly fire, affects the structure, composition, health, and resiliency of temperate forested ecosystems, and 2) how this knowledge can inform modern forest management. Specifically, he works to advance silvicultural practices in NY and beyond as he explores historical disturbances in forests, plant-soil-fire feedbacks, forest carbon management, fuel ecology, pyric herbivory, the restoration of disturbance-dependent biodiversity, and fire effects on ticks and tick-borne disease.
Before SUNY ESF, Andy earned a B.S. in Biology at Hope College (Holland, MI), M.S. (Wildlife Science) and Ph.D. (Natural Resources) degrees from The University of Tennessee, and worked 4 years at Michigan State University.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll again be discussing some of the official state trees of the US since we didn't finish last time around.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Last week's show covered "Bark Tanning in the Catskills." We'll continue the conversation on this most significant mountain industry with Paul Misko. Paul's talk will focus on a particular area of the Catskills—Woodland Valley, located in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County.
Paul Misko has been hiking in the Catskills since childhood. Over the years he has learned much about the Catskill forest, and the human history within it. Though his main focus is Woodland Valley, near Phoenicia, he has done research throughout the whole Catskill region.
In 2009 he founded the Catskill 4000 Club, a small hiking group which focuses on history themed hikes and events. He has written articles for Kaatskill Life, and the Catskill Mountain Region Guide. He regularly gives talks on Catskill history, American history, and John Burroughs. He shares his research both in person, and on WIOX radio's "From the Forest."
On this week's show, we'll be discussing the Catskill Mountain's first industry--the Tannery Industry, of the 19th Century. Tanneries of the Catskills were "vegetable-based" or used bark of hemlock trees to tan cowskins into leather. Many of our hamlets today trace back their roots to this industry that required hemlock trees, cold running water, and animal hides.
On this week's show we'll be discussing America's wild plum tree or American plum (Prunus americana). American plum may present a fruitful opportunity for the Catskills; it's one tough tree.
On this week's show, we'll be discussing how Don Wyckoff metal detects in the woods and how he deciphers the past from this art.Don Wyckoff is a Motivational Speaker at Motivational Empowerment. He is also the Director of Community Relations at the Catskill Center for Independence. Don is the host of the "Empower Hour" on WIOX ROXBURY 91.3 FM that follows after our radio show--"From the Forest."
Forestry Check-In
2024-07-11 Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.
Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani — Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught — Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer — Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci — Education Forester
Elisabeth Mazzilli has been living off grid in Vermont for the last 25 years on 104 acres in a forest that is a series of beaver swamps and low ridges. We'll get her perspective on how she lives "from the forest."
Normally, each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.
Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani — Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught — Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer — Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci — Education Forester
On this week's show will talk to Jed Meunier about the important role fire can play in the forest. Jed—like his great-Grandfather and well-known Conservationist Aldo Leopold—sought fire in the forest in restoration projects and to meet ecological needs. Jed will discuss how fire was historically important, its more recent fall-out as a tool in forest management and conservation, and its importance and practice today.
Jed Meunier is an ecologist and research scientist within the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. Jed has expertise in disturbance ecology which translates well into management issues whether that is harvest of wildlife or timber, understanding natural disturbance like fire, or the use of fire to meet particular management objectives. His dissertation research was on fire ecology in northern Mexico investigating spatial and temporal aspects of fire in relation to climate and land-use. Jed received his M.S. in the wildlife ecology department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the first of its kind in the country started by his great-grandfather Aldo Leopold. Jed considers himself lucky to spend his time asking questions and through applied research to assist in the management of our many treasures.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll again be discussing some of the official state trees of the US since we didn't finish last time around.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll be talking about the elusive morel mushroom--what they are, where and when they grow, and tips on how to find them and eat them! We'll also touch on some of the other edible mushrooms on offer in the forest for the remainder of the year.
On this week's show we'll contrast "preservation" with "conservation" with CFA member--John Conolly. John will discuss his perspective on conservation going forward, or "disruptive conservation."John Conolly has been a member of the Catskill Forest Association since 2019. John and his family have taken advantage of several CFA programs as they attempt to appropriately manage a 60+ acre parcel in the Catskills.
John grew up in a classic late 70’s rust belt town about an hour north of Chicago. His father had been a 4H Champion in his youth and was raised on a small family farm in Illinois. His mother grew up spending time in the woods with her Grandfather on a family farm in Michigan. His parents were often pressed to recount these experiences at bedtime and in doing so instilled a strong desire to explore the natural world.
A graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, John is also an accomplished sailor and an expert on all things commodities. John is a hunter and gatherer, a fly fisherman, and a proud champion of an ethical approach to conservation. Chairman of the environmental committee for a local elementary school, John is keen on helping children observe the natural world that surrounds them. His many undertakings include chairing an annual earth week “Extravaganza!”, founding a wildlife photography exhibition, and hosting a gold star family retreat. He co-chairs the stream committee for a historic Catskills fly fishing club and is a major supporter of the Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. John’s favorite role is being the father of two, the husband of one and the guy who feeds the puppy.
On this week's show, Stephen Tulowiecki from SUNY Geneseo will discuss his research and findings on Native Americans and their impacts on forests in New York State. Stephen J. Tulowiecki is an Associate Professor of Geography & Sustainability Studies at SUNY Geneseo. He teaches courses in geographic information systems, statistics, and mountain geography. His research interests are in forest ecosystems of the eastern US, including varied topics such as Native American land-use impacts upon past forests of the eastern US, and the past and present distribution of rare and interesting tree species such as the American chestnut and pawpaw.
The concept of “wilderness” has changed throughout history, and can influence the way we relate to the natural world. Zane Lawyer, CFA Education Arborist, will give a talk on the evolving meaning of wilderness and its significance for the future of the Catskill region.
Zane was hired full-time June 2020 as a Forest Program Technician. He assists the Forest Program Manager to develop, coordinate, and implement CFA’s programs and services. Zane also helps in the development and creation of field and written content for CFA programs, events, and newsletter. Zane is an ISA Certified Arborist and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Health with minors in Applied Statistics and Environmental Writing and Philosophy in May of 2016 from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll again be discussing some of the official state trees of the US since we didn't finish last time around.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Perhaps you've been inundated by tiny caterpillars recently. On this week's show we'll discuss the gypsy moth outbreak that is occurring in parts of the Catskills as well as other tent caterpillars too.
Normally, each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani — Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught — Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer — Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci — Education Forester
Who owns the forest in the northeast? What are their values, preferences, and motivations? How can natural resource managers better engage with them to foster more vibrant forests? In this week's show we'll be using TELE's information and data to see who owns the forestland in New York State and how they relate to what we see in the Catskill Mountains."Tools for Engaging Landowners Effectively (TELE) was started in 2008 as a collaboration of the Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, the Center for Nonprofit Strategies, and the Family Forest Research Center. It was initially housed at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and then at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
The TELE program developed out of the need to translate landowner research, especially data from the National Woodland Owner Survey, into a practical methodology for designing landowner outreach programs."
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll again be discussing some of the official state trees of the US since we didn't finish last time around.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be talking to a member of the Catskill Forest Association about their first-time making maple syrup.Chip Beck lives in Ulster County and has 55 taps. Now that the season is over, we'll get a report from him on how it went.
Normally, each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani -- Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught -- Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer -- Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci -- Education Forester
On this week's show, we'll be talking about "conservation" with the Aldo Leopold Foundation's (ALF) Steve Swenson. Aldo Leopold is considered to be the "Father of wildlife ecology and modern conservation." We'll see how the ALF defines conservation in today's environment.
The Mission of the ALF is "to foster a land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold. Inspired by his profound vision, they seek to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of their relationship with the environment on all levels, be it individuals or entire communities.”About Steve Swenson
Steve Swenson for over 20 years, has been advancing the ethical relationship between people and land through tangible conservation initiatives. As Program Director, he oversees the foundation’s marketing, communications, facilities, education and outreach, and land stewardship staffs. Steve’s coordination and facilitation of staff’s time and talents focus on the foundation’s ambition to grow budget and impact.
His role oversees the preservation and protection of Aldo Leopold’s historic Shack, a National Historic Landmark and the conservation ambition and impact achieved on surrounding lands through the 4,000-acre Leopold-Pines Conservation Area.
Regionally, Steve coordinates a public-private partnership called My Wisconsin Woods. Through continuous improvement of outreach methods, My Wisconsin Woods inspires land care among woodland owners. For this project and others, Steve authored regionalized handbooks titled My Healthy Woods, written specifically for inexperienced landowners. These award-winning handbooks have reached over 40,000 landowners collectively owning 6 million acres in Arkansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Steve holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Science from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a M.S. in Ecology from Ohio State University.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll again be discussing some of the official state trees of the US since we didn't finish last time around.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Normally, each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani -- Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught -- Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer -- Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci -- Education Forester
On this week's show we'll be interviewing Claire Mann of Audubon New York. Claire is their Forest Program Senior Associate where she engages in education and outreach for both landowners and conservation partners in improving forest habitat for birds.The Audubon Society's Mission is “To protect birds & the places they need today & tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.”
Claire Mann attended The State University of New York College Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology. Claire has extensive experience in forestry and natural resource management. After many years of working for the US Forest Service Claire has joined Audubon where she focuses on improving forest bird habitat in New York State.
On this week's show we'll discuss Omer Stewart's "Forgotten Fires: Native Americans & the Transient Wilderness." According to Author M. R. O'Connor ("Ignition: Lighting Fires in a Burning World"), "Omer particularly regretted that his own peers—Anthropologists—ignored evidence that Indigenous people were powerful agents who had transformed the physical world.” I feel this book sorely needs to be read in a time when many of us have truly forgotten or misunderstand the importance of fire in the landscape. Omer Stewart lived from 1908 to 1991. He was a Cultural Anthropologist & Author at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he retired in 1973. Omer Stewart was well-known for defending Native American land claims and advocating for tribal legal use of peyote.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing some of the official state trees of the US.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this Wednesday's show, we'll discuss the ins & outs of Backyard Maple Sugaring. Perhaps you'd like to try your hand at making sugar from trees. The photo shows an abnormally sweet batch of sap from 2013. At 4%, this sap is twice as sweet as most. About 20 gallons of 4% sap will boil down to 1 gallon of syrup. Normally, it's more like 42 to 1.
Normally, each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani -- Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught -- Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer -- Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci -- Education Forester
On this week's show, we'll talk to one of CFA's members--Tyler Evans. Tyler offers a perspective from a landowner's point of view and someone who takes a hand's-on approach to managing his forest. Some topics include wildlife, plant propagation for his new nursery, firewood, crop tree release, apple tree pruning, timber harvesting, and timber stand improvement. Tyler grew up in Otego on 13 acres until 10 years old before moving to Oneonta. He and his brother were always outside playing or small game hunting and fishing. Tyler enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2008 and served 4 years active duty. In 2013, he moved to NYC to finish his education and start a career until 2020. In 2021, he bought 162 acres in Walton, where he really jumped into managing the forest and working on the property.
On this week's show, we'll talk to Ben Falk from Whole Systems Design in Vermont about burning fuelwood. Ben will discuss his trial and error with his 4th generation wood heating system, providing an integrated and complete home heating solution meeting cooking, baking, and most crucially--hot water needs. Ben will also discuss why he burns in 2024, air quality issues, heat conservation, dealing with the stove pipe & ventilation, maintenance, burning tips, and wood preparation.
Ben developed Whole Systems Design, LLC as a land-based response to biological and cultural extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental things. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry traveler continually informs Ben’s integrative approach to developing landscapes and buildings. His home landscape and the WSD studio site in Vermont's Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the regenerative land developments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design.
Ben studied architecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds a master’s degree in land-use planning and design. He has conducted more than 650 site development and land inspection consultations across the US and abroad, and has facilitated dozens of courses on property selection, permaculture design, and resilient systems. He has given keynote addresses and presented dozens of workshops at venues ranging from Bioneers to the Omega Institute. Ben is the author of the award-winning book The Resilient Farm and Homestead (Chelsea Green, 2013) and serves as an Advisory Council for the international regeneration group Ecosystem Restoration Camps.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing birch trees (i.e. yellow, black, paper, gray, & mountain paper).
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
In November we had Nate Loda on the show to discuss his early black bear hunting trip in the Catskills back in September. In that show, we made it to the point where Nate killed his bear. In this show, we'll discuss everything that occurred once the bear was down--from packing out to eating and more.Nathan Loda is an American realist oil painter. Loda received an MFA degree from George Mason University in 2015 and a BFA in painting from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV in 2011.
Loda lives and works in a little town called Homer, in central New York. He paints full time in his home studio. His wife and three little girls are his constant muses and their dog Blaze is his closest friend.
On this week's show we'll talk to M.R. O'Connor who authored the book--"Ignition: Lighting Fires in a Burning World." In order to write this book, Maura took a "hands-on" approach for sure when she became a wildlife firefighter to gain more experience surrounding fire. Her book details both historical fire culture in America as well as how fire is suppressed, prescribed to restore habitats, and perceived by the general public today. Her experience with fire in the forest seems to bring to light or question our role as humans in the environment today. Should be interesting. About M.R. O'Connor: M. R. O’Connor is a journalist who writes about the politics and ethics of science, technology and conservation. Her work has appeared online in The Atavist, Slate, Foreign Policy, The New Yorker, Nautilus, UnDark and Harper’s. Her first book, Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-Extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things (St. Martin’s Press, 2015) and was one of Library Journal and Amazon’s Best Books of The Year. Her second book, Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World (St. Martin’s Press, 2019) is an exploration of navigation traditions, neuroscience, and the diversity of human relationships to space, time and memory. Its writing was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan’s Program for the Public Understanding of Science, Technology, & Economics. She recently wrote a book called Ignition (September 2023, Bold Type Books) on fire ecology and prescribed burning, for which she became certified as a wildland firefighter.
In 2008/2009, O’Connor was a reporter for The Sunday Times, an English-language newspaper in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her investigative reporting on topics like disappearances in Sri Lanka’s civil war, global agriculture trade in Haiti, and American development enterprises in Afghanistan have been funded by institutions such as the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, The Phillips Foundation, and The Nation Institute’s Investigative Fund. For a long time, she made her bread and butter as a stringer covering crime, courts, and breaking news in New York City for publications such as The Wall Street Journal and New York Post, and covered the criminal justice beat for the online investigative site The New York World. She is a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and was a 2016/17 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner, the screenwriter Bryan Parker, and their two sons.
On this week's show we'll be talking to avid trout fisherman--Peter Marx--about fishing on the East Branch Delaware. Peter is a member of the Ashokan-Pepacton chapter of Trout Unlimited and has been fishing on the East Branch for decades. We may also delve into questions surrounding legislation and policy pertaining to the Delaware Watershed on the federal level; Peter is the Federal Affairs Contractor for the Choose Clean Water Coalition on the Chesapeake and the Coalition for the Delaware Watershed.Peter is a contractor who assists the Choose Clean Water Coalition with Federal affairs, working with both Congress and the Administration. Peter spent more than 20 years at EPA, in both the Chesapeake Bay Program Office and at EPA Headquarters in Washington.
Peter was a staff member on the former Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the U.S. House of Representatives for four years, and helped author several pieces of coastal legislation that became law. He also spent a few years at the Northeast-Midwest Institute in Washington, D.C. working with Congress on regional ecosystem issues, including the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Peter earned a master's degree in Geography and Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island.
Peter lives on Broad Creek, a tributary to the South River and Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, MD, and also has a cabin on Batavia Kill near Denver, New York, in the Delaware River watershed. He fishes in both places as often as he can.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing Gary's recent interest in building Native American tipis.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll talk to Gary Robson, owner of Robson's Christmas Trees in Bovina, Delaware County. We'll get his perspective on growing these trees from start to finish.Robson's Christmas Trees offers a variety of species and sizes. At Robson's, you can enjoy an outing to pick Christmas trees at their choose-and-cut farm.
They have: 5–10-foot Fraser, concolor, grand, balsam fir and blue spruce trees, wreaths, kissing balls and center pieces. Open Fri-Sun, Thanksgiving to the first or second week in December. Call to make sure they're open.
Unfortunately, this show was recorded over 2 segments. You'll have to "fast-forward" into the 1st segment to listen to show. On this week's show, we'll talk to Gary Robson, owner of Robson's Christmas Trees in Bovina, Delaware County. We'll get his perspective on growing these trees from start to finish.Robson's Christmas Trees offers a variety of species and sizes. At Robson's, you can enjoy an outing to pick Christmas trees at their choose-and-cut farm.
They have: 5–10-foot Fraser, concolor, grand, balsam fir and blue spruce trees, wreaths, kissing balls and center pieces. Open Fri-Sun, Thanksgiving to the first or second week in December. Call to make sure they're open.
Every so often we try and make time to check in with the field staff here at the Catskill Forest Association to see just what’s going on in the forests of these Catskill Mountains. This Wednesday John, Zahra, and Zane will be chatting about what they’ve seen in the woods on the job, as well as on their own time. I, John, will be mentioning the abundance of stone laid sap arches I’ve come across this year. I know where about a half dozen or so remain stacked up in the hills beneath the sugar maples that once fed their boiling pans.
Back in September while on my annual short 3-Day camping trip, I was bushwacking through the woods on a compass bearing and saw a human outline through the trees wearing some orange. This is when I met Nate Loda taking advantage of the early bear hunting season. I learned that he was hunting bear for the first time in the area. I was just surprised to see anyone while squeaking through the trees off-trail. I learned afterwards that Nate succeeded in getting a bear when he emailed me later on. We'll talk to Nate about his take on the Early Bear Hunting Season in the Catskills.Nathan Loda is an American realist oil painter. Loda received a MFA degree George Mason University in 2015 and a BFA in painting from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV in 2011.
Loda lives and works in a little town called Homer, in central New York. He paints full time in his home studio. His wife and three little girls are his constant muses and their dog Blaze is his closest friend.
You can visit his art at www.nathanloda.com
On this week's show, we'll be talking to Bryan Quinn, Founder of One Nature. One Nature is "a small interdisciplinary team of artists, applied ecologists, botanists, scientists, and planners capable of stewarding client projects from initial visioning and research through construction and into long-term land stewardship." They are located in Beacon, NY and serve the Hudson Valley Region and parts of the Catskill Mountains too.Bryan Quinn is an artist who has worked for over two decades directly with land, plants, animals and people to create earthworks that engage viewers with the wonder of ecological systems. Quinn, who is also a respected applied ecologist, considers mountains, rivers, ecosystems, and other types of living landscapes to have inherent rights independent of human use. Technically trained in restoration ecology, environmental philosophy and ecological design, his vision is a world where our development activities improve the environment, rather than destroy it. He is the founder and principal of One Nature (since 2005) and co-founder of O.N. Engineering (2018).
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing Gary's recent interest in building Native American longhouses.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be talking to Cornell Cooperative Extension's--Dan Wixted about assessing pesticide hazard and risk. We'll use glyphosate as an example since it's the most commonly used forestry herbicide for controlling interfering plants. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the commercially well-known label "Roundup." We'll also discuss hazards and risks surrounding alternatives to pesticides and how that might influence "Integrated Pest Management."Dan is a Extension Support Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension's Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). At PSEP, Dan is tasked with:* Pesticide applicator training manuals * Ordering applicator training manuals and Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines * Health and environmental effects of glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) * General pesticide safety and use (e.g., regulations, reading a label, exposure concerns)
Gypsy moth cyclically damage oak trees, while forest tent caterpillar can wreak havoc on sugar maple. If you have many acres of these trees and can't risk defoliation damage, Chuck Webber is your guy. Chuck has been providing aerial spraying services for over 30 years. He and his wife Felicia are based in Columbia County and provide both aerial and ground crews to suppress a variety of forest pests. We'll get Chuck's take on this unique service.
It may seem early to start talking about maple season, but colder weather is upon us and it's never too early to start preparing. On this week's show, CFA's Education Forester Zahra Bellucci & Board President Mike Porter will discuss Backyard Maple Syrup Production - another service included in CFA's new Forest Farming Program. We'll cover all the basics from identifying maple trees, best practices for tapping, getting your firewood ready for the sugarin' season, ways to set up an at-home evaporator, and more.Zahra Bellucci is CFA's Education Forester & administers & implements their FOREST FARMING PROGRAM which includes (1) Backyard Maple Syrup Production; (2) Shiitake Mushroom Log Inoculation; & (3) Wild-Simulated Ginseng Cultivation. Mike Porter is the President of the Catskill Forest Association. He is a lifelong resident of the Catskill Mountains and has extensive experience running his own "backyard" maple syrup operation, with lots of wisdom to offer.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the unique kousa dogwood tree and why you might want one near you.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be covering the American beech tree (Fagus grandifolia). We'll cover the basics of this tree, its importance to both humans and wildlife, as well as both old and--unfortunately--new diseases wreaking havoc on this already ravaged tree.
On this week's show we'll talk to Ed Ostapczuk, who many consider to be "the face & voice of the Esopus River." It's no secret that Ed loves to fish and has been at it for quite some time. We'll get Ed's view on trout fishing in the Catskills, impacts to fish and their habitat, new regulations, & more.Ed Ostapczuk is a master fly tyer and member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, Ed has written numerous articles, essays, columns, and even a few books. In 1991, Trophy Trout Streams of the Northeast was published and included a chapter on the Esopus written by Ed Ostapczuk. In 2012 he wrote Ramblings of a Charmed Circle Flyfisher, recounting his fly-fishing adventures. In 2022, he wrote a second book titled The Wanderings of a Mountain Fly Fisher.
Ed is a chapter officer of the Ashokan-Pepacton chapter of TU. He also regularly contributes to conversations with the DEC and DEP.
Each fall I take a small camping trip to the "High Peaks" of the Catskill Mountains. I've been doing this since 2004; Time sure is flying by. We'll discuss some notable things seen, heard, and felt, while out in the woods last week.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing how to select different tree species for both timber-framing & lumber.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, CFA's Education Forester--Zahra Bellucci--will discuss how to grow wild-simulated ginseng. We'll introduce this amazing plant by covering some of the basics and then go into how you might perpetuate it on your land. Wild ginseng is highly sought after in the marketplace for its medicinal attributes. Deer and other herbivores also like it, making this plant rare in the forest. Why not improve its abundance by planting it?Zahra Bellucci is CFA's Education Forester & administers & implements their FOREST FARMING PROGRAM which includes (1) Backyard Maple Syrup Production; (2) Shiitake Mushroom Log Inoculation; & (3) Wild-Simulated Ginseng Cultivation.Zahra joined the Catskill Forest Association team as Education Forester in May 2022. She is originally from Rochester, NY but has spent several years living in the Catskill and Hudson Valley regions working in sustainable agriculture. She assists in the implementation of CFA’s programs and works to administer and develop the forestry education services offered by CFA to members and the local community. She received her Associate of Applied Science in Forest Technology in May 2022 from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School.
On this week's show we'll talk to Forester Bob Williams about "Keeping the Pinelands" in New Jersey. Recently Bob appeared on PBS discussing the NJ Pinelands.
"In the 20th century, the once vast forests of the New Jersey Pine Barrens were vanishing. In 1979, a controversial ban on over-development became law, saving over a million acres. But today, the Pinelands face new threats from climate change and fire suppression. To help these forests survive, people are using new ways to manage them. Collaborating with nature is the key to Keeping the Pinelands." We'll get Bob's perspective on the Pinelands in NJ, something that might share similarities with the Forest Preserve in New York State.Bob Williams is the owner and founder of Pine Creek Forestry LLC. Bob graduated with an Associate's degree in forestry in 1972 from Centralia College and a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1975. Bob has 43 years experience in the field of forestry. His experience includes working for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service in Alaska and Washington, and Scott Paper Company as a logging engineer. Since 1985, Bob has worked as a consulting forester in New Jersey working with both private and public landowners to achieve management and stewardship goals for natural resources. In addition to consulting work, Bob has authorized many forestry activities, as well as newsletters put out by various forestry organizations.
On this week's show we'll discuss "low-grade" trees or "trees that no one wants." We'll define & decipher low-grade from high-grade trees and how forest markets--or the lack thereof--impacts our forests today and tomorrow.
For many people, hunting is a tradition passed down through family ties - kids are introduced to the lifestyle and gain a passion for hunting at a young age. It's becoming more and more common to hear about hunters that have found the passion later in life, though. We will speak to the latest emergent hunter, CFA's Education Arborist Zane Lawyer, about what sparked him to take up the sport, where he is at in his journey, and where his goals lie with becoming an "adult-onset hunter".
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the willow tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll discuss something uplifting & positive surrounding ash trees. As many of you know, ash trees are being devastated by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Currently, the only control is chemically-based to save a few sentimental trees mostly in the arboricultural-sphere near one's home. However, few are aware that biological controls are in place to hopefully control this pest long-term.
Collin Miller is a Forester with the NYC DEP and also a "Cooperator" or "Partner" with the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help release biocontrols--or in this case parasitoid wasps--to kill emerald ash borer larvae. Hopefully, it looks promising; We'll see what Collin has to say.
Collin Miller, CF® is Watershed Forester for the Bureau of Water Supply at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, a position he’s held for nearly seven years. Located in their regional office in Downsville, NY, he works with other foresters to steward City-owned forestlands primarily in Delaware County. Collin is also a CFA member and manages his family woodlot for multiple uses at his home in South Kortright.
Each first Wednesday of the month, Catskill Forest Association's Field Staff 'check-in’ to discuss what they've been up to around and in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.
Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members: Ryan Trapani -- Director of Forest Services John MacNaught -- Forest Program Manager Zane Lawyer -- Education Arborist Zahra Bellucci -- Education Forester
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the tulip poplar tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll cover the various dogwood trees that might be found in & near the Catskill Mountains. Some are native, and some are planted as ornamentals. Dogwood is often overlooked since it is naturally a mid or understory tree. However, it can offer a wide variety of benefits, especially near the home.
For the past few months we have been gathering Catskill Forest Association Field Staff for a ‘forestry check-in’ on the first Wednesday of the month. This week we will check in to see what is happening in the woods now that summer is upon us and see what CFA staff have been seeing both in their free time and at CFA member’s properties.
Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members: Ryan Trapani -- Director of Forest Services John MacNaught -- Forest Program Manager Zane Lawyer -- Education Arborist Zahra Bellucci -- Education Forester
On this week's show we'll be talking to the White Oak Initiative's Executive Director Jason Meyer. Although there is currently enough white oak to supply the wood products industry across eastern North America, the future is more uncertain. According to the White Oak Initiative, white oak's future isn't looking good, since younger age classes are mostly missing throughout this tree's range. We'll talk to Jason on why this is happening, the importance of white oak and why we should care, and what can be done to reverse this trend.
The White Oak Initiative is composed of white oak dependent or interested industries, trade associations, conservation organizations, agencies, universities and nonprofits working to ensure the long-term sustainability of America's white oak and contributing to the conservation of white oak and white oak-dominated forests.
Jason directs the White Oak Initiative through communicating and engaging with partners, stakeholders and the Board of Directors of the White Oak Initiative (WOI). He also leads the WOI's work in fundraising and on the ground partnerships to ensure the long-term sustainability of our white oak forests.
On this week's show we'll be talking to the White Oak Initiative's Executive Director Jason Meyer. Although there is currently enough white oak to supply the wood products industry across eastern North America, the future is more uncertain. According to the White Oak Initiative, white oak's future isn't looking good, since younger age classes are mostly missing throughout this tree's range. We'll talk to Jason on why this is happening, the importance of white oak and why we should care, and what can be done to reverse this trend.
The White Oak Initiative is composed of white oak dependent or interested industries, trade associations, conservation organizations, agencies, universities and nonprofits working to ensure the long-term sustainability of America's white oak and contributing to the conservation of white oak and white oak-dominated forests.
Jason directs the White Oak Initiative through communicating and engaging with partners, stakeholders and the Board of Directors of the White Oak Initiative (WOI). He also leads the WOI's work in fundraising and on the ground partnerships to ensure the long-term sustainability of our white oak forests.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the pitch pine tree. Perhaps one of the most "artistic" and resilient trees in the woods.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Unfortunately, this episode's recording doesn't begin until 19 minutes into it. Well, it's that time again to discuss tent caterpillars. Some of our members are experiencing gypsy moth damage upon oak trees, while others are eastern tent caterpillars upon fruit trees. I expect forest tent caterpillars soon on a more commonly found tree--sugar maple.
We'll discuss some basic biology of these insects and when it's time to take action too.
On this week's show, Catskill Forest Association's field staff will "check in" & report back & discuss notable findings "from the forest." We'll dive into each member's experiences with forest owners, field services, educational events, and just cool things they might be up to in the forest.
Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members: Ryan Trapani--Director of Forest Services John MacNaught--Forest Program Manager Zane Lawyer--Education Arborist Zahra Bellucci--Education Forester
This week John and Zane will discuss the unique habits and importance of the members of the genus Populus which include the species Balsam Poplars, Aspens, and Cottonwoods. They’ll discuss their traits, where they grow best, common uses, value for wildlife, and threats to their success
Even though I grew up in Ulster County & live & work in the Catskill Mountains today, the Catskills were something I peered over at from another set of "mountains" growing up. The Shawangunk Ridge was really where I learned to love the woods first. This ridge will always be special to me, and no doubt it is. It was good to get back & see that white rock again with all its unique--but pyrogenic--vegetation atop. It was also nice to see the Catskills across from the Rondout Valley stretched out wide.
On this week's show, we'll discuss some observations from this short trip on the ridge.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the sycamore tree.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll see how Metroparks Toledo in Ohio is preserving their "Oak Openings Region" or savannas through prescribed burning with Natural Resources Supervisor--LaRae Sprow.Oak openings or savannas were once more common in the Midwest. But due to fire suppression, agriculture, and development over the last two centuries, they have become rare. Metroparks Toledo is looking to restore this critically important habitat. Today, forests have become extremely dense without fire, making restoring this habitat challenging.Officially the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area. It is a public park district consisting of parks, nature preserves, a botanical garden, a trail network, and a historic battlefield in Lucas County, Ohio. Metroparks Toledo “promotes conservation & restoration, encourages active lifestyles & nurtures lifelong learning & an appreciation for natural resources.”
On this week's show, Catskill Forest Association's field staff will "check-in" & report back & discuss notable findings "from the forest." We'll dive into each member's experiences with forest owners, field services, educational events, and just cool things they might be up to in the forest.Catskill Forest Association includes 4 field staff members:
Ryan Trapani--Director of Forest Services
John MacNaught--Forest Program Manager
Zane Lawyer--Education Arborist
Zahra Bellucci--Education Forester
On this week's show, we'll be talking to New Leaf Tree Syrups's Michael Farrell. New Leaf aims to "help people experience the 'delight of discovery' with unique tree syrups..." We'll discuss making syrup beyond maple from birch, walnut, beech, among others. Michael Farrell is Co-Founder & CEO of New Leaf Tree Syrups. He first learned about the wonders of maple syrup during a college field trip while obtaining his Master's degree in forestry from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y. He then started tapping trees on his childhood property and soon after went on to serve for 13 years as the Director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Forest, a maple syrup research and extension field station in Lake Placid, N.Y. Michael focused his efforts on the sustainable development of the maple syrup industry, assisted thousands of sugarmakers with their own operations, and conducted a great deal of research and education on the potential for tapping other species beyond maple.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing how wood can be bent into desirable shapes and curves.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Virginia McDaniel will discuss her studies in the Ouachita National Forest with burning and thinning and its impacts on the overstory, midstory, herbaceous richness, ground layer cover diversity, wildlife, and more. Virginia McDaniel is the Acting Forest Botanist & Ecologist with USDA’s Ouachita National Forest. Her current research includes Fuel consumption during prescribed fires; the Effect of prescribed fire on the ecological communities of the Interior Highlands; the Effect of lightning ignition fires on tree mortality during drought; & Herbaceous flora of pine woodland communities.
Brett Chedzoy has described the black locust as "...just about the perfect tree for converting open pasture into silvopastures." On this week's show Brett will discuss many noteworthy aspects of black locust in the silvopasture setting, as a timber crop, and beyond. Brett Chedzoy is the Senior Resource Educator in Agriculture and Natural Resources with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Schuyler County. He is also the Regional Director for the CCE Master Forest Owner volunteer program; and Forest Manager for Cornell’s Arnot Teaching and Research Forest.Brett is a Schuyler County native with 30-plus years of professional experience in forestry and farming. He is the owner of Angus Glen Farm – “An innovative silvopasture operation that combines ranching and forestry to offer a more sustainable method of raising livestock.”
Whenever it gets really cold outside, I can expect a phone call from Larry in Ellenville to tell me how efficiently his wood boiler is heating his home. In the last couple of years, Larry added a heat pump to his heating portfolio. Larry will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both and how they actually can be used together for ultimate benefit. Larry has been a member of CFA since 2010. Ryan met Larry while giving a presentation on wood heating more than a decade ago at the Ellenville Library.
Is it the frost? Is it the pruning or lack thereof? Or maybe the lack of pollination by bees or even the weather? Or is it something else? We'll discuss the biennial fruiting habit of apple trees on this week's show and some things you may or may not want to do to improve "frequent fruiting."
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the hickory tree and its unique traits.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll talk with USDA Forest Service's Brice Hanberry. Brice will discuss the loss and importance of "open forests" in comparison to the mostly "closed forests" we have today. Surface fires maintained open forests by providing a unique and important process that removes small trees, allowing growing space for herbaceous vegetation. Following Euro-American settlement, fires were excluded and historical accounts document the rapid growth of trees. Historical forests offer different options for ecology and management, including better support of biodiversity and preparation for a warming climate with expected increases in severe fires, drought, and insect outbreaks.
For this seminar, Brice will define open forest composition and structure along with probable extent, in comparison to current forest structure and composition in the eastern United States. She also will illustrate several lines of evidence indicating that factors other than fire and fire exclusion, such as herbivory and precipitation, do not appear to be influential on forest composition and structure at landscape scales. Brice will differentiate fire ecology from classical ecology and how its loss is more important that tree diversity and succession, which questions conventional wisdom surrounding ecology today.Brice Hanberry is a Research Ecologist with the Maintaining Resilient Dryland Ecosystems program of the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Her interests include understanding ecosystems under different drivers and integrating ecosystem changes with ecosystem and wildlife management at multiple scales across many extents. Current research involves historical ecosystems of open forests maintained by fire, tree biomass simulations under climate change, and juniper tree encroachment in grasslands and shrublands.Brice's research interests include analysis and management of disturbance effects including fire and fire exclusion, climate change, and land use on terrestrial ecosystems, natural resources, and wildlife at multiple scales, with a particular focus on open oak and pine ecosystems. Oak and pine savannas and woodlands are part of a continuum between grasslands and closed forests. The unique bipartite characteristics of grasslands with a tree overstory are not recognized and therefore, undervalued for conservation and management.
Mountain Top Arboretum is a public garden in the Catskill Mountains dedicated to displaying and managing native plant communities of the northeastern US, in addition to curating its collection of cold-hardy native and exotic trees. Its mountain top elevation of 2,400 feet at the top of the New York City Watershed creates a unique environment for education, research and pure enjoyment of the spectacular and historic Catskills landscape. The Arboretum trails and boardwalks connect 178 acres of plant collections, natural meadows, wetlands, forest and Devonian bedrock—a natural sanctuary for visitors interested in horticulture, birding, geology, local craftsmanship, hiking and snowshoeing!Marc joined Mountain Top Arboretum in 2016 as Director of Horticulture and became Executive Director in 2017. He received his BA from Williams College, is a graduate of New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture and interned at Chanticleer Garden. Marc studied with the noted landscape architect Darrel Morrison and worked as his field assistant on projects at New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and for private clients. As a writer and performer working in theatre, film and television, Marc received OBIE and National Endowment for the Arts Awards, among others. Marc enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing and exploring the native plant communities of the Catskills. He lives in Elka Park with his partner Craig Thompson. Marc agrees with the late, great poet Mary Oliver that “the song you heard singing in the leaf when you / were a child / is singing still.”
Is just being around plants, trees, or "green spaces" good for our health? We'll find out by talking with Researcher--Marco Garrido-Cumbrera. Marco believes in "biophilia." A hypothesis first coined by Psychoanalyst--Erich Fromm in 1973 and later advanced by biologist Edward Wilson in 1984. It states that "human beings have a genetic tendency to seek out nature; therefore we feel less like ourselves without it."Marco Garrido-Cumbrera has studied in Spain, Italy, and France. He worked for the Department of Mental Health of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. He has co-authored more than 100 publications, the majority in high-impact journals. Since 2008, he has been the Associate Professor at the Department of Geography of the University of Seville. He is also a member of the IUCN WCPA Health and Well-Being Specialist Group (WCPA: World Commission on Protected Areas). He is currently visiting the US at Hunter College in his third visit to the city of New York (previously in the NYU and Colombia universities).
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing which tree species to choose from for making raised beds for your garden. Also, which wood should be avoided as well.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
Last weekend temperatures saw their lowest numbers this winter; Some areas experienced 12 below 0. Alongside these cold temperatures were high winds making conditions even harsher. Long story short, I lost electricity, but my woodstove kept going to save the day (and night).On this week's show, we'll make our case "In Defense of Firewood" & why we believe this ancient solar power deserves a place in modern society.
On this week's show, we'll introduce CFA's most recent addition--Zahra Bellucci. Zahra was hired in May of 2022 as Education Forester where she assists in the development and implementation of CFA's Forestry Education Programs and Events.Zahra is originally from Rochester, NY but has spent several years living in the Catskill and Hudson Valley regions working in sustainable agriculture. She received her Associate of Applied Science in Forest Technology in May 2022 from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School.
We often get asked to see a forest owner's trees & see if they're "worth anything." In that case, the owner is looking to harvest trees for timber. More often than not, the trees are low quality and "not worth much" in their present state without long-term investment. Other times they are. We'll cover how you might find out "what your timber tree is worth", some of the terms to know, and variables that influence the price. In the end, "it depends" and the final price is between the Seller (Forest Owner), Buyer (Logger), and your Manager (Forester).
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing one of the Catskill Mountain's most famous tree--the hemlock--or Tsuga canadensis.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show we'll be talking with the St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership's--Education Outreach & Communications Coordinator--Megan Pistolese about their "Pledge to Protect" program. Upon "taking the pledge", one is given "simple actions they can practice and educational resources that will help protect outdoor spaces, backyard, and community."
The St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario (SLELO) Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is in cooperation with The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and more than twenty-three regional partner organizations. Their mission is to protect native habitats, biodiversity, natural areas, and freshwater resources by using a collaborative and integrated approach to invasive species management with an emphasis on prevention, early detection, rapid response, education, and outreach.Megan Pistolese holds a Bachelor of Science Degree focused on Ecology, Environmental Education, and Sustainability. She is experienced with aquatic and terrestrial invasive species identification, impacts, modes of introduction, prevention and management methods. She leads our Education & Outreach Committee and collaborates with our partners to raise awareness of invasive species and coordinate outreach events throughout the region. She is working to recruit and train volunteers to recognize and report invasive species through their invasive species Volunteer Surveillance Network (VSN).
On this week's show, we'll discuss "islands" in the forest; Mostly metaphorical "islands" that is. We'll go into those areas of the forest that are isolated from heavy deer browse pressure. These areas may contain rare and important plants like ginseng, trillium or even sugar maple seedlings that deer prefer to eat. We'll also discuss things you can do to make your forest an "island" from heavy deer browse.
The sun is setting on 2022. We'll discuss how the year went, both for work and play in the woods.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing how trees cope with winter and things you might do to prevent damage to them as well. Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week's show, we'll discuss Christmas Trees, different species & tips, and comparisons to artificial trees too. If we have time, we'll get into making wreaths as well with Catskill Forest Association's Mike Porter
John and Zane will discuss common myths and misconceptions people may have about trees and the forest. Filling cavities, painting wounds, and pruning flush to the trunk, to name a few. They’ll discuss how these myths started and why they persist. They’ll also try and dispel some of the stubborn half-truths that still seem to crop up in the tree care world.
On this week's show, we'll be discussing the hard work being done to bring back oak and American chestnut to forests with the USDA's Dr. Stacy Clark. Stacy conducts research on artificial regeneration (i.e., planting) of oak (Quercus) and American chestnut (Castanea dentata) to restore and/or sustain these important species. Her research is unique and innovative because the genetic heritage is known for all material, and seedlings are highly characterized prior to planting. She examines the effects of seedling quality and factors that affect field performance after planting. Stacy also studies the effect of silvicultural treatments, including prescribed burning, herbicide, and commercial timber operations, to develop the most effective and economically efficient prescriptions that can be used to regenerate oak and American chestnut species.Dr. Stacy Clark is a USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station Researcher – Upland Hardwood Ecology & Management Research Work Unit, based in Knoxville, TN. Education includes: Oklahoma State University (Ph.D.) Plant Science, 2003; University of TN (M.S.) Forestry, 1999; & University of TN (B.S.) Forest Resources Management, 1996.
On this week's show, we'll be talking about the pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus). This woodpecker is the largest in North America and one of the largest in the world. The sound they make is unforgettable too. We'll talk about the biology of this bird, its habitat and behavior, and things you can do in the forest to improve its home.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the white oak tree. Apparently, white oak is "red hot" in the timber market world & we'll get Gary's perspective on this tree.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
November should be white-tailed deer awareness month. Now is the time when the woods "come alive" with deer movement. Bucks begin chasing does, and hunters begin chasing bucks (and does).
On this week's show, John & Ryan will share how they take deer "from the forest" and prepare it for the table.
Each year we check in with veteran Arborist Charlie Blume. We'll ask Charlie about his perception of practicing arboriculture in the Catskill Mountains as well as some tips for those who want to take better care of the trees near their home. We'll also ask Charlie about the lack of fruit this year, fruit-tree diseases, and things you can do to enhance their health.
Charlie Blume grew up in Freeport, Long Island, NY where he owned a Tree Care company. Almost 20 years ago, he relocated to Grahamsville, Sullivan County, where he has been practicing arboriculture ever since.
"We have genetically modified food; How about trees?" NC State's Dr. Jason Delborne focuses on highly politicized scientific controversies, drawing upon the interdisciplinary field of science, technology, and society. Biotechnology is a hot topic and a potential tool to combat forest threats, like the creation of transgenic American chestnuts that are blight-resistant to the devastating chestnut blight. Is everyone on board? We'll find out from Jason.
Dr. Jason A. Delborne is a Professor of Science, Policy, and Society and a University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University. Appointed in 2013 to the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources and the Genetic Engineering and Society Center, Delborne teaches and conducts research at the intersection of environmental policy, biotechnology, and public engagement. Jason engages qualitative research methodologies to explore how policymakers, stakeholders, and members of the public interface with emerging biotechnologies designed for environmental benefit.
Recent projects have focused on the genetically engineered chestnut tree, a gene drive mouse for biodiversity conservation, and the management of free-ranging cats in National Parks. Delborne was twice appointed to expert committees of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), which published Gene Drives on the Horizon (2016) and Forest Health and Biotechnology (2019). He serves on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Task Force on Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity Conservation, which published Genetic Frontiers for Conservation (2019). His academic scholarship includes over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, appearing in journals such as Science, Social Studies of Science, BioScience, and Public Understanding of Science. Delborne holds a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University (1993) and a doctorate in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California, Berkeley (2005). He completed an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (2006-08) and was an Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Policy at Colorado School of Mines in the Division of Liberal Arts and International Studies (2008-13).
Every 3rd Wednesday, we talk to Gary Mead about something "tree-related." On this week's show, we'll talk about this season's fall foliage & how it's shaping up. We'll also discuss why and how trees turn color and why some years are better than others.
Gary Mead was the owner of Fruitful Furnishings sawmill in Margaretville, Delaware County for about 30 years. He is currently the owner of Gary Mead Gallery, where he makes one-of-a-kind wood art pieces.
Covid-19's impacts stretched far and wide and the wood products industry was not spared either. On this week's show, the USDA Forest Service's--Jeff Prestemon--will discuss the particulars of how the pandemic has impacted the wood products industry. He wrote a research paper on "Covid-19 & Forest Products--Analysis of the Pandemic's Effect on the Forest Product's Sector including Lumber Pricing & Demand, Reduction of Labor." We'll also get Jeff's opinion on how things might shape up going forward.
Jeff is a Project Leader w/ the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station's Forest Economics & Policy. Jeff's research interests include Understanding human-caused wildfire processes; Quantifying the effects and economic net benefits of wildfire fuel treatments; Understanding processes of illegal activities, including green crimes, occurring in forests; Understanding the national and global impacts of policies and programs to reduce rates of illegal logging and trade in illegally sourced forest products; Nonlinear and linear modeling of forest product market prices and spatial relationships; The economics of forest-based disturbances; & National and global forest product markets and trade modeling.
Jeff's academic experience include: Ph.D. in Forest Economics from U. of Wisconsin-Madison; M.S. in Forest Economics, NC State; & B.S. in Forest Resource Management, Iowa State University.
On this week's show, we'll be talking about "Nature's Grim Reaper." The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) spends its days looking spooky, cleaning up the dead, and riding the thermals to the next dead animal body. We'll discuss this bird's peculiar traits, its range, biology, habitat, and more.
2nd half of show; Start at beginning and runs half-way through total recording.
On this week's show, we'll be talking about "Nature's Grim Reaper." The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) spends its days looking spooky, cleaning up the dead, and riding the thermals to the next dead animal body. We'll discuss this bird's peculiar traits, its range, biology, habitat, and more.
Unfortunately, this show is spliced over 2 sections, you will have to "fast-forward" to about the middle. The second half is on "Part 2."
Paul Misko is an avid hiker who grew up in Woodland Valley, Ulster County. Paul will discuss some of his observations near Woodland Valley including his trail camera results, in-person wildlife sightings, changes in the forest, and how to prepare for a forest adventure.
Before last week's rain, the Catskills were experiencing some pretty dry conditions. On this week's show, we'll discuss how drought impacts trees in both the short & long-term. Topics will include: Defining drought; Importance of water to plants; Symptoms of stress; Drought impacts on younger vs. older trees; Impacts on fall foliage; Things you can do to prevent drought impacts; & more.
Back in August, we had Gary Mead discuss old growth trees; We didn't get into deciphering the difference between "old growth" & "first growth." This week we will, with Dr. Michael Kudish. Mike has been mapping "first growth" forests for decades in the Catskill Mountains. We'll get Mike's viewpoint on defining each and what makes "first growth" so special to him.
"Michael Kudish received his Ph.D. at the New York State College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. In 2000, Purple Mountain Press published The Catskill Forest: A History. As a professor emeritus in the Division of Forestry at Paul Smith's College, he has also written four books on the vegetation of the Adirondacks, including Adirondack Upland Flora and a number of articles on forest history of both the Catskills and Adirondacks. As a railroad historian, he has written volumes on the subject of railroads in the Adirondacks and the Catskills."
Bob Williams is a veteran Forester in the State of New Jersey & recently wrote an article for the Forest Landowners Association's newsletter--"Logging's Ongoing Public Relations Battle." We've had Bob on the show before to discuss his forestry awareness project in Manhattan & fire management in New Jersey as well. This time around, we'll get Bob's perspective on Logging's poor perception, and its importance to Forestry & society.
Bob Williams is the owner and founder of Pine Creek Forestry LLC. Bob graduated with an Associate's degree in forestry in 1972 from Centralia College and a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1975. Bob has 43 years experience in the field of forestry. His experience includes working for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service in Alaska and Washington, and Scott Paper Company as a logging engineer. Since 1985, Bob has worked as a consulting forester in New Jersey working with both private and public landowners to achieve management and stewardship goals for natural resources. In addition to consulting work, Bob has authorized many forestry activities, as well as newsletters put out by various forestry organizations.
ARBORCHEM sells a wide selection of backpacks, sprayers, pumps, and accessories used for the application of herbicides. Their goal is "to provide you with every tool you need to meet your vegetation management objectives." We'll discuss with Todd his thoughts on "integrated vegetation management", pesticides, & more.
Todd Hagenbuch is Arborchem's Regional Manager & Vegetation Management Specialist. Todd holds a degree in Forest Science from Penn State University. Todd has 28 years of experience in vegetation management. Todd has been past president of Mountain Lake Vegetation Management Council and past chair of the Pinchot Chapter of the Society of American Foresters. His duties include sales and service across the United States in Utility R.O.W., Roadside VM, forest vegetation management programs, invasive plant, and city/municipal vegetation management programs. Todd speaks at many continuing education training throughout the year.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing Old & First Growth Trees. I'll go a little bit into deciphering the difference between "old growth" from "first growth" forests and where they might exist in the Catskills. Gary will talk more about old trees from around the world, working with old wood, & other unique characteristics too.
Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.
On this week’s episode of From the Forest, John and Zane will be chatting about their observations of the trees and forest now that we are close to the middle part of August and Fall is staring us in the face. It might not seem like it, but highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s are forecasted, to me this means it’s time to start to stop daydreaming and start actually thinking about the fall and leaving the hot ugly summer weather behind. We will discuss American Ginseng, its use, and how to conserve it. We will also discuss the leaf diseases we are noticing these last couple of weeks, what it means for the trees, and also think forward to what we predict for the fall; food for wildlife, and more.
On this week's show, we'll decipher the difference between public & private stewardship as well as preservation & conservation. Both have their place within Natural Resources Management, Environmentalism & Forestry. Ryan will discuss how his perception has changed about each when he worked for the State of NY painting boundary lines from age 19 to his last 15 years with the Catskill Forest Association working for forest owners.
Please note: The 2nd half of this show runs from the beginning to half-way of this download.
Recently Mike & his wife Becky, traveled across the US and back. We'll ask Mike what he saw, his most favorite & forgettable parts, noteworthy forest aspects, wildlife, and more. We'll also go into how it all compares to the Catskills too.
Mike Porter is the President of the Catskill Forest Association. He is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
Unfortunately, this show was cut in half; You'll have to fast-forward to the midway-point to hear beginning. Recently Mike & his wife Becky, traveled across the US and back. We'll ask Mike what he saw, his most favorite & forgettable parts, noteworthy forest aspects, wildlife, and more. We'll also go into how it all compares to the Catskills too.
Mike Porter is the President of the Catskill Forest Association. He is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
Back in June, we interviewed Catskill Mountain Woodsman--Hoppy Quick--on his perspective of "Sustaining Local." We discussed some of the challenges and conditions people are encountering making a living locally in the forest & outside it in these mountains.
Gary Mead--like Hoppy--is another local who has made his living "from the forest." He was the owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & is the current owner of Gary Mead Gallery which specializes in one-of-a-kind wood art. We'll get Gary's take on "Sustaining Local."
On this week's show we'll be discussing how bats can be used, sort of like a "canary in a coal mine" in urban areas. College student--Chris Blume--will discuss his research project in Baltimore, Maryland on how bats can be used to detect heavy metals in urban areas. Should be interesting.
Once in a while we like to check in with the critters and discuss a few we might encounter rarely or more commonly. For this week, we'll go into the Allegheny wood rat, eastern cottontail rabbit, striped skunk, and Allegheny mound ant.
Randy is a local forester to these Catskill Mountains, spending his life’s work managing timber and aiding landowners to manage their woodlot resources. Randy will discuss with us his perspective on the overall health of the Catskill’s Forests and where our attention should be focused going forward.
Catskill Mountain Woodsman & well-known Chainsaw Carver--Hoppy Quick--revisits FROM THE FOREST to discuss his thoughts on "Sustaining Local." A lot has changed in the last 2 years in these mountains. We'll get Hoppy's view of what's been going on, especially the challenges some locals are facing making a living that's "from the forest."
"Hoppy Quick is The Catskill Mountain Woodsman. Born and raised in the mountains of New York State, Hoppy has been chainsaw carving and sculpting wood since 1978 into bears, owls, wolves, eagles and a myriad of other wildlife. No two sculptures are the same, as he creates from his memory of actual creatures he's encountered in the wilds of the Catskills Mountains."
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing how Gary kiln dries lumber of various tree species.
On this week's show we'll talk to Environmental Litigator---Ed McTiernan. Ed will delve into defining a "wetland", the NYS Freshwater Wetlands Act, Waters of the US, & recent amendments to the NY Environmental Conservation Law.
Ed McTiernan is an environmental litigator who focuses on state and federal regulatory issues including site remediation, Brownfield redevelopment, natural resource damages, energy and infrastructure projects, as well as environmental permitting and due diligence in support of real estate development and energy infrastructure. He represents clients on a wide range of matters under the Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Control Act, federal and state Superfund programs, emerging contaminants, and the National Environmental Policy Act, as well as the New York Environmental Quality Review Act.
In 2011, Mr. McTiernan was appointed to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation by Governor Andrew Cuomo where he served as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel. In that capacity, he was responsible for enforcement, rulemaking, and major policy initiatives including the review and permitting of transportation and energy projects, Article 78 proceedings challenging agency action, as well as citizen action suits, CERCLA cost recovery claims and permit proceedings. Mr. McTiernan supervised a team of 90 attorneys in nine regional offices, and coordinated with federal agencies and national environmental advocacy groups on a number of controversial projects. In addition, he directly supervised the state's docket of environmental litigation, enforcement proceedings, and policy initiatives.
Bob Conyea is a long-time owner of Ashokan Turf & Timber that services and sells forestry & lawncare equipment in Shokan, Ulster County. COVID-19 may be waning in your purview, but "long-COVID" seems to be lingering for many small business owners in the Catskills. Increasing prices & supply chain issues are a couple of examples that come to mind.
Bob sells and services a lot of forestry equipment (i.e. chainsaws) to Arborists, Foresters, Loggers, and Forest Owners. Bob not only provides a crucial service for these professionals, but remains engaged of what others are feeling out in the woods economically. We'll talk to Bob about what's going on both inside & outside his shop.
All too often we hear these two terms being used interchangeably--"clear-cutting" & "land-clearing." We'll compare & contrast the two as well as their benefits & costs. We'll also bring into the discussion "selective cutting" as well. Spoiler alert: One of these terms is a legitimate silvicultural practice.
Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest related. This month we'll be discussing flowering trees that stand out to Gary.
Lots of time, labor, money, and energy are devoted to many trees near people's homes. Still, we often find trees suffering or not meeting expectations.
On this week's show Ryan & John will discuss “Trees Near Your Home.” Topics covered will be: (1) What Makes a Healthy Tree; (2) Are You & Your Tree a Good Match; (3) Residual Tree Maintenance; (4) New Trees; & (5) CFA Programs for You.
Sometimes Mike Porter and John get together to discuss this and that. This time we will be discussing milling lumber from small scale sawmills. Mike has a small sawmill at his property in Andes NY and John runs the Catskill Forest Association’s Portable Sawmill Program bringing a similar sized unit to landowner’s houses to mill. We will discuss what these sawmills are useful for and what enjoyment they may provide a small landowner. Mike Porter is the President of the Board of Directors of the Catskill Forest Association and a life-long local of these Catskill Mountains.
Everyone loves the "backstrap" or "tenderloins" on a deer. But, what about the heart? Or the liver? Deer are the more commonly eaten wildlife species, but what about woodchuck, rabbit, or squirrel? On this week's show, we'll talk to Anne Bloomfield and Julia Priolo about how they prepare and cook some of these "alternative" meals from the forest. We might even go a little bit into domesticated livestock too and their less commonly eaten parts.
Anne Bloomfield is a wildlife biologist with a focus on birds. One of her main professional interests includes how the management of private lands, such as farmland, influences bird populations. Outside of her professional life, Anne enjoys wandering the local forests and fields. She is passionate about getting people excited about birds, hunting and fishing, particularly those historically underrepresented in these areas. Through a desire to eat good food, live in relationship with the land and avoid supermarkets as much as possible Anne fishes, hunts, forages and enjoys cooking meals from common and less common ingredients found in the forest. She also holds a wild mushroom food safety certificate, serves on the board of her local trout unlimited chapter and is a longtime volunteer for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Anne lives in Olivebridge with her partner Malcolm where they raise chickens, appreciate good firewood and grow fruits, vegetables and herbs.
Julia is John's wife; She is originally from the Finger Lakes Region. Julia graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in Wildlife Management, has worked in nuisance wildlife management and currently works at the NYS DEC in inland fisheries. She now lives in the Delhi area.
Tree Bark with Gary Mead. Every Third Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest related. This month we'll be discussing the bark of particular trees & their unique uses.
On this week's show, we'll talk to Whitetail Expert & Founder--Jon Teater--from Whitetail Landscapes (WL). WL designs hunting properties for those that want to improve whitetail deer habitat. WL "primarily focus on developing solutions that attract and retain quality deer" for forest owners & hunters in New York State. We'll get Jon's perspective on how to "design" better habitat and his view on the "state of NY's deer herd."
Jon lives on 50 acres in central NYS. He has been published in Arrowtrade Magazine, Archery World Magazine, Bow & Arrow Magazine, Crossbow Revolution, Game & Fish Magazine and North American Deer Hunter. His particular experience and knowledge of how to manipulate the landscape is enhanced with his Quality Deer Management (QDMA) Deer Steward II certification.
The sap buckets have been pulled from the trees, cleaned, and stacked back in the sugarhouse. My 2022 maple season is over; We'll report on how it boiled down and stacked up against prior years.
While the maple sugaring season may have ended, warmer temperatures lead to "bark-slip" or where a tree's bark can be peeled back. April & May is the season for grafting apple trees, & we'll discuss CFA's APPLE TREE GRAFTING PROGRAM for its members.
Carbon credits for climate mitigation seems to be gaining popularity. Most of us are aware that trees "soak" up a lot of carbon through photosynthesis. Will carbon credits be something forest owners might take advantage of in the future in NYS? We'll ask Finite Carbon's Matt Smith.
Matt Smith has a B.S. in Forest Resource Management, SUNY ESF. Matt oversees the implementation of Finite's forest carbon inventory and project verification work and has led more successful forest offset project verifications than anyone in the industry. For two decades Matt was a forest operations specialist and management director for Forecon's TIMO clients.
"Finite Carbon is North America's leading developer and supplier of forest carbon offsets. We value forest landowners as full project partners and deliver the industry's highest quality forest offset project financing and development services. We take on all project issuance risk and expense and manage all development phases in-house."
On this week, we'll talk to owner of TimberWorks Forest Management's Nathan Waterfield. I graduated with Nathan in 2004 from the NYS Ranger School in Wanakena, NY. Since then, Nathan (a.k.a. "Bucket") has gone on to compete both nationally & internationally in "TimberSports." Nathan is top-ranked at the "springboard chop."
Nathan now lives in Cherry Valley, Otsego County. His company--TimberWorks Forest Management--includes services such as forest management, logging, and custom sawmilling. Between family and competition, Nathan has managed to build his new home from lumber he sawed himself. We'll catch up with "Bucket" and see what his take is on making a living from the forest.
The Age of Wood – With Gary Mead. Every Third Wednesday we have of Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest related. This month Gary and I each just read the book “The Age of Wood” by Roland Ennos. In this book the author explores how wood is the single most influential material that shaped mankind’s evolution, technological advancements, and overall the key to our success as a species. Gary and I will discuss our thoughts on the book and further the discussion into the Catskill regional ‘Age of Wood’.
On this week's show, we'll talk to Gary Graham about how he has drastically improved his forest for wildlife. A few years back I visited Gary's land in Ulster County on a Forest Consultation through the Catskill Forest Association. His forest had some potential but was extremely dense with very little cover or structure on the forest floor, among other things. We'll talk to Gary about how he has made his forest more "fruitful" for wildlife through a lot of his own hard work with the chainsaw.
It's been cold out there, but the first signs of spring are in the air and inside the trees too. Rising temperatures into the 40s along with freezing nights are what causes maple sap to run. The 2022 maple season has begun in the Catskills. We'll discuss how we make the sweet stuff, on a small-scale.
On this week's show, we'll discuss two of the most resonating messages by the USDA Forest Service. Although climate change projections on tree species are fairly new, Smoky Bear has been at it since 1944. The Forest Service's Smoky Bear is well-known for "preventing wildfires." In more recent decades, the USFS is now messaging or projecting the loss of our sacred maple trees. We'll discuss the roots of these two messages, their merit, and how they fit into our experiences in the Catskill Mountains. Should be fun.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing the willow tree that occupies many of our stream-sides and swampy areas.
On this week's show, John & I will discuss with Tom Lindtveit how we get through the winter with firewood. There is no one way to cut a tree and burn it for heat, but we'll go around and get each other's take on how we use the woody stuff to stay warm. Should be fun.
Tom is the owner of Woodsman Forest Products and was on the show back in October. He serves small forest owners to get started. Tom is a retired EMT & still is an EMT (volunteer). He has decades in the woods that is supplanted by field training in Silviculture; Tree Logger Certified; Best Management Practices; Timber Stand Improvement; & Wildlife Habitat Improvement.
Graduate Student from Cornell University's Department of Natural Resources & Environment--Jen Grauer--will discuss her most recent research with moose in New York State.
Moose (Alces alces) first returned to the Adirondack region of New York in the 1980s after being absent from the state for over 120 years. Despite adequate habitat and high rates of successful reproduction, the moose population has not increased as expected. Moose across New England have experienced declines from winter ticks and deer brainworm, and Cornell has detected these parasites, among others, in New York.
Cornell's Wildlife Health Lab began in 2021 to investigate impacts from local parasites on moose with collaboration from NYS DEC and SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry.
On this week's show, we'll continue our conversation with Gary Mead and his upbringing/life in New Kingston--a small mountain hamlet located in Delaware County. Gary grew up on a dairy farm there, and later on would find himself making his living from wood, or the many species of trees that surround these mountains.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
On this week's show will be speaking with the Director of Sales--David Rama--from the Leatherstocking Hand-Split Billet Company based out of Oneonta, Otsego County.
Leatherstocking Hand-Split Billet Co. has been part of the international timber market since 1994 and has been providing high quality hand-split bat blanks to premium bat makers since 2008. From timber selection to product processing, they have worked through the years to master the craft of hand-splitting wood while streamlining their operations to be able to provide the highest quality bat blanks on the market, including Hard Maple, White Ash, Birch and Soft Maple.
Winter is setting in & that means the heating season is in full-swing. Since this is "From the Forest", we'll cover firewood--from start to finish. In other words, we'll cover from selecting "the right" trees to cut for firewood, to seasoning, burning, and tips John & I have learned along the way that might work for you.
Yes, another show on deer, but this will be the last of the year. Anecdotally, it seems that deer numbers were fewer where I hunted in Ulster County this year. However, it seems that other states are experiencing a similar downward trend in deer numbers too.
We'll discuss an interesting article from the state of Minnesota explaining their downward trend in deer numbers, especially in the northern zones. This area seems to mirror what is occurring in the higher elevations of the Catskill Mountains. Both are large, highly forested areas, with extremely low deer densities, but yet, include high deer browse pressure or impacts on forest regeneration. Deer browse or feeding can negatively impact forest ecology. What to do?
If time permits, John & I will recap what we found interesting in the woods in 2021.
Dr. Heather Alexander, Assistant Professor of Forest Ecology, Auburn University
"Historically pyrophytic and open-canopied upland oak landscapes across the central and eastern U.S. are shifting to closed-canopied forests dominated by shade-tolerant, often fire-sensitive species. Mesophication, a hypothesized process initiated by intentional fire exclusion by which these encroaching species progressively create conditions favorable for their own persistence at the expense of pyrophytic species, is commonly cited as causing this structural and compositional transition. While many forest ecologists and land managers accept the mesophication hypothesis as evidence for these shifts, the reason for these changes is not clear and many questions remain. In this presentation, we will consider current evidence for mesophication plus knowledge gaps and potential future research that considers which tree species and tree traits create self-perpetuating conditions and under what conditions tree-level processes might affect forest flammability at broader scales. The goal is to promote research that can better inform restoration and conservation of oak ecosystems experiencing structural and compositional shifts across the region."
Last week's show discussed "The Myth of the Market Hunting Boogeyman." We don't necessarily believe that markets did not have a negative impact upon wildlife, but that habitat destruction (agricultural expansion) & the lack of property rights may have had more impact. Is market hunting an opportunity in the 21st century, or should it be left in the 20th century's dustbin? Let's get another's perspective.
On this week's show, we'll move to Dr. Paul Curtis's recent article in the NY Forest Owners Association magazine entitled: "The Potential of Regulated Commercial Hunting as a Management Tool to Help Regenerate NY Forests." Dr. Curtis will discuss arguments both for and against developing such a program.
With a PhD in Zoology from North Carolina State University, Dr. Paul Curtis is now a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University. He has coordinated the Wildlife Damage Management Program at Cornell for the past 30 years, which focuses on reducing conflicts, economic losses and human health and safety concerns caused by wildlife in both rural and suburban landscapes. His work includes wildlife fertility control and population management, community-based wildlife management issues and public education. Dr. Curtis is also testing novel methods for reducing wildlife damage to agricultural crops and forest regeneration.
Gary Mead - Gary’s Property in New Kingston. Normally we have Gary Mead on every third Wednesday of the month, but this December he will be on the second Wednesday. We will be discussing with Gary the history of how he became the owner of his property in New Kingston, the story of building his cabin on the land, and the joy that landownership has brought him over the years.
Wildlife in the US is managed under the paradigm of the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation (NAMWC). Accolades of this program include notable American icons like former President Teddy Roosevelt and the "Father of Forestry's" Gifford Pinchot. Roosevelt and Pinchot led the early 20th Century's Progressive Conservation Movement. Roosevelt believed open markets in logging and hunting were greatly exploiting natural resources and must be preserved by divorcing scarce natural resources from "market forces."
To this day both hunters and non-hunters mention in publications and magazines that market hunting was most responsible for the demise of wildlife populations in the 19th Century. Although market forces impacted wildlife greatly, habitat and private property rights are under-emphasized. We'll discuss how forest loss and regrowth has impacted wildlife resources over time. We'll also go into the impacts of "ownership" or lack thereof on wildlife too.
Lastly, we'll briefly cover how wildlife might be managed going forward into the 21st Century.
With better access to broad-band internet & more technology than anyone could dream about in the 1980s at our fingertips, why hunt in 2021? We'll discuss what makes us go out & access the hunting opportunities our forests offer, today.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing American hazelnut.
On this week's show we'll discuss Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) that is impacting portions of New York State's deer herd. We'll also differentiate this disease from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)--that is mainly out west--as well.
On this week's show we'll discuss fire management down south with someone who makes their living, burning the woods. Kurt Kottemann is a Prescribed Fire Manager in Louisiana & Mississippi. We'll talk about the importance of fire throughout history, and why people burn today.
Kurt has his B.S. in Forestry from Louisiana State University. He is a Licensed Arborist and a Louisiana & Mississippi Prescribed Fire Manager. He is a "Practitioner of Common Sense" as well.
Kurt was a Fire Specialist with The Nature Conservancy where he restored longleaf pine in Louisiana & Mississippi. He was the Operations Foreman for a commercial tree care company. He was the Assistant District Forester with a Timber Company too. Today, he is the Owner of Kottemann Tree & Timber Services.
On this week's show, we'll be talking to the President of ArborMaster--Ken Palmer. For 25 years, ArborMaster has been educating & training people "who work in trees." "Since 1995, ArborMaster has been the leader in innovative safety, skill training, and workforce development, and is the premier provider of in-house customized training programs and regional open-enrollment courses for people and organizations who work with, in, and around trees."
Ken's knowledge of "tree work" is immense and his positive influence over the industry cannot be overstated. Ken has been instrumental in how arborists safely work in trees--from climbing, rigging , and cutting/felling methods; to the technology they use (i.e. rope, harnesses, etc.); or the written safety standards arborists work beneath.
With over 30 years of experience Ken is a well-known instructor, coach, speaker, author, researcher and workforce development consultant for the tree care industry. Ken is also President of International Champion Techniques, Inc., a company devoted to the development of equipment and technologies for safer and more efficient tree climbing, cutting and rigging systems.
Ken specializes in chain saw safety and handling, precision tree felling operations, tree climbing and climbing systems, arborist rigging, rescue systems, trainer training and much more. He is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD), a member of the ANSI Z133.1 Approved Standards Committee for 20 years and a member of the Utility Arborist Association’s National Safety Committee. Ken is also a three-time International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) International Tree Climbing Champion.
He has instructed, coached and trained thousands of individuals in best practice methods and techniques throughout North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Ken is a former chairman and co-founder of the ISA’s International Safety Committee, former Chairman of the ISA’s International Tree Climbing Championships and co-founder of the Tree Fund’s Arborist Safety and Techniques Fund.
Ken was also one of the lead developers and instructors in the training DVD’s ArborMaster developed with the International Society of Arboriculture, which are viewed extensively around the world.
In 2018, Ken was awarded the ISA Alex L Shigo Award for Excellence in Arboricultural Education.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing Trees that Bear Nuts in these Catskill Mountains.
Tom is the Owner of Woodsman Forest Products and offers services for smaller forest owners in the southern Catskills. His services include (1) Sawmilling; (2) Furnishings; (3) Consultations; & (4) Mushroom Logs.
We will focus mostly on Tom's service surrounding Mushroom Logs. Mushroom Logs are used to inoculate and grow mushrooms for edible or medicinal benefits.
VALUES OF WOODSMAN FOREST PRODUCTS Utilize trees that would otherwise go to rot or firewood to make useful things. Find the beauty nature has hidden within trees and share it with others. Help to open the eyes of children & adults to what is often unseen.
ABOUT TOM Tom is a retired EMT & still is an EMT (volunteer). He serves small forest owners to get started. He has decades in the woods that is supplanted by field training in Silviculture, Tree Logger Certified; Best Management Practices; Timber Stand Improvement; & wildlife habitat improvement
Tom is using this “last 3rd of his life to do things he enjoys, make some folks happy along the path, learn new things, and enjoy family, friends, and music. Hopefully, he will make a few bucks along the way to buy food.”
On this weeks' show, we'll have "mushroom guy" & Owner of Catskill Fungi--John Michelotti. John will discuss why mushrooms are important, where they grow, both edible & medicinal types, and how you might cultivate them.
"Catskill Fungi (CF) has a foundation of permaculture principles. The core of our business is about helping people and improving the planet through their work with fungi. CF practices and educates about sustainable harvesting, leave-no-trace principles, and compassion for the environment. They aim to empower people to grow edible mushrooms as a fun source of fresh food, to heal themselves through utilizing health properties of fungi, and to explore the historical uses and present day innovations of this essential kingdom/queendom."
"Catskill Fungi is founded and cultivated by mycologist John Michelotti and friends. As former President of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association (MHMA), John co-founded the Catskill Regional Mycoflora Project as well as the Gary Lincoff Memorial Scholarship. He served on the Mushroom Advisory Panel for Certified Naturally Grown to develop ecological standards in mushroom production. John has presented at the New York Botanical Gardens, Telluride Mushroom Festival, and North American Mycological Association Annual Foray, as well as several colleges and universities. His goal is to educate and inspire people to work with fungi to improve their health, communities, and the environment."
Recently, I attended the NYS Arborists Fall Conference near Syracuse. One of the presentations focused on the many "declines" associated with particular tree species in NYS. A few days later, I was assessing some sickly Norway spruce trees that also were experiencing "decline" from insect/fungal issues? What's the connection? What's making these trees sick?
Although it's probably a combination of factors creating problems with these trees, there does seem to be a common thread or cause that I'm noticing, and the good thing is that it's reversible. We'll discuss how density may be impacting your tree(s), and what might be done.
Vern Rist is the owner of Healthy Trees and has been taking care of people's trees in the southeastern Catskills, Woodstock and mid-Hudson Valley for over 25 years. Whether you want to protect your cherished trees, turn your property into an estate, or just learn about the things already living and growing on your property, Vern provides answers and solutions that are "environmentally aware, practical, and aesthetically unparalleled."
Vern seeks to (1) Preserve cherished trees whenever possible; (2) Build keepsake quality plantings and orchards destined to become family heirlooms; (3) Devise customized maintenance plans so that clients can have carefree plantings and orchards with the only time commitment being the time to reflect and enjoy; & (4) Combine a friendly, down-to-earth, common sense approach with an extensive education in environmental science, including a PhD in plant pathology.
In the early 1980’s, while completing his Ph.D. In Plant Pathology at Cornell University, Vern visited Woodstock in the southeastern Catskills. It was love at first sight. Following his newly kindled dream to live in that area, Vern moved to Saugerties in 1986. On a hope and a prayer, he placed an add in the Woodstock Times, offering consultations to people interested in the health of their trees and plants in general. To his amazement, he received three phone calls from that first add, and Healthy Plants, Consultation & Service, was born. Since shortly after that, Vern has been able to rely completely on "word of mouth" to build the business, which has evolved into a full scale tree and shrub service and a sought after consultation service.
EDUCATION B.S. in Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1976
M.S. In Plant Pathology and Air Pollution Studies, Pennsylvania State University, 1978
Ph.D. In Plant Pathology, Cornell University, 1981
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing the APPLE TREE and its unique properties, characteristics, and all that juice and vinegar Gary makes each year from it.
This week we will be speaking with Catskill Forest Association’s Forest Program Technician, Zane Lawyer about common tree diseases in our forests, how they can be identified and what impacts they might have on individual trees and the forest health overall. We will also discuss some cultural mitigation techniques you can do as a landowner to prevent some of these issues.
The topic of Forest densification has been coming up a lot here on From the Forest and Catskill Forest Association’s Board President, Mike Porter, wants to weigh in. Mike is a lifelong resident of these Catskill Mountains and has seen many changes to this forested region in his time. Mike and John will discuss his view on cutting practices, forest growth, as well as explore what Mike sees in western forest management as he visits his son in Idaho. And as always, Mike and John always get into “this and that” along the way too.
Each year, FROM THE FOREST's Ryan Trapani, takes some time to camp at his favorite faraway--places in the Catskills. We'll discuss Ryan's trip, from start to finish. We'll begin with preparation for such a camp-out, things to do while out in the woods, notable observations and wrapping things up.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing the LARCH TREE and its unique properties & characteristics.
Ryan and John will discuss one of the Catskills most mysterious -- yet famous -- little plants: American ginseng. GInseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a world-renowned "Adaptogen" used medically for thousands of years. We'll talk about some of the history, biology, habitat, and role in the Catskills of this uniquely long-lived herb.
On this Wednesday's show we'll discuss the overall "health" or state of the Catskill forest, as well as some of its history that has led us to our present condition. We'll also cover some things you might easily do--on the small-scale-- to improve forest condition going forward as well.
"A forest has sprouted in the middle of Manhattan. Dozens of cedar trees have recently appeared in Madison Square Park, in the shadow of the iconic Flatiron Building. But there’s something odd about these trees: They’re dead, and that’s just how Maya Lin wants them. Lin, the artist who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, is using these cedars to recreate a 'ghost forest' — one of the most prominent impacts of climate change in South Jersey — in the middle of New York City."
"Bob Williams, a South Jersey forester who worked with Lin to bring the installation to life, is excited and hopeful that the work will spur onlookers to think about the world around them."
We'll ask Bob about what the exhibit means to him and how forestry might play a positive role in bringing back Atlantic white cedar, climate mitigation, and other conservation goals.
Bob Williams is the owner and founder of Pine Creek Forestry LLC. Bob graduated with an Associate's degree in forestry in 1972 from Centralia College and a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1975. Bob has 43 years experience in the field of forestry. His experience includes working for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service in Alaska and Washington, and Scott Paper Company as a logging engineer. Since 1985, Bob has worked as a consulting forester in New Jersey working with both private and public landowners to achieve management and stewardship goals for natural resources. In addition to consulting work, Bob has authorized many forestry activities, as well as newsletters put out by various forestry organization.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing some the unique properties & characteristics of TREE ROOTS. The above-ground portions of trees are obviously more familiar to us. On the other hand, its underground parts are equally important, but certainly more mysterious; We'll dive into it.
On tonight's show we'll discuss 2 insects that are wreaking havoc on the hemlock tree throughout the Catskill Mountains. One is Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Adelges tsugae. HWA used to be scarce in many parts of Delaware County, until this year. It seems HWA has marched west and north--en masse--from nearby Ulster & Sullivan Counties. The other insect--though less known--is Elongate Hemlock Scale (EHS) Fiorinia externa. This little guy--though similar to HWA--seems to be far more difficult to treat than HWA. These 2 sure are a bummer, but we'll discuss what your options are.
Not too long ago on FROM THE FOREST, we discussed some of our favorite individual trees. Although it's difficult to say, we had fun doing so. This time around, John & I will discuss some of our favorite forest types that come to mind and why. Different forest types vary by their benefits; Some are practical or utilitarian, while others might be more for sentimental or aesthetics. We'll see. What's your favorite forest type?
Ever see an old stone pile in the woods? I know I have. Danny Johnson believes that some of these piles are not agriculturally-related or built by early settlers or farmers. Instead, he believes they are "ancient." We'll talk to Danny, who has found thousands of these "cairns" throughout the Catskills.
Danny Johnson is a life-long resident of the Town of Halcott in Greene County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm which he still helps run. He is now retired and is focusing more time on his "stone-work."
On this week's show will be discussing a potential opportunity for forest owners seeking to sequester carbon. NCX's--Alex Macintosh--will discuss how his company helps forest owners "market carbon" in order to mitigate climate change.
Alex is the Director of Landowner Services @ NCX – formerly known as Silvia Terra. Alex focuses on strategy & execution initiatives that engage forest landowners of all sizes in NCX.
"NCX provides a marketplace for forest carbon payments. Their carbon credits represent real, immediate, and cost-efficient change on the landscape. NCX is starting with carbon, but will soon include markets for biodiversity, fire risk, and other forest benefits.
In 2019, NCX partnered with Microsoft to produce Basemap, the first high-resolution inventory of every forest acre in the US. Basemap data delivers insight to forest stakeholders ranging from governments and conservation groups to landowners large and small.
Since 2010, this philosophy has guided NCX's development of practical tools for America's professional foresters. Combining expertise in biometrics, remote sensing, and big data, NCX's Precision Forestry products save time and money in the field and in the office."
When Rip Van Winkle awoke from his 20-year sleep in the Catskill Mountains, he found that a lot had changed. His dog was gone, his gun rusted, and New Netherland had been taken over by the English. Although a great fictional story, there is one insect that comes close to meeting Rip's long sleep--the periodical cicada.
On this week's show, CFA's Forest Program Technician--Zane Lawyer--will discuss the periodical cicada that emerges every 17 years, and 2021 is its due date. What has changed for you since its last emergence in 2004? And what will change by its next in 2038? Who knows, but we'll talk about the ins & outs of this unique true bug.
Zane was hired full-time in June 2020 as a Forest Program Technician. He assists the Forest Program Manager to develop, coordinate, and implement CFA’s programs and services. Zane also helps in the development and creation of field and written content for CFA programs, events, and newsletters. Zane is an ISA Certified Arborist and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Health with minors in Applied Statistics and Environmental Writing and Philosophy in May of 2016 from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.
"Conservationists and others have led most of us to treasure older forests more than other ecosystems. Open-field habitats and young forests, however, hold significantly more biodiversity than closed-canopy forests. Those younger forests are often under-valued and less protected. Dan will sketch some of the differences in these habitats, give us an overview of the conservation issues, and discuss ways that listeners can get involved in helping to create and maintain early successional forest and 'edge' habitats."
Entomologist/taxonomist/evolutionary ecologist and Assistant Professor at Rowan University.
Dan's interests are in the fields of systematics, taxonomy, and biodiversity conservation. His research is primarily focused on biodiversity exploration and the discovery of 'cryptic species'; species that are distinct evolutionary units, but go undetected due to physical similarity with closely related species. He mostly uses tiger beetles (Cicindelinae) as a study system. Dan is also interested in examining the important roles of insect and plant biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. He has recently begun work on the impacts of industrial hemp growing practices on insect biodiversity.
Bob Conyea is co-owner of Ashokan Turf & Timber in Ashokan, Ulster County, which puts Bob into contact with all types of chainsaws & forest tools to fix and replace. Since chainsaws don't walk themselves to his shop, Bob also gets to talk to a lot of people who work in the woods where he gains "a pulse" on what's going on out there.
Bob will give us an idea of what people have been facing--who work in the woods--over these last 15 months during COVID-19, especially as it pertains to supply chains, demand, and demographic changes.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing some of Gary's favorite flowers both in & around the woods. Gary will explain how "the earth laughs with flowers." Should be fun.
Research conducted by UConn's Tom Worthley indicates that reducing Japanese barberry will also reduce ticks and their associated diseases. We'll discuss with Tom how each relate to one another and what might be done in the forest to mitigate this condition.
Tom Worthley is an Associate Extension Professor at UCONN Cooperative Extension Service & UCONN Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. He has written a number of scholarly articles and also teaches courses in Forest Ecology and Management and Dendrology. Tom has worked extensively on tracts in the UConn Forest and beyond in both outreach and educational activities.
Ever wonder about other trees that can be tapped for sap, and made into syrup besides maple? David Moore of Crooked Chimney in Lee, New Hampshire will explain his experiences with birch, sycamore, beech, walnut, and more.
David is also a Doctoral student at the University of New Hampshire and is researching: (1) Environmental conditions that drive sap flow in deciduous trees during winter dormancy; & the anatomical & physiological features of wood that are involved in this process. He is also researching (2) How sap can be harvested and made into syrup from trees other than maple.
Will see what he has found.
Overlook Mountain Center's--Glenn Kreisberg--will discuss Native American Ceremonial Stone Landscapes (CSL) found in the Catskill Mountains, particularly Overlook Mountain. Examples include dry stacked stone cairns, stone rows, aligned boulders and more. Some of these--it is believed--may also have significant astronomical value for thousands of years.
Glenn Kreisberg is the Chairperson of the Overlook Mountain Center in Woodstock, NY. He is a licensed outdoor guide for twenty years. He is also a radio frequency engineer, writer and researcher who currently serves as Vice President of the New England Antiquities Research Association ( www.NEARA.org ). He’s researched and published articles and interviews on electromagnetism and the ancients, historic bluestone quarrying in upstate New York and lithic sites and alignments in the northeast U.S., among others. Glenn is also the current editor of the Author of the Month page featured at grahamhancock.com as well as the founder and editor of the alternative science and history web site www.ASHnews.org. He resides in Woodstock N.Y. with his wife and two children. His first book, an edited anthology of essays titled Lost Knowledge of the Ancients, is out now by Bear & Co. Inner Traditions.
OMC, a NYS nonprofit formed in 2013, promotes awareness and understanding of the relationship between Overlook Mountain and the human populations that have encountered it throughout time. OMC creates programs, exhibits and tours to educate, experience and celebrate all aspects of Overlook Mountain and its ecosystems.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing the American elm tree. Many of America's elm trees have been killed off by the Dutch elm disease, but there are a few that persist in the Catskills as great, big trees. Gary will discuss his experiences with this tree--mostly its beautiful woody attributes.
Peter Jentsch will discuss how to take care and protect your apple trees from pests and diseases, especially as they begin to break dormancy and enter into the growing season.
Peter J. Jentsch is the Station Director, Senior Extension Associate, Research & Extension Entomologist at the Hudson Valley Research Laboratory, (of Cornell University) in Highland, Ulster County. Peter focuses on pome fruit, small fruit, grape and onion. Peter focuses on the efficacy of newly developed pest management tools for invasive insects and native insect pest complex. Peter employs strategies in a cost-effective and environmentally sound approach that provides fruit growers with the knowledge to improve insect pest management strategies.
ABOUT
The Hudson Valley Research Laboratory (HVRL) is an independent 501c3. HVRL provides growers with a non-biased approach to research & problem solving. HVRL is apart of Cornell’s College of Ag. & Life Sciences and has been a partner since 1923. Its focus is mainly on tree fruit research programs; disease & insect pest mgt. with growing support into horticultural practices; small fruit; vegetables; & grains.
Marty Giuliano is a long-time maple producer who owns Marty's Maple Products Farm in West Shokan, Ulster County. The 2021 maple sugaring season just ended and we'll get Marty's perspective on how it went in central Ulster County.
Guest speaker--Paul Misko--will discuss a variety of historical newsworthy stories from the Catskills. Or in Paul's words, "I'll have a potpourri of pithy newspaper stories from the 1800s and early 1900s." Paul always brings along some interesting facts and stories with a strong sense of humor. We'll see.
Paul Misko grew up hiking around Woodland Valley and the Slide Mountain Wilderness area. When Paul isn't busy traipsing around the woods, he can be found giving various historical talks on Tanneries in the Catskills and Naturalist John Burroughs.
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatola) is an insect from Asia that attacks over 70 plants-- i.e. grapes, fruit trees, hops, tree of heaven, and others. It was first found in 2014 in PA. in 2020, NYS found its first SLF in Staten Island. We'll discuss how to identify this little bugger, its potential impacts, and what you might do to mitigate it.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art.
This week we will be discussing powderpost beetles. Gary has recently come across this little bugger quite a bit. Apparently, these beetles can wreak havoc on finished wood products. We'll cover how to identify powderpost beetles, their biology, and some ways to discourage them from ruining your prized woody possessions.
On this week's show, we'll be discussing the ins & outs of grafting wild apple trees: (1) Why graft wild apple trees; (2) Grafting overview; (3) Gathering scionwood; (4) Grafting techniques; & (5) Aftercare
Whether you're for, against, or indifferent to NYS's Forest Preserve system in the Catskills & Adirondacks, it certainly has shaped how people perceive environmentalism and natural resources management.
On this week's show, we'll share our perspective on the importance of the Forest Preserve and how it has shaped current and future environmental paradigms.
The Forest Preserve may serve as the ultimate "foreshadow" of both good and bad things to come to our forests. We'll discuss 4 foreshadows that the Forest Preserve--we believe-- has "telegraphed" in natural resources management. (1) The Preservation Movement; (2) The Return of Forests & Fauna; (3) Maturing Forests with Fewer Deer; & (4) Impacts to Forest Regeneration. We'll leave off on how the Forest Preserve may now be foreshadowing a huge paradigm change--once again--in environmentalism today.
Raging fires have been in the news quite a bit recently; Are they due to climate change, mismanagement, both, or others? We'll get NJ Forester Bob Williams's perspective. Bob recently wrote an article in Forest Landowner magazine--"Playing with Fire--Years of poor public forest management has created the perfect storm for wildfires. Prescribed burning and other familiar techniques could go a long way to solving the problem."
Bob Williams is the owner and founder of Pine Creek Forestry LLC. Bob graduated with an Associate's degree in forestry in 1972 from Centralia College and a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1975. Bob has 43 years of experience in the field of forestry. His experience includes working for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service in Alaska and Washington, and Scott Paper Company as a logging engineer. Since 1985, Bob has worked as a consulting forester in New Jersey working with both private and public landowners to achieve management and stewardship goals for natural resources. In addition to consulting work, Bob has authorized many forestry activities, as well as newsletters put out by various forestry organizations.
Every Third Wednesday of the Month we speak with Gary Mead of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville NY. Gary has a long career of milling trees in these Catskill Mountains and working with wood to create unique pieces of furniture and art. This week on From the Forest we will be discussing Cottonwood Trees with Gary Mead. Gary will share his experiences cutting, sawing, drying and working with Cottonwood Trees.
Humans can make maple syrup, but we can't make the sap run, and so we must wait for warmer temperatures; The taste is worth the wait for sure. The Catskills include the heart of the sugar maple's range. Our mountains might not be ripe for growing vegetable crops, but our well-drained, rocky soils are just right for the maple tree.
Catskill Forest Association's--Board President--Mike Porter will discuss the basics surrounding the production of "backyard" or small-scale maple syrup. Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
"When John Cox, owner/operator of Quercus Cooperage in High Falls, realized that nobody in New York was making oak barrels to meet the demands of the growing Hudson Valley craft beverage industry, he decided to make a career switch. Drawing from three decades as a cabinet maker and woodworker, Cox spent the next two years teaching himself how to make barrels by painstakingly reverse engineering the vessels."
We'll talk to John about the process from start to finish as well as the cooperage industry's significance both locally and beyond throughout time.
On this Wednesday’s show, Dr. Don Leopold from the SUNY’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry will discuss the “Best Trees for Home, Urban & City Landscapes in the Northeast.” Don will go into mostly recommended native species and some non-native choices too.
Dr. Donald J. Leopold earned his Ph.D. in forest ecology from Purdue University in 1984, M.S.F. in forest ecology from University of Kentucky in 1981, and B.S. in ornamental horticulture/nursery management from the University of Kentucky in 1978. He joined the Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology at the SUNY ESF in 1985. Since 1985 has been teaching the oldest and largest Dendrology (study of trees) course in the US. In 1998 he was promoted to Distinguished Teaching Professor. He was Chair of the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology from 2006 until 2019. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and seven books including the Textbook of Dendrology, Trees of New York State, and Wildflowers of the Adirondacks; has over 130 tree videos (each about 2 to 3 minutes long) on You-Tube.
On tonight's show, we'll discuss the balsam fir tree with Gary Mead; It's that fragrant tree that can often be found growing on the summits of some of our higher mountaintops. As always, Gary brings along his experience in using the wood and its other unique characteristics.
Every third Wednesday of the month we invite Gary Mead on the show to talk about a tree growing in our Catskill Mountains. Gary is the local owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
We're now deeply into the dormant season, and while most outdoor work waits for the spring, pruning occurs now. January through March is a great time to prune apple and pear trees. We'll discuss general apple tree pruning with an emphasis on restoring a long neglected apple tree.
Dr. Paul Curtis will be discussing the most influential (two) creatures in the forest--deer and humans. Paul will go into various topics mainly surrounding deer/deer impacts such as: 1. The role of deer hunting in deer management. 2. Evaluating deer impacts to forest regeneration and biodiversity. 3. Efforts needed to reduce deer abundance to target goals. 4. Impacts of deer in the Catskills and ADKs vs. other parts of the state. 5. How does one measure deer management success? 6. Relationship between deer abundance and deer impacts. 7. Fencing to protect forest regeneration/slash walls.
With a PhD in Zoology from North Carolina State University, Dr Paul Curtis is now a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University. He has coordinated the Wildlife Damage Management Programme at Cornell for the past 30 years, which focuses on reducing conflicts, economic losses and human health and safety concerns caused by wildlife in both rural and suburban landscapes. His work includes wildlife fertility control and population management, community-based wildlife management issues and public education. Dr Curtis is also testing novel methods for reducing wildlife damage to agricultural crops and forest regeneration.
It's that time of year again--winter. Temperatures are plummeting into the single digits at night. In fact, my car thermometer reached -1 degrees coming over Highmount, Ulster County last week. We have already received more snowfall this winter than last year; Although that isn't saying too much.
In any case, we'll be discussing one way to bare the winter by staying warm--heating with firewood. We'll start with the firewood itself: Benefits and costs, and how might you get the most out of it. We'll finish with examples of "heating appliances" or types of stoves and efficient ways in which to burn firewood.
On tonight's show, we'll the ins & outs of how trees are "valued" for timber, from the time they're on the stump to after they've been processed into lumber.
Every third Wednesday of the month we invite Gary Mead on the show to talk about a tree growing in our Catskill Moutains. Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & present owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
I've seen coyotes, bear, turkey, deer, fox, and more; I never tire of seeing any of these guys, especially deer. However, one of the most memorable wildlife experiences to this day, is the flying squirrels I saw one day while my friend cut down a large sugar maple over a house. I got to watch about 8 or so of these little guys exit the tree in broad daylight and glide their way over to another maple tree about 50 yards away. They are the coolest little pilots I've ever seen.
On tonight's show, we'll discuss two flying squirrels that reside in New York State--Southern flying squirrel & Northern flying squirrel.
Some things seem to go together: Silver & gold, pen & pencil, peanut-butter & jelly, maple syrup & pancakes, steak & potatoes, Rip Van Winkle & the Catskills, wine & cheese. In the forest, there are things that seem to go to together too: Hemlock & brook trout, acorn tree & white-tailed deer, gray squirrel & hickory nut, shady forest & chanterelle, black bear in a black cherry tree.
However, there are some things--even in the forest--that don't go together. Maple & Oak serve as one. Wherever the two are found, one seems to be doing better at the expense of the other. We'll cover why this is, and how it is--in my opinion--one of the more significant matters in today's forest.
On tonight's show, we'll discuss trees that begin with "black" with Gary Mead. Some that come to mind include black birch, black walnut, black locust, black cherry, black spruce, and more. As always, Gary brings along his experience in using the wood and its characteristics.
Every third Wednesday of the month we invite Gary Mead on the show to talk about a tree growing in our Catskill Moutains. Gary is the local owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
On this week's show, we'll discuss North America's only marsupial--the opossum. I saw one of these little guys late at night a few days ago going after some of my food scraps. Those beady eyes and white face, with its "pacing gait" as it lumbered away, caught my attention.
We'll talk about this unique animal's biology, reproduction, range, diet, behavior, habitat, ecological importance and more.
We're entering the heart of deer hunting season; From about Halloween to the middle of November, and that means (hopefully) that venison is on the way. On this week's show we'll discuss some of the work that begins once the deer is down, so that a dish of fine venison can be up on the table.
Frank and Mike are both directors of the Catskill Forest Association. Each of them own woodlots in Andes, NY and coincidentally those properties are nearly across the street from one another. We will discuss with them the long term management strategies they are implementing, what their goals, troubles, and rewards have been and also discuss how harvesting trees fits into their long term goals.
On tonight's show, we'll discuss the larch or tamarack tree with Gary Mead; It's that exception-to-the-rule "evergreen" tree that loses its needles each year. As always, Gary brings along his experience in using the wood and its characteristics.
Every third Wednesday of the month we invite Gary Mead on the show to talk about a tree growing in our Catskill Moutains. Gary is the local owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science & Forestry's (ESF) Hugh Canham will be discussing the important role forest owners play in New York State. Hugh will cover important topics such as:
(1) Who owns the family forests & woods in NYS (2) Why people own woods in NYS (3) The diversity of forests in NYS (4) Changes in ownership and uses of the forests over time (5) What family forests contribute to the NYS economy & environment (6) How woodland owners can get information on managing their woods
Dr. Canham is Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry where he taught and conducted research in forest and resource economics for over 30 years. He has done extensive research in forest land ownership, regional economic impacts, forest taxation, and New York forestry. His teachings embrace land use economics, the economics of non-market goods, and integrated forest management. He has served as consultant to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Northern Forest Lands Council, Tug Hill Commission, United States Department of Agriculture, and New York City Catskill Watershed Agriculture Council. He is the author of five articles in the Encyclopedia of New York, several entries in the Encyclopedia of American Forest and Conservation History and published a history of the 100-year-old Empire State Forest Products Association. In addition, he has published in several refereed journals and has several monographs dealing with forest resources and the forest products industry both in New York and the United States. Since his retirement he has focused on history and has made several presentations to the New York State Historical Society annual conferences on various subjects pertaining to New York State forestry and the unique relationship between the College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University, which has been published in the book, SUNY at 60 Years. He is the author of the 100 Year History of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has just finished an updated look at the forest economy of New York entitled Just the Facts: The Past, Present, & Future of New York’s Forest & Forest Products, in conjunction with the Empire State Forest Products Association and New York Forest Owners Association. Dr. Canham received all his degrees at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry: Bachelor of Science, General Forestry – 1960 Master of Science, Photogrammetry – 1962 Doctor of Philosophy, Forestry Economics – 1971 Dr. Canham is a member of the New York Forest Owners Association, a fellow in the Society of American Foresters, and an honorary member of the Empire State Forest Products Association. He resides at Ballston Spa New York.
On this week's show we'll talk to New York State DEC Forest Ranger Joseph Bink. He covers Delaware County within "Region 4."
Forest rangers are sworn police officers, who work within an assigned geographic area, and enforce provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) in order to protect and enhance the State's lands and natural resources and the well-being of the public who use these resources. Forest Rangers organize and conduct search and rescue operations; educate the public in wilderness safety and natural resource care; and administer the State's wildland fire-management program, including wildfire suppression and prescribed fire activities.
Each year, FROM THE FOREST's Ryan Trapani, takes a few days to camp at some of his favorite places in the Catskills. We'll discuss Ryan's trip, from start to finish. We'll begin with preparation for such a camp-out, things to do while out in the woods, notable observations and wrapping things up.
This week on From the Forest we will be talking to Gary Mead about tree bark. Bark can be utilized in many different ways, yet often times gets overlooked and discarded. We will ask Gary about his experiences using tree bark building his home, amongst other uses.
We'll speak to Film Director--Costa Boutsikaris--about his online film series about those that make their living, "from the forest." Costa is the Film Director of "The Woodlanders."
"WOODLANDERS IS AN ONLINE FILM SERIES THAT SEEKS TO DOCUMENT THE WORK OF PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR AND DEPEND ON FORESTS FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."
"EVEN AMONG TODAY'S PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENTS OF LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOOD SYSTEMS, THE VAST GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE OF FOREST LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIES ARE MOSTLY UNDERVALUED AND UNDOCUMENTED. FROM WOODCRAFT AND NUT TREE CULTURES OF ANCIENT EUROPE, TO MUSHROOM AND FOREST MEDICINES OF ASIA, THERE MANY FASCINATING WAYS OF CREATING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES FROM THE FORESTS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR ECOLOGICAL HEALTH AND COMPLEXITY."
Costa is a native of the Hudson River Valley in New York. His studies in visual arts coupled with a deep fascination in permaculture and ecological design has led him to focus on sharing these insights through digital storytelling.
On this week's FROM THE FOREST radio show, we'll be interviewing DHW Forest Consulting, LLC's--Laurie Raskin. Laurie is a private Consulting Forester serving forest owners in the Hudson Valley/Catskill Region/Central NY.
Laurie is a graduate from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and earned a degree in Forest Resource Management.
She helps landowners achieve their goals, and strives to implement forest management that is ecologically sound, socially acceptable, and financially feasible.
Laurie is a member of the NY Society of American Foresters, a member of the NYS DEC Cooperating Foresters program and the NYS Watershed Agricultural Council.
Maybe you've seen a couple of "tents" in your apple or hickory trees and are wondering what it is. Or perhaps you've noticed one of your trees is missing its leaves. On this week's show we'll cover "tent caterpillars", including their biology and impacts, as well as some management too.
On tonight's show, we'll discuss the black walnut tree with Gary Mead. We'll discuss its importance to both humans, wildlife, where they grow and can be found. As always, Gary brings along his experience in using the wood and its characteristics.
Every third Wednesday of the month we invite Gary Mead on the show to talk about a tree growing in our Catskill Moutains. Gary is the local owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
On this week's show, we'll talk to Andrew Faust, Founder & Director of the Center for BioRegional Living in Ellenville, Ulster County, NY. Andrew is a teacher and practitioner of Permaculture. What's Permaculture? One definition is that it's "the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient." We'll see how Andrew defines it.
Andrew is considered one of the premier Permaculture teachers and designers in North America with over two decades of experience in the field. His passionate and mind expanding talks and curriculum have motivated teachers, students since his decade long career as a H.S. teacher at Upattina's, a open community free school in Glenmoore, PA. View Faust's TED X lecture.
Andrew created his own Permaculture Ph'd project, in 1999, a fully off grid, Straw Bale educational center in Pocahontas County W.V. He moved to Brooklyn in 2007 and has been applying his knowledge to the urban landscape.Faust has been inspiring film makers with the message of Permaculture culminating in the film: Inhabit, and a life changing Permaculture Design Certification course, with over 500 graduates. Faust received a dual diploma in Design and Education from Permaculture Institute of North America in 2016. Andrew and Adriana Magaña with their daughter Juniper run the Center for Bioregional Living in Ellenville, NY., a hands-on educational campus for students and clients.
Andrew Faust, a visionary permaculture and bioregional educator taps into the rich synergy between permaculture and biodynamic agriculture which he has been studying with a focus on orchards since he completed his permaculture design training in 1996.
Mike Porter is the President of the Catskill Forest Association. He is a lifelong resident of the Catskill Mountains and still loves to play in his woods. We are going to speak with Mike about his experiences growing up, buying forested land to play in, and what he has done throughout his lifetime to keep playing in the forests of the Catskill Mountains.
New York State has 3 poisonous snakes. One is the copperhead and the other two are rattlesnakes. The massasauga or "swamp rattler" is extremely rare; It is found in only 2 locations of central/western NYS. The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is larger and can be found in some areas of the Catskill Mountains and Shawangunk Ridge. The timber rattler is considered "threatened" in NYS, but its presence can still be found, like this one I almost stepped on last Sunday.
We'll describe this secretive snake, its biology, life history, feeding habits, and our thoughts on why its habitat seems to be fading away. We'll also cover how this interesting snake was also revered by America's Founding Fathers too and competed for the nation's symbol alongside the bald eagle.
Paulownia with Gary Mead. This Week on From the Forest we will be speaking with Gary Mead about the paulownia tree (A.K.A. princess tree or empress tree). This tree is a non-native of the Catskill Mountains and rarely found. It has a bad wrap in some states where it has been deemed "invasive" and banned such as in Connecticut. However, according to the USDA, this tree is rarely invasive in most of the northeast, and really only can survive in extremely disturbed areas. Paulownia has been around since the mid 19th Century and it flowers and form are mesmerizing. The wood too is highly useful from this extremely fast-growing tree. Some like the American Paulownia Association highly revere this tree which used to be called "the magic tree" in the 1970s due to its multi-purpose nature.
Every third Wednesday we have local sawmill owner and wood artist, Gary Mead, to discuss a different Catskill Tree species. Gary is the owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill and Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
On tonight's show we'll dicsuss mostly woodland wildlife habitat management or things that can be done in the forest to improve quality habitat for wildlife. We'll also discuss some things you can do in the "dooryard" or near the house to improve habitat as well.
On tonight's show we'll talk about our Four Favorite Trees; There might be an Honorable Mention. It's a difficult list to come up with, since we like so many trees of course. But, we had to narrow it down. What makes a tree a "favorite?" Maybe it's a memory of that tree as kid? Maybe it reminds you of something special? Maybe it has something edible about it. Or its shape, flowers, leaves, fall foliage, or bark stand out? Maybe you like the wildlife that it attracts, or the historical significance it brings? We'll see.
The New York State fish is the brook trout; Also known as "speckled trout" or "brookie." These little guys have attracted the praise from many a fisherman due to both their beautiful color-scheme and mountain-stream haunts.
The Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited recently retained the services of SUNY Albany Researcher & Teacher--Dr. Spencer Bruce--to study the genes of brook trout in one particular stream near West Shokan, Ulster County to find out just how "native" these brookies are. We'll find out.
Dr. Spencer Bruce is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University at Albany where he employs genetic and genomic approaches to elucidate the ways in which landscape ecology and habitat heterogeneity shape population structure. His current research ranges from aquatic population genetics to wildlife disease genomics, with an emphasis on applicability in the context of biodiversity preservation and wildlife conservation.
Dr. Bruce holds a Doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, as well as a Master of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation & Policy. He has over six years of experience teaching at the college level and has worked as an adjunct faculty member at multiple institutions. His previous and current research program emphasizes the participation and mentoring of a diverse array of students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
We have discussed "Forest Forensics" or "Reading the Forested Landscape" with Author & Professor--Tom Wessels before. In that episode, Tom extensively goes into observations about trees, terrain-factors, stone walls, and more to gain insight about the history of a forest in New England. In this episode, we'll stick to mainly the trees. We'll cover one example-forest in Ulster County to illustrate how you might tell which trees grew first, second, and third and what might have caused them to grow in the first place and afterwards.
Mountain Top Arboretum is a public garden in the Catskill Mountains dedicated to displaying and managing native plant communities of the northeastern US, in addition to curating its collection of cold-hardy native and exotic trees. Its mountain top elevation of 2,400 feet at the top of the New York City Watershed creates a unique environment for education, research and pure enjoyment of the spectacular and historic Catskills landscape. The Arboretum trails and boardwalks connect 178 acres of plant collections, natural meadows, wetlands, forest and Devonian bedrock—a natural sanctuary for visitors interested in horticulture, birding, geology, local craftsmanship, hiking and snowshoeing!
Marc Wolf is Mountain Top Arboretum's Executive Director.
May 1st through May 31st is hunting season for some in New York State; It marks the spring turkey season. Unlike in the fall, spring turkey hunting includes a lot of "action" since turkeys can be "called" in. Responsive gobblers in an otherwise quiet forest is a memory not easily forgotten. We'll discuss some basic biology of the eastern wild turkey as well as hunting techniques, stories, and more.
WIOX From the Forest – Catskill Trees with Gary Mead – white oak and more. This Week on From the Forest we will be speaking with Gary Mead about white oak trees, their uses, where they grow, as well as what wood products they provide. Every third Wednesday we have local sawmill owner and wood artist, Gary Mead, to discuss a different Catskill Tree species. Gary is the owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill and Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
Ever hear about a kinetic wood-splitter before? One of our members told me years ago that if he were beginning his "career" again in firewood, he would buy a kinetic wood-splitter over the more well-known hydraulic splitter. More recently I was reading an article about these wood-splitters in "Independent Sawmill & Woodlot Management" magazine and I came across SuperSplitter, Inc. who makes them. After looking into them a little bit, they do seem promising.
Paul McCann is the owner of SuperSplitter, Inc. and holds the patent on the original kinetic wood-splitter since 1978. Paul, his son Connor, and wife Maureen run SuperSplitter, Inc. in West Bridgewater, MA near Boston. We'll ask Paul about his patented design and if it might fit your firewood needs too.
Paul McCann is the Owner and President of SuperSplitter, Inc. From the ground up, the SuperSplit kinetic splitter is made in the USA. And while they have added many employees over the years in order to keep up with demand, they are still a family owned and operated business. For decades they have made the SuperSplit kinetic splitter, and know it inside and out (and, yes, Paul still makes them with his own hands).
You might be familiar with the beautifully industrious honey bee brought to North America in the 1600s. However, according to Cornell University's--Kass Urban-Mead--New York State is home to over 400 species of native wild bees. Kass has been busy climbing up into trees and discovering the increasingly important role they play in pollinating plants across the landscape. Who knew there were so many bees?
Kass is a PhD Candidate in the Danforth & McArt labs in the Cornell University Entomology Department. She is interested in sustainable land management for insect conservation, particularly in agriculture & forestry. Kass's dissertation explores the landscape, nutritional, network, and community ecology of wild bees in agro-ecosystems. Kass climbs into temperate tree canopies to research how forest resources are used by orchard-pollinating wild bee species. She has found that the details of the lives of bees open an endlessly complex avenue to explore humans’ relationship with the land.
In the last decade or so, bats have taken quite a hit. For instance, it's estimated that the Indiana bat's population has been reduced by 95%. The disease known as "white nose syndrome" seems to be the main culprit. Ball State University's--Tim Carter--has been extensively researching the bats, the disease, and management practices in hope of brining back the bats. We'll find out from Tim; He is "Batman."
Dr. Tim Carter is currently the Chair of Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources Department and Director of Field Stations and Environmental Education Center and Professor of Biology at Ball State University. He teaches courses in wildlife biology and mammology and serves as curator for the Ball State University Mammalogy Collection.
Tim's research focuses on non-game and endangered species and how land management affects these animal populations. In particular, he has studied the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) with a focus on identifying and delineating critical summer habitats as well as examining winter hibernation habitats. Recently, he has worked more closely with Urban Ecology, studying the ecology and management of over abundant species such as deer and geese.
Mike is a retired Earth Science teacher and his day-to-day activities are mostly "from the forest" where he draws inspiration and support from, especially during these difficult times. Since the pandemic began and people have been forced to stay at home, Mike has been writing a letter each week to members on how they might learn and enjoy the trees/forest near and around them with their family. In his letters, Mike has made recommendations on what to look for in the woods, such as making collections of plants for the kids, identifying birds, trees, and wildflowers or where to take hike. I know I've learned a lot from Mike and we hope you can too.
Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an avid birder and has studied the changes in the avian community over the years.
As a small woodlot landowner, he has learned to manage his property to better enhance wildlife, timber quality and maple syrup production. Mike has been an active volunteer Fireman for nearly 45 years and was an Executive officer for most of that time. He was a member of the Town of Middletown Zoning Board of Appeals and, later, a Planning Board member and Chair. Besides birding, Mike gardens, makes Maple syrup, cuts his own firewood and does woodworking. Currently, he is harvesting trees from his property and preparing his own lumber via a bandsaw mill on the property.
Every third Wednesday we speak with local wood artist Gary Mead. Gary is the owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill and Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY. This month we will talk about what being in "Nature" means to each of us and how we get out in the woods. For some, the vast wilderness can be the patch of woods behind our homes, for others it means a weekend trip backpacking in 3-5 miles off the road.
The forest and mountains are old friends to local Catskill Mountain Woodsman--Hoppy Quick. Although, during these vulnerable times when many are practicing "social distancing", Hoppy finds the forest a peaceful home to strengthen his spirit and quiet any fears. Hoppy has been on the show numerous times before including topics describing his famous and realistic chainsaw carvings, "defining rural", "stories from the forest", and "Hoppy Goes to NYC." On Wednesday's show we'll ask Hoppy about how he defines "spirit" that's "from the forest."
Hoppy Quick was born & raised in West Shokan, Ulster County. He still resides in the Town of Olive where he continues to carve his famously realistic--and "spirit-animal"--the black bear. Hoppy has recently gained quite a following on his daily Facebook Live Stream where he can be seen fishing near the Ashokan Reservoir, or up some mountain or other engaging people both locally and internationally about his relation to others, the environment and of course his spiritual beliefs.
On this week's show we'll discuss the intersection of streams, floodplains, and forests with Resource Educator--Brent Gotsch--from the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program.
Brent Gotsch is a Resource Educator with the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) where he specializes in flood hazard mitigation trainings. He has been a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) since 2012. Most of his programming revolves around helping communities become more resilient to flooding and other natural disasters and to stay in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. He also helps to organize and implement community programming around stream management and watershed science topics.
In his spare time he enjoys being outdoors, especially on his family’s Christmas Tree farm located in-between the Rondout and Neversink Reservoirs in Sullivan County, NY. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
That's right. Those are maple buckets no longer hanging out on the tree, but stacked and stored for next season, which means this year is already over for many maple producers. On this Wednesday's show, we'll summarize this early maple season: How it began; How it went; & How much we made. We'll also cover some backyard sugaring pitfalls and tips we've learned along the way since 2007.
WIOX From the Forest – Catskill Trees with Gary Mead – Sycamore and More. This Week on From the Forest we will be speaking with Gary Mead about Sycamore trees, their uses, where they grow, as well as what wood products they provide. Gary also wants to touch on Photosynthesis and sycamore syrup and more!
Every third Wednesday we have local sawmill owner and wood artist, Gary Mead, to discuss a different Catskill Tree species. Gary is the owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill and Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, NY.
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry's Robert Malmsheimer will discuss (1) Climate change and why it's occurring; (2) The role of forest products in addressing climate change; (3) The role of forest biomass energy in addressing climate change; & (4) Other important aspects surrounding the significance of markets, feedstock for the bioeconomy, and bioenergy carbon capture and storage.
Robert Malmsheimer is a Professor of Forest Policy & Law at the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Syracuse. He is the Associate Chair of the Department of Forest & Natural Resources Management. He has earned his Ph.D. from SUNY ESF in 1999 and his J.D. from the Albany Law School, Union University in 1989. His Areas of Study include US Forest & Natural Resources Policy & Law; & Biomass Carbon Accounting Policies & their Affect on US Natural Resources. Courses taught include Natural Resources Policy; Business Law; Environmental Law & Policy; & Natural Resources Law.
This weeks show we will be talking to Catskill Forest Association’s Board President Mike Porter about Maple Sugaring at the smallest scales: In the Backyard. Mike and John each boil maple sap on the non-commercial scales. We will keep the discussion geared towards the equipment we use, what we look for differently than a commercial operation, when we tap, and much more.
There is a saying that "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago." I would add that the best time to plant a tree is not only about timing, but matching the "correct" tree to the right site. For instance, my apple trees are doing alright, but heavy clay is a struggle to drain. On this week's show we'll discuss some basics surrounding TREE PLANTING. I just got back from a training at Rutgers University and will share some new information arborists are using in planting trees.
Scientists from Binghamton University, Cardiff University, and New York State Museum have reported the discovery of the floor of the world's oldest forest, right here in the Catskill Mountains of Gilboa, Schoharie County. "It was like discovering the botanical equivalent of dinosaur footprints," said Dr. William Stein, associate professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University. "But the most exciting part was finding out just how many different types of footprints there were. The newly uncovered area was preserved in such a way that we were literally able to walk among the trees, noting what kind they were, where they had stood and how big they had grown." Scientists are now piecing together a view of this ancient site, dating back about 385 million years ago, which could shed new light on the role of modern-day forests and their impact on climate change.
We'll be interviewing Cardiff University's Dr. Chris Berry about his research on this ancient forest in Gilboa. What kind of plants did they find? What was this ancient forest floor like? What do these ancient plants tell us about the climate back then?
Dr. Chris Berry is a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Earth and Ocean Sciences - School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University (1998-present). Dr. Berry was a Research Fellow at the University of Wales, Cardiff University (1996-1998); Royal Society Exchange Fellowship, Liège University (1994-1995); and earned his PhD - Devonian Plant Fossils from Venezuela, Geology Department, Cardiff University (1993) and BA Earth Sciences – Cambridge University (1989).
Dr. Berry specializes in understanding the early radiation of large plants and birth of forest ecosystems in the Devonian Period (380 million years ago).