Foto Friday: Horses on the Hill

The morning mist off Mother's Nature's back reminded me of the steamy spiral above the go-go cup of espresso I'd left at home. Had I turned around to fetch it, I would have missed this sunrise wonder on my way to work.

Coming down County Route 14, I groggily admired the hillside; Mother Nature, the incredible workhorse she is, was subtly plowing her way through the creation of yet another beautiful day in the Catskills.

Mother Nature, that tireless mare, what a work...what...horse? Is there a horse on that hill? No, that'd be too freaky a coincidence. No, wait, (eyes focus) there's two horses. No, THREE HORSES! Mother Nature had manifested before my very eyes. In real time. And I wasn't over-caffeinated!

So I stopped.

And took this picture.

As I drive through the hustle-bustle of daily life, I have to take time to take in the surrounding beauty of the New York City watershed: the farms, landscapes, wildlife, streams. To actively appreciate Mother Nature, to recognize and be in the moment of something so fleeting...what a wake-up call that morning. I will probably never see that farm, those horses and that hill in the same way again. The old adage applies, "Stop and smell the coffee."

Or in this case, stop and photograph the horses.

EXTENDED Watershed Wednesday: 10/27/10 Common Ground, Assemblyman Cliff Crouch

Watershed Wednesday will air from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today, a two-hour special featuring

• Jessica Olenych, coordinator for Common Ground Educational Consulting, will talk about watershed education and a grant funding available for watershed bus tours to the New York City Watershed;
• New York State Assemblymember Cliff Crouch, who represents the 107th District and sits on the Agricultural Committee, will talk about agriculture and forestry topics; and,
• New York State Senate candidate Dave Sager for the 42nd District (STILL TENTATIVE as of 11 a.m.).

If you have questions for me, Jessica or your candidates for public office, post them to our Watershed Agricultural Council FaceBook Page!

This Week in the New York City Watershed 10/25/10

I could have done without last week's mid-October reminder that winter is on it's way. A dusting of snow smattered most ridge tops (including mine) which prompted me to take a moment...to put away summer porch furniture, take a deep, crisp Fall breath and mentally prepare for six months of firewood.

The season change impacts few activities in the watershed. If anything, the weather steels us against hunkering down as you will find more reasons to leave your house than to snuggle by the fire throughout the winter.

Take, for example, the "Made Here: Local Producer Meet n' Greet" scheduled for Wednesday, October 27. Presented by Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce at CCE-Sullivan offices in Liberty, the evening event (7-8:30p) brings together all who "farm it, stock it, serve it or want to do so in the future." Kings in the Kitchen will demonstrate live a deliciously easy recipe made up of a choice of locally raised ingredients. EnviroEnergy will speak about hay pelletizing an alternative to transform fallow land into sustainable pellets for fuel. For more info, call the Chamber at (845) 791-4200.

The two-part workshop "Managing for Success" is a "must do" on Thursday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for anyone who's thought about starting or improving a farm business. Sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council and hosted by CCE-DC in Hamden, the course is designed to help farmers determine priorities, understand decision-making mechanics, and plan for the future.

For loggers and foresters, Game of Logging: Level 1 comes to Middleburg on Friday, October 29. This all-day workshop focuses on chainsaw safety and open-faced felling techniques. To register, contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820.

And if you're looking for a weekend thing, try the 14th Annual Fall Quilting Weekend at Frost Valley YMCA in Denning. Like I said, you can always find something to do in the watershed region, even if it's simply sit still!

And as an update, the Council's Biomass Feasibility Grant deadline has been extended to November 15th. Here is an interview I did with Josh VanBrakle, Wood Products Utilization and Marketing Specialist at the Watershed Agricultural Council. He shares details about the biomass grant and how you can obtain an application. See you in the watershed!

Foto Friday: Hidden Roots of the Local Food Movement

I found this interesting slideshow from Yes! magazine that I thought you'd enjoy. "Hidden Roots of the Local Food Movement" documents World War II posters that promote victory gardens, backyard gardens and agricultural sustainability. While we might manage to survive through a harvest season with just backyard vegetables, it's the meat and eggs from neighboring farms that would turn a bleak potato-driven winter into one of sumptuous variety.

The New York City Watershed doubles as the City's Foodshed, with the potential to deliver a viable local food system for residents and neighboring communities, both upstream and down. This quick look back at what we can do individually (vs. what we can do together) proves our food future is best managed collaboratively.

Can you survive a winter on what you grow? Let me know in the comment section below. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License and can be found at the Yes! Magazine website.

Roots of the Local Food Movement Photo essay: The locavore movement may seem like a fad to some, but these wartime posters show that equating local food and security has deep roots in U.S. history. posted Sep 15, 2010

"A Victory Garden is like a share in an airplane factory. It helps win the war and pays dividends too." – Claude R. Wickard, Secretary of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 20 million Americans rose to the call for patriotism and planted a victory garden during World War II.

Canning, home gardening, and vegetarianism have once again become political actions. Just as Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged victory gardens by planting one at the White House, the Obamas have helped to restart the home gardening trend by planting the first White House vegetable garden since the Roosevelts'.

Of course, the locavore movement emphasizes local food security for different reasons than wartime propaganda campaigns did: a changing climate, an end to cheap oil, and a difficult economy, rather than the need to feed and maintain armies.

Still, the parallels are striking: Americans are eating locally not just to develop the resiliency and self-sufficiency of their communities, but to do their part in a larger struggle—this time, the global climate crisis.

To view the photo essay, click here.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/hidden-roots-of-the-local-food-movement

Poster images courtesy of the Collection of National Agricultural Library and an exhibit created by Cory Bernat and Good-Potato.com. Visit the website for more information. Interested?
Pioneers of the New Normal
My 10-Mile Diet in a Global Food System
8 Ways to Join the Local Food Movement
YES! Magazine encourages you to make free use of this article by taking these easy steps.
@media print @media screen (2010, September 10). Roots of the Local Food Movement. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from YES! Magazine Web site: http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/roots-of-the-local-food-movement-1.

Watershed Wednesday 10/20/10

This week, I'm moderating a speaker's panel on public/private partnerships at Local Government Day in Hunter. Featured presenters include:

• Kelly Coughlin, Rosehaven Inn, Hunter: she and her husband, Sean Byrne have been renovating distressed properties over the last 27 years, including two Bed & Breakfast Inns: the Fairlawn Inn (Hunter), Rosehaven (Haines Falls) and Curran's Restaurant & Suites (Tannersville).
• Bill Eklund, Eklund Farms, Stamford: a 4th-generation dairyman, Eklund has expanded his agricultural enterprise to include an organic dairy farm, a machinery-truck parts
  business, a gravel-topsoil mine, and a mobile meat-processing operation.
• Cheryl Lins, Delaware Phoenix Distillery, Walton: In 2009 out of a passion for this distinct spirit, Lins navigated the maze of bureaucracy surrounding alcohol production.

As for the Watershed Wednesday radio show, Albert Tedesca will stand in for me with classical music at 1 p.m. on WIOX 91.3FM. Here's a quick look at the guests I have lined up in the coming weeks:
10/27: Jessica Olenych, Common Ground, Arkville
11/3: Denise Warren, Stone & Thistle Farm, East Meredith
11/10: Ginny Scheer, Executive Director of the Manhattan Country School.

If you have a question for one of my guests, or an idea or topic for a future show, email your suggestion to taracollins@nycwatershed.org and put "H2O Radio Show"in the subject line. Be sure to include your phone number; who knows, you could be a call-in guest on Watershed Wednesday on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM.

Pure Catskills Educational Scholarship Grants Due Tomorrow 10/20/10

If you're a Pure Catskills member, and you love to learn new things, let the Watershed Agricultural Council help you take the next learning step. Pure Catskills members can apply for a scholarship (up to $350) to use towards educational training or experiences that support the development of your farm and food business. Eligible educational events will:

• include workshops, conferences or field days,
• have an associated cost of $100 or more.

Examples of past scholarship awards include:

• a training to obtain a New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets 20C license for the production of a value-added product in a certified or commercial kitchen,


• visiting a farm outside of the region to attend a workshop on an innovative grazing system to improve the quality of your grass-fed meat.


• traveling to a national conference on food systems development to learn about improving local food connections with institutional buyers such as schools and hospitals.

Each applicant must provide specific details related to the educational opportunity and the product or production method to be developed as a result of the awarded funding. A total of $3,250 in funding is available. Scholarship funding will be provided on a competitive basis. Funding must be used within one year of award. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain application materials by visiting the Scholarships and Grants section of http://www.purecatskills.com/.

Applications must be POSTMARKED October 20, 2010. No hand-deliveries, faxes or emails. Scholarships will be awarded November 10.

This Week in the New York City Watershed 10/18/10

A couple quick items and then this week's calendar:

1) If you aren't receiving our monthly WAC eNews, you can access the electronic version here and sign up through the subscription link at the bottom.

2) Take a look at our recent WAC print newsletter, where we featured international watershed tours, community gardens and DEP land access. At right, Melissa Pauls explains to a visiting group from Cambodia-Laos the relationship between WAC and the Frost Valley Model Forest.)

3) We want to officially invite you to "follow" our two blogs, You & Your Watershed and Pure Catskills (the recent post at features a visit to Heather Ridge Farm). Both social networking sites help us keep you informed, in real time, about what's going on in the watershed, at the Council, and with local food.

4) As Harvest Season winds down, so do the outdoor weekend events promoting our local bounty. With the first hard frost under our belts, we hope to see you out and about while the weather's still crisp:

Wednesday, October 20: Local Government Day, Hunter; Farm Renewable Energy Field Day, Schoharie; Woodstock Farm Festival; Deadline for Pure Catskills Educational Scholarship

Thursday, October 21: Business Planning Workshop for Loggers, Acra

Friday, October 22: Business Planning Workshop for Loggers, Delhi; Farmers' Markets in Liberty, Hobart

Saturday, October 23: Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree at Maple Shade Farm, Delhi; Confined Space Hazard Awareness Training for Farmers & EMS Personnel, Walton; Farmers' Markets in Kingston, Saugerties & Oneonta; Goat cheese taste testing at Sherman Hill Farmstead, Franklin; Pumpkin Day at Hilltop Hanover Farm, Yorktown Heights

Sunday, October 24: Farmers' Markets in Rosendale & Callicoon; Weed Walk, Backyard Beekeeping workshop & U-Pick at Hilltop Hanover Farm, Yorktown Heights

For more ideas on what to do in the New York City watershed, check out the Pure Catskills webcalendar, the Watershed Agricultural Council's event page, County Chambers of Commerce or Tourism websites (Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester) or the town of your choice (such as the Schoharie Valley). See you in the Watershed!

Foto Friday: Small Farmers Talk It Up at Hilltop Hanover

Navigating the channels of Who's Who in water & land conservation is confusing. Who do I talk to if I want to manage my forestland? Who can help me with rotational grazing practices? Which organization can fund my land conservation efforts? How do I leave a legacy for future generations through a conservation easement? Who's who among all those acronyms: WAC, NRCS, USDA, WLT, RC&D, CCE-WC, CU, SWCD?

Twenty small farmers gathered to ask these questions (and many more) at Westchester County's Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center yesterday. The Lower Hudson-Long Island RC&D Council organized a discussion panel that shed light on what options are available to small farm operators within the region. Eight representatives from various local, regional and federal organizations offered their expertise, with local farmers taking it all in. Pictured above are Joe Heller from RC&D and Lauri Taylor, District Manager, Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD).

Carrie Davis, LH-LI RC&D Councl member and Agricultural Program Coordinator for the Watershed Agricultural Council's East of Hudson Program, was among the presenters. "Being a small farmer in this area can be challnging. Development pressure is high and it's often difficult to integrate farming back into this suburban setting. And sometimes, as a farmer, you can feel like the odds are stacked against you."

"At the Watershed Agricultural Council, we offer technical expertise and funding for on-farm improvements that protect water quality for the New York City water supply. Unless you know someone already in our program, you might not realize that resources for fencing, watering facilities and barnyard improvements are out there, waiting for you, sometimes at no cost to you. All you have to do is get involved and ask for help.

"This panel brought together key organziations that ae out there to help our local farmers in a variety of ways. For the small farmer, we're all here to help you keep your farm productive whlie protecting natural resources. As partners, we regularly collaborate with each other but landowners don't necessarily realize all the programs that are out there for them, especially when opportunities are continually changing."

If you have questions about yesterday's panel discussion or farming in the region, call Carrie Davis at (914) 962-6355.

Watershed Wednesday 10/13/10: Guest ????

This week, I'm hosting the Watershed Agricultural Council's weekly radio show "Watershed Wednesday" at 1 p.m. on WIOX 91.3FM. I could say the featured guest will be a surprise; but honestly, I haven't gotten anyone lined up...yet. It's 9:30 a.m.; I've got plenty of time, right?

I've got my feelers out for the 20th District's U.S. Congressman Rep. Scott Murphy who sits on the Ag Committee. I'm also reaching out to a farmland protection planner in Binghamton. We'll see what shakes out.

Have an idea or topic for today's show? Email your suggestion to taracollins@nycwatershed.org and put "H2O Radio Show"in the subject line. Be sure to include your phone number; who knows, you could be my guest today at 1 p.m on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM.

Funding Available for Watershed Field Trips

Connecting people with their water is what is our field trips are all about...we bring to life the journey of water from mountaintop to tap!
The Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Program is again funding field trips for groups studying the New York City watershed and working landscapes. The grant is open to:

• Any organization, community group, professional association,
• 4th through 12th grade classrooms,
• or other interested party,
• within the New York City area, Croton Watershed (Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester counties),
• and the Catskill/Delaware watershed (Greene, Delaware, Sullivan, Schoharie, Ulster counties).

You can apply for up to $3,000 toward field trip expenses. The deadline for application is November 1, 2010 at 5 p.m.

Quickly download the Guidelines and applications from the Watershed Agricultural Council's website or contact Jessica Olenych at Common Ground Consulting at (845) 586-1600.

Last year, 865 people from 18 environmental , municipal and school groups participated. Since its inception, the bus tour program has funded 94 bus tours, bringing 4,200 people to the NYC watershed to learn about working landscapes' role play in water quality.

The purpose of the Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Program is to raise awareness of the New York City water supply system from source to consumption. A group can visit environmental education facilities such as Clearpool Education Center or Frost Valley YMCA, or custom-design a field trip based on the group's educational objectives. Visits can be arranged to include New York City reservoirs, model forests, county parks, wood products businesses or other appropriate locations.

This Week in the NYC Watershed 10/11/10

Here's a taste of what's happening in the New York City Watershed this week; send in your photos of what you did this week!

Columbus Day Monday, 10/11: Two Lark in the Park hikes: Long Pond to Mongaup Pond, Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, Escarpment loop over Acra Point; more details can be found on the 10/7/10 post. The photo at left gives you a sense of what you can see (the Ashokan Reservoir) from High Point Mountain.
Tuesday, 10/12: Farmers Markets (Oneonta)
Wednesday, 10/13: Woodstock Farm Festival, Piglet to Platter workshop (East Meredith)
Thursday, 10/14: Small Farmer Panel Discussion (Yorktown Heights)
Friday, 10/15: Farmers Markets (Liberty, Hobart), Trained Logger Certification: Forest Ecology, Silviculture & BMPs (Agroforestry Center, Acra)
Saturday, 10/16: Farmers Markets (Kingston, Oneonta, Saugerties, Pakatakan)
Sunday, 10/17: Farmers Markets (Callicoon, Franklin & Rosendale)

FYI: Local Government Day (Hunter), rained out by last week's flood event, has rescheduled for Wednesday, October 20 at the Doctorow Center for the Arts. If you didn't register for the first date, consider joining us next week. I'll be moderating the late morning panel on public/private partnerships; Watershed Agricultural Program participant Bill Eklund is also on the panel.

For more ideas on what to do in the New York City watershed, check out the Pure Catskills webcalendar, the Watershed Agricultural Council's event page, County Chambers of Commerce or Tourism websites (Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester) or the town of your choice (such as Yorktown Heights). See you in the Watershed!

Sheep & Goat Producers Meet at Lanark Farm 10/13

Join us at Lanark Farm to learn how Jack and Susan Doig manage their Boer Goat operation. Scheduled for Wednesday, October 13 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, this sheep & goat producer group meeting is informal but informative; the group will meet on-site at 33715 State Highway 28, Andes, NY 13731.

If you have an interest in expanding your ruminant livestock base, or are new to breeding and raising goats, this meeting is free and open to you. Bring a lunch and enjoy visiting this pasture-based farm.

The Doig’s are members of the American Boer Goat Association, as well as the Empire State Meat Goat Producers Association; learn more about their farm ahead of time by visiting http://www.lanarkfarm.com/.

To sign up, contact Kim Holden at 607.865.7090. This event is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and Watershed Agricultural Council with funding from NYC DEP, USDA and other sources.

Small Farmer Panel Discussion at Hilltop Hanover Farm 10/14/10

Thursday, October 14, 9am-Noon
"Conservation Opportunities & Resources for Farmers" a panel discussion at Hilltop Hanover Farm, Building F, Yorktown Heights
Cost: Free, refreshments provided
RSVP by October 12

Wondering what you, your farm and forestland might be missing out on? A diverse panel of speakers representing various local agencies and organizations will briefly highlight resources and opportunities relevant to farming, forest management, land conservation, environmental protection and alternative energy.

The topics include:
• Hilltop Hanover Farm Fall Programs and Calendar of Events. Lucille Munz, Farm Director, Westchester County
• Water Quality Protection Programs for Farm and Forest Lands in the NYC Watershed. Carrie Davis, Agricultural Program Coordinator, Watershed Agricultural Council
• Cornell's Resources for Soil Health Management. Anna Snider, Resource Educator, Westchester County Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Converting to organic? Looking to conserve wildlife habitat, wetlands and protect water quality? NRCS Programs can help. Sarah Kron, Resource Conservationist, USDA-NRCS
• Get connected with idle farmland and other producers: Farmer-Landowner Match Program and the Farmer Network. Eileen Hochberg, Director of Conservation Outreach, Westchester Land Trust
• County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and you. Lauri Taylor, District Manager, Putnam County SWCD
• Alternative energy opportunities for farmers. Violet Stone, Communications Specialist, Cornell Small Farms Program

Improve your farm's sustainability, productivity and conservation efforts; this program is free and open to the public.

Watershed Wednesday 10/6/10: Taste of the Catskills Food, Wine, and Beer Festival October

Terry Doyle will host this week's Watershed Wednesday on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM. His guest is Jonah Shaw, restaurateur and chef at Quarter Moon Cafe in Delhi. Jonah is also the behind-the-scenes coordinator of the upcoming two-day, local food frenzy, Taste of the Catskills Food, Wine and Beer Festival. Jonah will talk about the food, entertainment, kids' activities and workshops offered at Maple Shade Farm on October 9 and 10.

Taste of the Catskills, Food, Wine, and Beer Festival is a family-friendly event that will showcase the food, beer, and wine of our region. With a variety of vendors including farmers, value-added food producers, and restaurants, attendees will learn how food travels from farm to fork. For the kids, check out the corn maze, Catskill Puppet Theater, hay mow crawling tunnels and more. Taste of the Catskills entertainment runs all day long; on the schedule are Michael Herman, Uncle Rock, Smokin' Aces Blues Band, Catskill Mountain Boys Bluegrass Band, Tremperskill Boys, Ira & Laurie McIntosh, and John Scarpulla with Brian Shafer.

For more information, visit the Taste of the Catskills website or show up either day with the kids; doors open at 10 a.m. at Maple Shade Farm, 2066 County Highway 18, Delhi. Look for the bright yellow, 1880's barn on Back River Road -- you can't miss it!

Conservation Planner position open

In this down economy and job-tight environment, I'm happy to say we've got a position open for a Conservation Planner at the Watershed Agriculture Council. The position is based out of our 44 West Street and is part of the Watershed Agricultural Program team. You can find out more on the Council's Jobs Page and a detailed posting for Conservation Planner position here.

The Conservation Planner will aid in the development of Whole Farm Plans (WFP), out key tool in addressing water quality issues on the farm. A Bachelor’s Degree in agronomy, environmental science, agriculture, natural resource management or related or an Associate’s Degree in similar field of study and at least four years relevant field experience will be considered. AEM Planner certification preferred. Salary is in the mid-$40,000’s commensurate with experience. Please send resume to Cheryl Marion, Watershed Agricultural Council, 33195 State Highway 10, Walton, NY 13856; or e-mail cpmarion@nycwatershed.org. EOE.

Review of applications will begin October 8th.

P.S. Two other Agricultural Program positions will come online through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County in the coming weeks.

Celebrate Everything Catskills at Lark in the Park (This Week in the Watershed 10/4/10 Part 2)

I normally don't post on a Tuesday, but there is so much going on this week for Lark in the Park, I had to share. The holiday weekend will allow you to experience the hills through Monday october 11. And yes, it's raining outside, perfect weather for a Catskills hike. You'll see our forests in a whole new light. Wear the right rain gear, spray down those hiking boots with teflon, and get out there!

Lark in the Park is 10 days of events celebrating the 106th birthday of the Catskill Park, or everything green that affectionately falls within the "Blue Line." This week captures all the fun, outdoor recreation reasons of why we live in in the Catskill Mountain Region. Organized by the Catskill Center with the help of many outdoor enthusiasts, this week celebrates everything Catskills Green!


Here is a listing of the dozens of Lark Events offered. To sign up for an event, contact information is provided with each listing. You can always email or call The Catskill Center for more information (845) 586-2611.



Tuesday, OCTOBER 5 at 4 p.m. Strutting with Strollers at the Ashokan Reservoir: Join Catskill Mountainkeeper Regional Director Aaron Bennett, and his sons Hudson and Samuel (and their stroller) on a walk along the Ashokan Reservoir; 2-miles, Easy; For more information, contact (845) 701-7612.

Wednesday, OCTOBER 6 at 9 .am. Trout and Mud Ponds: Hike to Russell Brook Falls and two secluded ponds in a nice 5-mile loop. Discover options for camping and longer hikes. Rain may cancel; 5-miles, Moderate; For questions and reservations, email Ralph Bressler.

Wednesday, OCTOBER 6 at 10 a.m. Catskill Mountainkeeper End-to-End Hike on West Kill: Join Wes Gillingham and Aaron Bennett of Catskill Mountainkeeper on an ascent of West Kill Mountain, the sixth highest Catskill peak (3,880'); 8-miles, Difficult. Pre-registration is required by 10/4 to (845) 701-7612.

Thursday, OCTOBER 7 from 6-8 p.m. "Outdoor Recreation in the Catskill Park" at the Catskill Center: Talk and Presentation by NYSDEC Region 3 Director Willie Janeway and author Marty Podskoch! Willie will cover the history of the Catskill Park and discuss the connections between the Park's recreational resources and the regional economy. Marty, author of Fire Towers of the Catskills: Their History and Lore, will present a slideshow on the region's fire towers and sign books afterward refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact (845)586-2611.

Thursday, OCTOBER 7 at 9 a.m. Vly and Tunis Ponds: Hike to two small, very secluded ponds on this 5.5 mile out and back hike. Pass by a remote area of the Beaverkill on the way to Tunis Pond. Some off-trail hiking and bushwhacking required. Moderate-Difficult; For questions/reservations, email Ralph Bressler.


Thursday, OCTOBER 7 at 9:30 a.m. Hike "Section 2" of the Dry Brook Ridge Trail: Learn what it takes to maintain a trail in the Catskills from Catskill Mountain Club Board member Laura Battelani; 5.8-miles, Moderate-difficult; Pre-registration is required (after 10/5) to 845-586-3101.


Thursday, OCTOBER 7 at 11 a.m. Paddle the Cannonsville Reservoir: Join Catskill Mountain Club board members and members of the Andes Hikers "paddling group" on a canoe and kayak paddle on the Cannonsville Reservoir, opened just last year to recreational boaters! 8-10 miles, Easy-Moderate; Pre-registration is required by 10/5 to (845) 686-3534.


Friday, OCTOBER 8 at 9 a.m. Neversink Unique Area: Hike one of the newest sets of trails maintained by the NY/NJ Trail Conference. Several waterfalls and views of the Neversink Gorge grace the hike; 5-10 miles based upon group interest, Moderate-Difficult; Questions/reservations to Ralph Bressler.


Friday, OCTOBER 8 at 10 a.m. Dry Brook Ridge Hike: Take the ridge trail over to the German Hollow Trail to visit the German Hollow Lean-to. 6.8 miles, Moderate; Pre-registration is required by 10/5 to (845) 686-3643.

Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 9 a.m. Fall Foliage on Slide Mountain: Frost Valley Natural Resources Coordinator Reid Bauer leads this moderate climb to the top of the Catskills' highest peak. Moderate-Difficult, 6-miles; Pre-registration is required by 10/8 to (845) 985-2291, ext. 397.


Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 9 a.m. Table Mountain and the East Branch of the Neversink River: A moderately strenuous hike of about 8 miles round trip from the Denning Parking Area trailhead to the top of Table Mountain; Moderate-Difficult, 8-miles; For additional information contact Joe Herrod at (845) 626-7451, 212-410-2538.


Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 9:30 a.m. Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Hike: Join Overlook Fire Tower volunteer Dawn Hamilton on a guided hike up Overlook Mountain to the fire tower and observer's cabin; 5-miles, Moderate-Difficult; For additional information contact Dick Voloshen (845) 926-6208.

Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 9:30 a.m. Wittenberg History Hike: Join the Catskill 4000 Club on a hike to the summit of the Wittenberg. This mountain is rich with stories; some funny, some serious, and some mildly disturbing. You'll hear most of it as we climb up to one of the best views in the Catskills; 8-miles, Difficult; Pre-registration is required by 10/8.


Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 10 a.m. Traverse over Windham High Peak and Burnt Knob: Join David & Carol White, authors of "Catskill Day Hikes for All Seasons" on this loop-hike in the northern Catskills. Hike the northern Catskill Escarpment from Black Dome Valley over Burnt Knob and 3,573-foot Windham High Peak. 7 miles, Difficult; Pre-registration is required 10/ 8 to (315) 853-6942.

Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 10:30 a.m. Huckleberry Point: Join Mark King of the Nature Conservancy and Alan White of the Catskill Center on a hike to Huckleberry Point holding terrific views of the Hudson Valley, Platte Clove, and the Indian Head Range. 5 miles; Moderate; Pre-register is required to Marie Jones at 914-244-3271 Ext. 22.


Saturday, OCTOBER 9 at 10:45 a.m. Ride the Rails and the Trails! (Train and Bicycle Ride): Back by popular demand, the "multi-modal" excursion of the Delaware and Ulster Railroad and Catskill Scenic Trail from Arkville to Roxbury and then to Grand Gorge! Train ride is $12; Bicycle and helmet rental, as applicable; Mileage is 20 on train, 10 on bicycle - approximately 5 hours; Moderate level of difficulty; Pre-registration is required by 10/8 to Peter Manning at 845-586-2611 ext 104 or pmanning@catskillcenter.org.

Saturday & Sunday OCTOBER 9 & 10 "Plattepalooza 2010": Countdown-to-Winter-Celebration at Ski Plattekill where there will be fun for the whole family! Ski/Bike Swap Sale, Live Music, Bike Races, and more. Ski & Bike Swap Sale (15% of proceeds benefit our volunteer Ski Patrol). Bring up all your old mountain bikes, skis, the snowboards your kids outgrew and come shopping yourself! Live Music all weekend long! Fall-foliage Sky Rides (FREE for everyone who buys a season pass!) HUGE outdoor bbq & mouth-watering season beverages! Face painting, bounce house, skicrow contest, scavenger hunt and MORE! For more information, visit or call (607) 326-3500.


Saturday & Sunday OCTOBER 9 & 10 Taste of the Catskills - Food, Wine, and Beer Festival: This family-friendly event that will showcase the food, beer, and wine of our region. With a variety of vendors including farmers, value-added food producers, and restaurants, attendees will learn how food travels from farm to fork during the fun-filled autumn weekend on the grounds of Maple Shade Farm, a family-run farm in Delhi. For more information, and to purchase tickets ($5).

Sunday, OCTOBER 10 at 10 am: Hike to Palenville Overlook for Great views and Old Quarries Join David & Carol White, authors of "Catskill Day Hikes for All Seasons" on this loop-hike in the northern Catskills. Visit a lesser-known destination on the escarpment below North-South Lakes Public Campground; 5 miles, Moderate-Difficult; Parking fee; Pre-registration is required, by 10/8 to 315-853-6942.

Sunday, OCTOBER 10 at 10am-11:30am Children's Hike & Scavenger Hunt/Tan Bark Trail Hike and Artist Day: Bring your family to a children's hike and scavenger hunt to the "gnome forest" and gnome house building with Mary Garraffa . Meet at the trailhead before 10am. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Scavenger Hunt handouts available for kids to do along trail. 12PM - Hike the historic 2-mile loop with two stunning viewpoints. There will also be several local artists on the trail creating artwork inspired by the trail. Observe and interact with them in their natural habitat! For additional information, contact Heather Roberts at 845-688-7064.

Monday, OCTOBER 11 at 9am Long Pond to Mongaup and Back: Hike from Long Pond to Mongaup Pond and back in a 10-mile loop. Very challenging due to distance. 10-miles, Difficult; questions/reservations email Ralph Bressler.

Monday, OCTOBER 11 at 9:30 am Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower: A moderately paced trail hike to one of the Catskill Mountains restored fire towers with members of the current volunteer crew. 6.5 miles, Moderate-Difficult; Pre-registration is required by 10/7 to Laurie and Tom Rankin at 845-926-2182.

Monday, OCTOBER 11 at 10am Escarpment loop over Acra Point: Join David & Carol White, authors of "Catskill Day Hikes for All Seasons" on this loop-hike in the northern Catskills. This section of the Northern Escarpment is a less-visited, lovely ramble with several viewpoints and we'll visit the Batavia Kill Lean-to where the Batavia Kill originates and enjoy its cascades on the descent. 5.1-miles, Moderate; Pre-registration is required, by 10/8 to 315-853-6942.

Foto Friday 10/1/10: Spring Lake Farm Video

Farmer Ingimundar Kjarval shares his perspective on pastured livestock in this short video. I like his view on farming, the conscious choice of lifestyle, his heartfelt expression of being humbled by the experience, his approach and decision to farm. I drive by Spring Lake Farm every day on my way to work. It's right on County Route 14 leading into Delhi's Franklin Street. The property is breath-taking visually, especially when the fog and morning sunlight hit the pastures just right. I now understand the hard work and choices that Ingie and his family make every day: to work the land, to care for animals, to live a good life...farming.

Life is good in Meredith.