Watershed Wake-up Call: PC Guide, Beefers Workshop, IMPACT

KUDOS: Thanks to CADI at SUNY-Delhi and the Frisbee family at Riverdale Farm in Delhi for hosting our All-staff Day yesterday.

Also want to thank everyone who attended the Regional Economic Viability Changemakers' Luncheon held last week at The Peekamoose Restaurant.

REMINDERS: Many of today's topics can be found in the Watershed Agricultural Council's April 2012 eNews "Water & Land; it's easy to stay in the loop on upcoming events, programs and grants, simply sign up online here.

Just four days left to Get in the Guide. Pure Catskills memberships received before April 30, 2012 will be included in the 2012-2013 print guide.

1) Complete the online form.

2) Create or update your farm or business listing.

3) Check "yes" to the Pure Catskills Membership Standards [PDF].

3) Mail your $35 membership payment today or call/email Stephanie Wyant of Luminary Publishing at (845) 514-0063. Display advertisements are available for an additional fee. The 2012 advertising rates can be found here.

Questions about membership? Contact Challey Comer at (607) 865-7090. What do you get when you become a member -- besides the online and print lists? Marketplace materials, scholarship and grant opportunities, conference discounts, point of purchase items, and inclusion within the new Pure Catskills Business-to-Business Directory.

EVENTS:

APRIL 28, MAY 20: Acorn Hill Farmstead Cheesemaking Workshop for the home cheesemaker or goat owner. Learn the basic principles of cheesemaking and geared the beginning home cheesemaker or owners of the family milk goat. Get hands-on experience making simple cheeses, take home recipes and cheesemaking supply resources, and discuss any aspects of cheesemaking that interest to you. Workshop runs 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person with $50 deposit to hold a space. Email acornhillfarm@yahoo.com for registration information.

APRIL 28: Sullivan County Farm Network Presents "Ways to Generate Green Revenue From Your Land" which is part of their Fire House Forum on Rural Economic Development. From 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jeffersonville Firehouse. Free admission and light refreshments while you listen to experts talk about: Solar/Wind Turbines, Food Production, Opportunities in Rural Economic Development. Learn what it takes to: Raise Beef, Chickens & Alpaca, Make Cheese, Honey & Maple Syrup, Grow Vegetables in High Tunnels, Start a Community Supported Ag Project (CSA), Produce Grass Pellets, Grow Christmas Trees, Lease Land to Produce Electricity, Offer Farm Stays (AgriTourism). For more information, contact Cindy Gieger, District 5 Legislator, at 845-482-5729 or email sullivanfarmnetwork@gmail.com.

MAY 3: Easement Program Committee Meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at the 44 West Street office, Walton. Public agenda is available here.Form ore information, call Suzie Seymour (607) 865-7790, ext. 100.

MAY 3: Starting May 3, the Roxbury Arts Group (RAG) and the Council have teamed up for the 9-week IMPACT Film Series at Stamford's 76 Main! Enter online for our weekly raffle of Pure Catskills schwag bag. Upcoming movies in May include:

Thursday, May 3: Vanishing of the Bees

Thursday, May 10: What's On Your Plate?
Thursday, May 17: Tapped
Thursday, May 24: Dirt! The Movie
Thursday, May 31: Messages From Water

Every Thursday at 7 p.m., we're showing a documentary on water, agriculture or forestry. Feature film, "Vanishing of the Bees" kicks off the series along with a raffle for a Pure Catskills goodie bag. Enter to win online; if your name is called at the screening, you win! No purchase necessary, but you must be present to win. Movie admission is free; donations will be accepted and benefit future RAG programming and the Council's Easement Stewardship Fund.

MAY 4:  Trained Logger Certification - Forest Ecology and Silviculture at 4H Camp Shankitunk, Delhi. Cost is $15. This is a required course for Trained Logger Certification. Training covers wildlife habitat, harvest planning, soil and water quality protection and other topics. To register, contact CCE Greene County (518) 622-9820.

MAY 4, 5, 12: Ready to transition from dairy to beef? Wondering if joining the growing numbers of beef cattle farmers is right for you? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County (CCE) and the Council are offering a three-part Beginner Beef Production Workshop on May 4, 5 and 12. On May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the introductory lecture will feature speakers Cornell Beef Cattle Extension Specialist Dr. Michael Baker. Session #1 will be held at the CCE Resource Center, 34570 Route 10, Hamden. Workshops #2 and #3 will feature on-farm tours to be announced at the first session. Cost is $20 per session, or pay $50 for all three sessions.  Bring your own bag lunch; coffee, tea and juice will be provided. For more information or to register, call Janet Aldrich, CCEDC (607) 865-7161. Tell a friend and register by April 27.

MAY 12:  2012 Rip Van Winkle Wine and Cheese Festival at Catskill Point in Catskill.

THE FIRST LINK:  Catskills FarmLink connected a farmer and landowner in its first land link earlier this month. The Migliorelli Farm will be utilizing the Mount Tremper farmstand, formerly known as Alice & Roger's on Route 28, and they're hiring!

If you have land to rent or sell, or you're a farmer looking for regional farmland to work, check out the land listings at Catskills FarmLink.

Come find out more about Catskills FarmLink on Saturday, April 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bloomville Fire Department screening of "Gasland."

PURE CATSKILLS MEMBERS: Fiber artist Tabitha Gilmore-Barnes is teaching a beading-weaving bracelet workshop from 9:30-3:30 p.m. at the Delaware County Historical Association this Saturday. Call DCHA (607) 746-3849. Bring a bag lunch.

WHAT'S DEP UP TO NOW?: Check out their weekly in-house employee newsletter online. Lengthy article on the opening of the reservoirs and fishing.

OF INTEREST:

Newsletter: April Small Farms Update (Cornell)
Newsletter: Watershed News: April 2012 (US EPA)
Newsletter: Watershed Currents (Catskill Watershed Corp.)
Newsletter: Esopus Creek Newsletter (Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program)
Report: Troubled Waters: Farm Pollution Threatens Drinking Water (Environmental Working Group)
Adult Summer Camp: Without Walls EcoPracticum

Summer Schedule: Green Chimneys at Clearpool Education Center

Tune in every week, Thursday at 7:15 a.m., on WIOX Community Radio 91.3FM. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook for the latest on the Watershed Agricultural Council and Pure Catskills or visit our blogs, You & Your Watershed and Pure Catskills Local.