2nd Annual Environmental Film Series

The Watershed Agricultural Council is again hosting the Schoharie Watershed Month Environmental Film Series at the Doctorow Center for the Arts in celebration of everything, green and blue. These FREE movies are perfect for families looking for talking platforms to share with their kids. (Catch a sneak preview of What's on Your Plate? at left. More previews can be found on the dedicated events page.) Each movie screening will be followed by a panel discussion. Seating is limited to 120, so come early and enjoy the local farm foods sampling and informational tables in the lobby. The films were funded in part by the Council and New York City Department of Environmental Protection. We expanded our film screenings this year, thanks to a grant from the Stream Management Implementation Program of Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District.

This year, we're screening four films over three days. On Friday, May 20 at 4 p.m. it's What's on Your Plate? (76 minutes) followed by a 15-minute intermission and discussion and then the screening of Reclaiming Our Water (60 minutes) at 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m., Vanishing of the Bees (90 minutes) is followed by a 20-minute intermission and discussion at 2:30 p.m. and The Greenhorns (50 minutes) at 2:50 p.m. organic farmer Kenji Ban will be on hand to talk about farming across the street at the Catskill Mountain Foundation.

On Sunday May 22 at 1 p.m., we'll repeat What's on Your Plate?, followed by a 15-minute intermission and discussion, and Reclaiming Our Water at 2:30 p.m.

You can find he Doctorow Center for the Arts at 7971 Main Street in downtown Hunter, between the Post Office and Library. Schoharie Watershed Month is sponsored by Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District and features workshops, stream clean-ups, seminars and the film series as ways of promoting watershed awareness and a connection to and appreciation of the local environment.

Film Details:
Reclaiming Our Water is a documentary film that tells the story of Northern Virginia's Occoquan Reservoir, its surrounding landscape, and the challenges of meeting a growing demand for drinking water for over one million people. The Occoquan has the distinction of being the largest reservoir system in the United States which provides a safe drinking water supply through the use of reclaimed wastewater. Not surprisingly, the Occoquan's technical solutions have attracted worldwide attention, but technical solutions are only part of the story.

What's on Your Plate? is a witty and provocative documentary produced and directed by award-winning Catherine Gund about kids and food politics. Filmed over the course of one year, the film follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial New York City kids as they explore their place in the food chain.

Vanishing of the Bees features honeybees, which have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees.

The Greenhorns, a documentary film completed after almost three years in production, explores the lives of America's young farming community - its spirit, practices, and needs. Filmmaker Severine von Tscharner Fleming captures the stories and voices of these young farmers, building the case for those considering a career in agriculture.

For more information, drop me an email (Tara Collins, Watershed Agricultural Council Communications Director) or give a call , 607-865-7017 ext. 226. If you miss the showings that weekend, don't fret. We'll be showing these films again at select summer events like:
-- Taste of the Catskills, Delhi on July 2-3
-- Batavia Kill Streamside Celebration, Ashland on August 7
-- SUNY-Sullivan, Loch Sheldrake on September 22

Free Movies This Weekend

We're inviting you to four free movies this weekend as part of Schoharie Watershed Month. It's all about “Good Food. Clean Water.”

The Watershed Agricultural Council (Council) is hosting the 2nd Annual Environmental Film Series and showings of What's On Your Plate?, Vanishing of the Bees, The Greenhorns and Reclaiming Our Water. The four documentary films highlight watershed-foodshed-viewshed topics. We're showing the movies on May 20, 21 and 22 at the Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street in Hunter (see below for detailed schedule).

Share your views during the pre-screening audience discussions during intermission each day. On Saturday, featured speakers include local beekeeper Heidi Ruelmann about raising bees and Colony Collapse Disorder and Kenji Ban, Natural Agriculture Farmer with the Catskill Mountain Foundation. Come early (seating is limited to 133) and enjoy the farm goods sampling table promoting local farmers and value-added products. Share your thoughts with the roving videographer. Take the Buy Local pledge and choose to spend your food dollars with a local farmer; we'll reward you with Pure Catskills goodies when you return your validated postcard.

Here's the Film Series Schedule (visit our webpage dedicated to movie previews for more information):

Friday, May 20
4 pm: What’s on Your Plate? (76 min)
5:15 pm: 15-minute intermission & discussion
5:30 pm: Reclaiming Our Water (60 min)

Saturday, May 21
12:45 pm: Discussion with local beekeeper Heidi Ruelmann about raising bees and Colony Collapse Disorder
1 pm: Vanishing of the Bees (90 min)
2:30 pm: 20-minute intermission & discussion with Kenji Ban, Natural Agriculture Farmer with the Catskill Mountain Foundation
2:50 pm: The Greenhorns (50 min)

Sunday May 22
1 pm: What’s on Your Plate? (76 min)
2:15 pm: 15-minute intermission & discussion
2:30 pm: Reclaiming Our Water (60 min)

Where: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter (between the Post Office and the Library)

Thanks to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection who matched the monies from a Stream Management Implementation Grant, and the Catskill Mountain Foundation for giving a good deal on the three-day theater rental. Join us this weekend for the 2nd Annual Environmental Film Series...popcorn is optional.

Herb Planter, Garden Kit or Slave Day?

In my college days, I gave my mother "Slave Days" for Mother's Day. The Slave Day allowed Mom to ask me to do anything, generally in her garden, guilt-free for her and grudge-free for me (regardless of what I had lined up on my weekend schedule). I was her Slave for a Day, plain and simple. She pointed her dirt-free, garden-glove finger; my mud-bound hands dutifully followed. This Mother's Day practice lasted a long time, until I started making money. The Slave Day was soon undermined by potted porch planters and flowering summer baskets.

I'm glad to see Hilltop Hanover Farms has blended the best of both worlds: Slave Days and outdoor planting. This weekend, they're offering a Mother's Day Herb Planter and Vegetable Garden Kit. You can pick-up one or the other on Saturday May 7 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The hand-tiled terracotta planters are filled with wonderful aromatic herbs that will produce throughout the summer and fall. The herb planters were made by volunteers from Another Step, a group of developmentally disabled adults who help on the farm. Each planter is $45 and must be reserved in advance. To pre-order call (914) 962-2368 ext. 2 or pay in advance online.

If you've got a mom with a Green Thumb, opt for the Vegetable Garden Kit. It includes the Gardening How-To Information Sessions on Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the late-morning riser.) The Vegetable Garden Kit gives Mom a jump start on the growing season with a garden already laid out in a box! The kit includes garden diagram and planting instructions for an 8' x 10' space, over 30 hardy regional plants and seeds chosen by Hilltop's resident farmer and a how-to information session with an experienced grower. If Mom's nervous about going it alone, she can simply follow the farm's garden blog and website and receive e-mails with a weekly gardening to-do list and recipes. The veggie selection includes six each of beets, chard, basil, cucumbers and four each peppers and tomatoes. As for seeds, there's plenty to plant with sunflowers, radishes, zucchini, beans, lettuce, and carrots. Each kit is $75 and must be pre-ordered; call (914) 962-2368 x.2 or pay in advance online.

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Educational Center, is opening its farmstand on May 28; there's lots more listed on the HHF calendar. As I look on my personal calendar, I can see a Slave Day for my mom this year. It might not be such a bad practice to resurrect. The addition of perennials year after year make weeding that much easier each spring and I might even sneak in a few Sungold Tomatoes to get my dad into a new fruit/veggie. This Mother's Day, be sure to spend time with your mothers, and those fathers who've rallied to be mothers. Savor the joys of planting, nurturing and propagating together.

Share with us below (or on the Watershed Agricultural Council's Facebook Page) whether you're opting for the Herb Planter, the Garden Kit or the Slave Day!

Wascally Wabbits on WIOX

On Watershed Wednesday at one on WIOX 91.3FM, Denise Warren of Stone & Thistle Farm joins me for Farm Chatter, our monthly one-hour talk show about local food, farmy functions and animals du jour, like this week's cute and cuddly, "wascally wabbit."

Rabbit, long the underestimated "other" white meat, is making a comeback in foodie circles appearing in stews, ravioli, on the grill, marsala'd and braised. For the French, rabbit is a staple meat. Join us for talk about Elmer Fudd's favorite buddy -- rabbits -- from raising to butchering to making a meal your family won't forget. Denise posted recipes on her blog, Farm & Fable Musings. You can ask us questions below or post them to our Facebook Page.

Have you tried rabbit in your lifetime? Share your story below. I have actually eaten rabbit (even after having own two as pets); I'll share my story today at 1 p.m. See you then.

Summer Foodie Event Kick-off: Taste of the Catskills

The summer foodie event cycle is upon us and many worthy events are looking for vendors to add to their days' festivities. Event coordinators are also searching for sponsors, those regional fairy godmothers who help stage and finance behind-the-scene needs. At the Watershed Agricultural Council, we sponsor a lot of events, probably 50 a year; but we get invited to participate with more than we can humanly attend and afford. That's why I'm inviting you to help out. Step up and be the foodie sponsoring an event of your choice, where you have an affinity for the food (or kids or cauliflower). Bring your wares to sell or simply give a few hours helping a local coordinator bring the event message forward.

Taste of the Catskills is all about affordable family fun, good food and promoting area farming. The event -- slated for July 2 and 3 and again on October 8 and 9 -- brings together regional music, food, beer, wine and family funtime, a Taste of the Catskills, if you will, at Maple Shade Farm, Delhi. Maple Shade is a family-run farm, owned by Jay and Abby Wilson where they raise their three kids, pigs, turkeys and assorted smaller livestock. They know farming, kids' education and having fun. Jonah Shaw, owner of Quarter Moon Cafe in Delhi, is coordinating the Taste of the Catskills. He's a family guy too, who really knows fresh food; you should taste his full pork turned on a spit, which you can try at Taste of the Catskills.

All of this will be great, but it can be even better with your help.

So, vendors: think farm products, food-products made locally, artisan creations, crafts. Sponsors? Think programming, music, workshops, and activities...Port-a-potty sponsorship anyone? Sponsors at $1,000 or more can insert a flyer about your business inside the Welcome Packet which will be given to every car parked in the pasture. There are countless ways to volunteer, from set-up, security, parking to clean-up.

What are we doing at the Council? We'll be hosting movie screenings as part of our Summer Environmental Film Series which kicks off May 20-22 as part of Schoharie Watershed Month. On July 3rd, hang out in the hay mow and catch "What 's on Your Plate?, Vanishing of the Bees, The Greenhorns and Reclaiming Our Water. There may be one or two film surprises but you'll have to show up at Taste of the Catskills to find out.

What would we do with ourselves if we didn't have some place cool, to kick back at, to take those weekend guests to on a balmy July afternoon? Discover the new way of engaging in something fun that supports our local economy and family farms...sponsor, sell, or volunteer this year at Taste of the Catskills!