Foto Friday 12/31/10: New York City Watershed Program Relationship Map

I found this organizational relationship map at Blog The Watershed. Albeit an old post, the interactive map outlines who is involved with the New York City Watershed. Click on a "sphere" and you'll discover the many players within the watershed management family. Not everyone is included, but it gives a basic, pictorial representation of Who's Who in the Watershed. The Watershed Agricultural Council can be found under "Regional Actors." Thanks to "Danny" for the road map to clean water through farmland protection.

Watershed Wednesday 12/29/10: Two January Conferences

Today, two guests join us on Watershed Wednesday. At 1 p.m., Paul Ceroseletti of Cornell Cooperative Extension-Delaware County will tell us about the Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference scheduled for Thursday, January 14th at SUNY-Delhi. You can download the conference registration brochure here.

At 1:15 p.m. Lea Kone, Assistant Director at Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York also known as NOFA, will share all the details on their January conference, Diggin' Diversity to be held the 20th to 23rd in Saratoga Springs.

Ask us a question below or post it to our FaceBook Page. You can listen in LIVE at http://www.wioxradio.org/. Simply select a "player icon" and you'll be connected.

Watershed Wednesday airs at 1 p.m. on WIOX Community Radio 91.3 FM. This weekly program is brought to you by the Watershed Agricultural Council with funding from New York City Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A.

Guest Blog: The Inadvertent Bear by Jack McShane

Jack McShane is the 2010 Karl Connell Award recipient. In our Winter 2010 Watershed Farm & Forest, Jack mentions this story; we share here an excerpt from his account of "The Inadvertent Bear" as seen in the Andes Gazette 2005.

As you read this, the 2005 big game (deer and bear) hunting season will have culminated. Some small game seasons continue through February. Many folks have no interest, others are relieved and there are those few of us, myself included, that have participated, enjoyed and were successful, resulting in stories to share with compatriots and others who are interested. At times, discussing episodes in the wild with mixed company, I am asked “Why do you kill?”

My simple answer is, “I kill so that I might hunt.” This may sound self serving and it is. I am in the forest almost every day. During those hours, I am an observer, a caretaker watching over the functioning ecosystem called Nature. I do my tweaking here and there, making adjustments that I deem positive through my subjective view. But when hunting, I am now participating in the ongoing saga of Nature. There is a dynamic of flora and fauna: life, birth, nurture, growth, feeding, breeding and eventually for all, death. Death is a cog in the wheel of ecosystem function. The reality? There is prey and predator, and we are the top predator...I know that much of what I eat, I observed alive, hunted, and killed, and that it lived its life free, and I am comfortable with this...

My son, Kris is an ardent bow hunter and fisherman. He was introduced to the outdoors even before he could walk. He now works for the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation in New Paltz, Hudson River Estuary Program - Fisheries. He is now walking in his father's shoes, both literally and figuratively.

“Dad, I need your help," he called one afternoon. "I was scouting some land recently acquired by the State to see if it had potential for deer hunting. Carrying my bow and searching the ground for deer sign, I saw a tremendous amount of bear scat. (Bear are the second major predator of fawns after the coyote.) Suddenly, I saw a bear and thought, 'Yes, bear season is open here and it would be something to get a bear with my bow.' (Bear meat is very tasty and a bear rug can be impressive in certain circles.) I crawled behind a stone wall, got to within 20-25 yards and took a shot. I connected but maybe a little high and a little far back, but with what appeared to be good penetration. The bear took off. I marked the spot and waited about a half an hour before I began to search. There was almost no blood trail. (The wound of an arrow hit bear often plugs up with fat and bleeding can be all internal.) I searched pretty far in the direction the bear went and found nothing and so returned to the sight of the hit to maybe find a blood drop or two to better determine the flight path. While doing this, I heard a noise coming from the direction that the bear had taken. Suddenly, there was a bear coming at me and when it saw me, it took off in another direction. I marked the spot where I last saw it but still found no blood. Darkness now made further searching futile.”

My response was, “ I will be down first thing in the morning and I will help you find the bear.” The next morning came, I met up with Kris who had recruited two other friends, one from DEC carrying a shotgun, another with no weapon. Kris and I had our bows. We gathered at the location of the shot and decided that we would fan out and search in the direction of where the bear that had come at him ran. After a couple of hours of fruitless search, we returned to the original spot and searched in the direction that the bear went after being hit. We figured that maybe the last bear he saw was actually a second bear.

We crossed a broad wetland and I decided to follow up a steep gorge that I thought might be where a wounded bear would go. We all had walkie-talkies and were able to converse. My trek took me through rock ledge terrain with a few caves that might serve as a sepulcher for a dead bear. Checking them on my hands and knees with flashlight, I hoped each time that it was not a refuge for a wounded live bear. No such luck (or unluck). As I wandered out further, I came to a high spot where I could see out through a very large, open expanse of woods -- still no bear in sight. I called Kris letting him know that I was now going to return but take the high ridge line on the right so that I could check new terrain. They also had seen no sign of the bear.

As I reached the ridge top on my return, I spotted a bear just below me at about the distance of 20 yards lying amongst small white pine trees forming kind of a thicket with a nice bedding of pine needles, a comfortable retreat for a wounded bear. The large head was up and alert and occasionally down at rest. The bear was lying, what hunters call three quartering away. Each time the head came up, I surely was well within his peripheral vision. I balanced carefully and tried to remain stock still while I figured out what to do. Small branches covered the spot for a shot necessitating three small steps forward each taken when the head was down. Arriving at the perfect vantage point, I could no longer see the head to determine if he had spotted me. No matter, the moment of truth was now or never. Although experiencing a building nervousness, I was able to take a deep breath, draw my bow, steady the sight pin and release smoothly. The arrow flew true resulting in a perfect shot. A loud grunt and the bear crashed off. Slightly shaken, I called Kris and let him know I had gotten what had appeared to be a perfect quick kill arrow into his bear. He replied by correcting me that it was now “our” bear.

As I marked the spot, I continued to worked my way down with another arrow ready just in case, when I heard a death roar. I called again to Kris, “The bear is down and not very far. I’m going in that direction.” Again nervousness was ascending, I moved slowly with arrow knocked and ready. Not too far away, I saw a large black mound in the distance. Not sure it was him, I retrieved my binoculars and focused in. Bear, no movement, head down. I called Kris; “I see the bear and I believe it is dead."

"Where the heck are you?" he responded. “I don’t know but I’ll get back to you after I check the bear.” I cautiously approached the mount, arrow knocked, (not that it would have been any good had the bear charged). I knew deep down it was dead, but I still made that tentative touch of the eye, no blink. “OK. I got your bear, let’s see if you can find me,” I called on the walkie-talkie. We each made a number of sharp blasts on whistles which we carry, but could not hear each other. With a little direction on the walkie-talkies, we finally found each other and met up. We retraced my steps following my markings back to the bear and playing on my age, I announced, “I'll field dress it and you young guys can drag it out.”

When we examined the bear, we found no wound on the right side, the side Kris said he hit him. When rolled over, we found a fresh arrow wound on the left side high on the front leg. Now Kris was confused. Had he, in the excitement of stalking and getting a shot at his first bear, confused the position of the bear when he shot? As I worked on the field dressing, Kris removed the arrowhead from the shoulder. As it turned out, it was not the type that he used. So, a different bear, hit by a different archer, which meant the bear Kris hit was still out there. I reminded Kris that he had the responsibility to continue the search for the bear that he had hit. He assured me that his plan was to continue the next morning with his girlfriend, also an avid bow hunter.

I received a call from him the following evening. They had done a far ranging search which resulted in an interesting find. They first found the rear leg of a bear with only skin and bone remaining. Tracking further following remnants of black hair, they came upon a front leg also with all meat eaten leaving just skin and bone. This was the last of what they found. Were coyotes responsible? A logical first thought, but later, (as a result of some forensic work on the legs, scenario analysis and discussion by wildlife biologists at the DEC office), it was decided that Kris’s bear was taken by another bear. Only a very large bear would have the strength to remove the carcass in its entirety. Large male bears (boars) have been know to kill and eat their own progeny. Cannibalism is not uncommon in nature.

This story, revolting as it may be to some, is a real story about death, dying, prey, predation, opportunism, bad luck and good luck, and of course, hunting. Being able to participate in Nature is a gift that some of us take advantage of and leaves us humble and with a great respect for life as it is.

Jack McShane, Andes, NY

Foto Friday: 12/24/10

I like to keep it simple -- that goes for "adorning" nature in holiday spirit. I walked out the front door this morning, to snap off the Catskills' early light edging out winter's darkness. As we pass the longest day of the year, take time to appreciate the 'light' shining in your life today, both inside and out.

As we journey to the upside of Summer, enjoy what the Catskills offer today, in the front yard, in your slippers. May the light of the holiday season carry you through to Spring's crocus ~ Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Watershed Wednesday 12/22/10: Diane Galusha (CWC) and Dr. Ken Jaffe (Green Grass Report)

This week, two guests join us on Watershed Wednesday. Tune in at 1 p.m. and Diane Galusha, Communications Director at Catskill Watershed Corp., will share with you details about Round 14 of the CWC Educational Grant Program available now through February 1, 2011.

At 1:15 p.m., we continue the conversation with Dr. Ken Jaffe, one of the contributors to "Green Grass, Green Jobs," a special report compiled by Cornell University's Small Farms Program. The report addresses putting underutilized pasture back into production. New York State currently has over 3 million acres of land ready for agricultural use. Moving grass-based livestock to these meadows would ultimately put New Yorkers back to work, improve our local economy and fortify our regional food system.

Ask us a question, comment below, or post your thoughts on the Watershed Agricultural Council our FaceBook wall! You can now listen to the show live; simply select a "player" icon from the top right corner of Streammonster and you'll be connected.

Watershed Wednesday at 1 p.m. on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM is brought to you by the Watershed Agricultural Council with funding from New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A.

Foto Friday: Rubbing Elbows with USDA

At the Young Farmers' Conference held at Stone Barns on December 2-3, WAC's Agricultural Program Coordinator Carrie Davis (left) met USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan, the Number Two to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak. Merrigan is a strong supporter of organic farming and has a progressive approach to securing our national food system and bolstering an aging farming population.
Pictured with Davis and Merrigan are (from left to right): Carrie Davis, Kathleen Merrrigan, New York State's USDA NRCS Public Affairs Specialist Ivy Allen, NRCS State Conservationist Astor Boozer and Joe Heller, USDA NRCS RCD Coordinator.

Heller and Davis serve together on the at Lower Hudson-Long Island Resource Conservation and Development Council which facilitates sustainable growth that is both environmentally sound and socially equitable through promotion of a partnership between rural and urban conservation initiatives for the Council Area. The LHLIRCD serves the five boroughs, and the counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester. Davis represents the farming interests of Croton Watershed farmer-landowners and can be reached through the Watershed Agricultural Council's East of Hudson Program at (914) 962-6355.

Moldova & Dan Flaherty, Small Farms Coordinator: Watershed Wednesday 12/15/10

Dan Flaherty, Small Farms Coordinator at the Watershed Agricultural Council, joins us this week at 1 p.m. on December 15th. Dan will explain how the Small Farms Program works and what watershed farmers gain from being program participants.

He'll also share with us how he's taken this knowledge overseas to Moldova just last month. Through the Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs, Dan worked one-on-one with a sheep farmer there, translator in tow. Dan observed the farm's practices and then made recommendations to improve the gentleman's farm set-up. Located in the former Soviet Republic, Moldova is snuggled between the Ukraine and Romania (click here for map).

Check out Dan's photos which he compiled for a presentation he gave yesterday at the Watershed Agricultural Council.

Ask us a question, comment below, or post your thoughts on the Watershed Agricultural Council our FaceBook wall! You can now listen to the show live; simply select a "player" icon from the top right corner of Streammonster and you'll be connected.

Watershed Wednesday at 1 p.m. on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM is brought to you by the Watershed Agricultural Council with funding from New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A.

This Week in the New York City Watershed: 12/13/10

This week in the New York City Watershed:

Today, 12/13, 8:30 am to 4 pm: Conference & Dialogue on Water Resources & the Regional Economy, SUNY-New Paltz (The Watershed Agricultural Council is one of many event sponsors.)

12/19, 12 to 4 pm: Saugerties Farmers' Market Christmas Market, 207 Market Street, Saugerties

12/19 11 am to 4 pm: New Amsterdam Market Pure Catskills wool vendors, Peck Slip, New York City

12/22, 9 am to 2 pm: Cooperstown Farmers' Markets, 101 Main Street and Pioneer Alley, Cooperstown

Round 14 Educational Grants due 2/1/2011: Catskill Watershed Corp. (CWC) is accepting proposals for education projects and programs that help increase awareness of the human and natural history of the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River, the importance of water quality, and the history and contemporary operation of the New York City Water
Supply System. This program, offered in partnership with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, targets pre-K through 12th graders, and teachers from parts of Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster Counties or from in the five boroughs of New York City. Teachers from the same school are encouraged to work together and submit joint applications where feasible. Grant awards range from $750 to $10,000. For more information, call Diane Galusha at (845) 586-1600.

Foto Friday 12/10/10: Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock, & Grazing Conference January 13, 2011

Register now, through January 3rd , for the Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference. Sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, the Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference will be held on Thursday, January 13 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SUNY-Delhi’s Sanford Hall. Choose from three educational tracks covering dairy, beef and grazing systems. Speakers include experts from Cornell University, NYS AG & markets, SUNY-Cobleskill, USDA NRCS, Chenango County SWCD, Watershed Agricultural Council and CCE of Delaware County. Cost is $25 and includes a local foods luncheon with guest speaker Jim Mullen, author of “It Takes Village Idiot.” For more information, call 607-865-6531; click here for a conference registration form.

A pre-conference forum about on-farm energy solutions stats at 10 a.m. At last year's conference, Paul Cerosaletti of CCE (at left) talks about the advantages of grass pellets as a source of alternative energy and heating.

Watershed Wednesday: Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve

This week on Watershed Wednesday, my guests are Dr. Michael Kudish, founder of the Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve (MKNHP) and board members Erwin Karl and David Turan. Find out what the Catskills forest ecosystem has to offer, why land conservation is so important to its survival, and how the 100-acre Preserve hopes to achieve that by bringing people back into the woods and connecting with nature.

Ask us a question, comment below, or post your thoughts on the Watershed Agricultural Council our FaceBook wall! You can now listen to the show live at http://www.wioxradio.org/. Simply select a "player" icon and you'll be connected.

Watershed Wednesday at 1 p.m. on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM is brought to you by the Watershed Agricultural Council with funding from New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A.

Three Reports Point to New York City Watershed for Answers

People in high policy places are finally connecting the dots between farming, food and environmental policies. They're realizing the interconnectedness of working landscapes and food, its trickle down affect on job creation (from field, through distribution, to manufacturing) and its ultimate affect on our local economy and State budget. There's no getting around our need to restart New York's agricultural engine; and that goes for forest products too (think maple syrup, ginseng, mushrooms and yes, grazing). New York ranks #2 in the nation for apples and cabbage; 3rd for corn silage, milk; 4th for sweet corn, and 6th in onions.. There's much room for improvement in meat, poultry, hay, and grain.


Several reports came out this week from policymakers looking to tout their take on what New York State, and the City, need to do regarding agriculture. If people want to eat, then the natural progression is to put them to work. Check out these reports:

1. Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo's "FarmNY: Growth Through Innovation"
2. City Councilwoman Christine Quinn "Food Works: A Vision to Improve NYC's Food System"
3. New York State Council on Food Policy "History, Vision and Actions: New York State Food Policy Recommendations"

The reports mention the mandatory role of upstate farms and communities and the value of the New York City watershed in this larger future picture. For a change, the State and City are looking upstream for farmers, residents and businesses to champion the cause of feeding our own regionally and jumpstarting a sagging State economy.

Are you up to the task? Share your ideas here on how farming and forestry can solve the regional and state problems with jobs, food security and environmental pollutions.

Foto Friday 12/3/10: Joel Salatin in Sullivan, Pure Catskills Members in Turin

Pure Catskills helped sponsor the Delaware Highlands Conservancy workshop with featured speaker Joel Salatin, pictured center here with event organizers on November 6, 2010.

Also, Slow Food Upper Delaware River Valley organized a community event to celebrate the return of the Pure Catskills Terra Madre delegates. On November 21, the group shared their stories, photos and newly acquired insight with twenty people over a Sullivan County potluck...what better place to share the Slow Food experience than over fresh, local food! The Pure Catskills delegation -- selected for the third time by Slow Food International to attend the bi-annual meeting in Turin, Italy -- was sponsored by the Watershed Agricultural Council and and its Pure Catskills buy local campaign funded by the New York City Environmental Protection. The all-woman contingent (featured in this blogspot) was selected from recommendations from past Terra Madre attendees. These photos, provided by Apple Pond Farm's Sonja Hedlund, capture Slow Food delegates from Asia, Middle East and Africa, selling their wares outside workshops.

This last photo shows children learning about the concepts of "Slow Food"...the anti-thesis of "Fast Food."

Watershed Wednesday: Farm Chatter with Denise & Tom Warren, "The Other White Meat"

Join me and co-host Denise Warren from Stone & Thistle Farm for Watershed Wednesday's Farm Chatter. The first Wednesday of each month, Denise and I talk about local food, clean eating, farming and what you can do to strengthen our local food system. This week's topic is "The Other Holiday White Meat" -- pork -- from piglet to platter. Weather pending, our special guest is Tom Warren who will walk us through the finer elements of raising pigs naturally. We'll also highlight Pure Catskills members selling meat and other local products in the New York City Watershed region. Support your local farmer this holiday season with gift baskets and not-so-common gift giving (half a side o'beef, please?) And no Farm Chatter is complete without one of Denise's special recipes; find the Minced Meat recipe on Denise's farm & Fable Musings blog.

And yes, I can contribute to the conversation about raising pigs; Neville, above, was a happy camper at our farm, and superb bacon specimen.

Ask us a question, comment below, or post your thoughts on our FaceBook wall for the Watershed Agricultural Council!

You can now listent to the show live at www.wioxradio.org. Simply select a "player" icon and you'll be connected. Watershed Wednesday at 1 p.m. on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM is brought to you by the Watershed Agricultural Council with funding from New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service and U.S.D.A.