From The Forest

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.

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

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."

Part of the show was deleted from the 1st one; This is the last 10 minutes

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."