From The Forest

Early Black Bear Hunting Post-Kill with Nate Loda

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.

Ignition with Author M.R. O’Connor

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.

Fishing on the East Branch Delaware with Peter Marx

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.

Materials Used to Build a Tipi 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 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.

Robson’s Christmas Trees_Part 2

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.

Robson’s Christmas Trees_Part 1

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.

Forestry Check-In

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.

Early Bear Hunting with Nate Loda

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

One Nature with Bryan Quinn

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).

Materials Used to Build a Longhouse 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 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.

Assessing Pesticide Hazard & Risk: Glyphosate, A Case Study with Dan Wixted

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)

Aerial Forest Spraying with Chuck Webber

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.

Backyard Maple Syrup Production

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.

Kousa dogwood 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 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.

Old & Emerging Diseases of American Beech

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.  

Fishing, Climate Change, & New Regulations on Esopus with Ed Ostapczuk

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.

Ryan’s Walk in the Woods (2023)

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. 

Trees for Framing & Lumber 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 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.

Wild Simulated Ginseng Cultivation with Education Forester Zahra Bellucci

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.

Keeping the Pinelands with NJ Forester Bob Williams

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.

Trees that No One Wants

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.

Mindset of an Emergent Hunter

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".

Willow 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 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.

Biocontrol for Emerald Ash Borer with Forester Collin Miller

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.

Forestry Check-In_August 2023

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

Yellow Poplar 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 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.

All About Dogwood

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.

Forestry Check-In_July 2023

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

White Oak Initiative with Jason Meyer_Part 2

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.

White Oak Initiative with Jason Meyer_Part 1

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.

Pitch Pine 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 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.

Tent Caterpillars_Part 2

The remaining 13 minutes of this episode can be found here.

Tent Caterpillars_Part 1

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.

Forestry Check-In (June ’23)

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

Members of the Genus Populus

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

Ryan’s Walk on the Shawangunk Ridge

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.

Sycamore 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 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.

Oak Openings Region of Metroparks Toledo, Ohio with LaRae Sprow

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.”

Forestry Check-In

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

Discover Diversity of Tree Syrups with New Leaf Tree Syrups’s Michael Farrell

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.

Let’s Bend Some Wood 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 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.

Diversity Explodes with Another Boring Burn with USDA Forest Service’s Virginia McDaniel

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.

All About Black Locust with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Brett Chedzoy

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.”

Larry’s Opinion on Home Heating with Both Wood & Heat Pump

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.

Frequent Fruiting

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." 

Hickory 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 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.

How is Fire Ecology Different than Classical Ecology with USDA Forest Service’s Brice Hanberry

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 with Marc Wolf

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.”

Trees for Health with Marco Garrido-Cumbrera

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).

Raised-Bed Lumber 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 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.