From The Forest

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, Delawar...

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...

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 succ...

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 prov...

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...

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 o...

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 p...

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 Margaretv...

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...

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, Educat...

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 Spe...

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 Middl...

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 p...

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....

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...

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 Coun...

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 Asso...

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,...

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 generation...

(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 i...

(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 degradat...

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...

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 abou...