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 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 busi...

(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...

(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 o...

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 o...

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 C...

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...

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. D...

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 & rai...

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...

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...