From The Forest

By fromtheforestBusiness Education Non-Profit

From The Forest episodes

October 24, 2024 Black Locust with Gary Mead
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 black locust 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.
1 hr
October 17, 2024 Archery Season Begins
October 1st marked the Opening Day of Archery Season for hunting deer and bear. We'll discuss how we think this year will shape up, what we're seeing, and why and how we bow hunt.
1 hr
October 10, 2024 Bear Maple Sparkling Ginseng Elixir with Brian Bethke
On this Wednesday's radio show we'll be talking to Brian Bethke, Founder & CEO of Bear Maple Sparkling Ginseng Elixir. Brian has taken 2 of our favorite Catskill Mountain ingredients--ginseng & maple sap--and made a super delicious and nutritious drink. We'll see how he came to developing Bear Maple and how it's going.
In 2020, in the heart of the pandemic, Bear Maple founder and CEO Brian Bethke and his family moved to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. On their daily outings, he and his daughter discovered maple trees and ginseng growing in the wild. A serial entrepreneur and lifelong learner, Brian set off on a journey of discovery and a deep dive into the voluminous research documenting the functionality of ginseng as well as maple water. He combined the two in a beverage and Bear Maple was born.

The Bear Maple team set out to be the first to bring hydroponically grown ginseng to the beverage market in an adaptogenic, sparkling elixir. Bear Maple’s mission is to craft innovative, functional beverages that help nourish both the body and mind while fostering a sustainable future for the planet. Its functional sparkling ginseng beverages are crafted with high-quality ginseng, naturally sweetened with maple water, and are caffeine free.

Bear Maple is 1% for the Planet certified, and the company donates 1% of its annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners. For more information visit drinkbearmaple.com, follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn, or email [email protected].
1 hr
September 26, 2024 How Wind Shapes Northeast Forests
In the northeast, wind is the dominant natural disturbance factor that influences the size, density, and age class of trees in the forest. In this week's show, we will discuss how wind affects individual trees, how it impacts forest structure, which species depend on it for pollination, and what you can do for your property after a high wind event.
1 hr
September 12, 2024 Forestry Check-In_September 2024
Normally, 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
1 hr
September 12, 2024 The Dangers of Asbestos Forest Thinking with Andrew Vander Yacht
Many of us have heard about fire in the forest out west or somewhere else other than the northeast. The northeastern forest has been labeled the "Asbestos Forest" or one that doesn't include fire. But, has this always been the case? What positive role can fire play in New York State's forest? Andrew Vander Yacht will explain the historical role of fire in New York and how it might be used today.
Dr. Andrew (Andy) L. Vander Yacht is an Assistant Professor of Applied Forest and Fire Ecology in the Department of Sustainable Resources Management at SUNY ESF. He teaches silviculture, fire ecology and management, and forest management for wildlife. Broadly, his research program seeks to: 1) understand how disturbance, particularly fire, affects the structure, composition, health, and resiliency of temperate forested ecosystems, and 2) how this knowledge can inform modern forest management. Specifically, he works to advance silvicultural practices in NY and beyond as he explores historical disturbances in forests, plant-soil-fire feedbacks, forest carbon management, fuel ecology, pyric herbivory, the restoration of disturbance-dependent biodiversity, and fire effects on ticks and tick-borne disease.

Before SUNY ESF, Andy earned a B.S. in Biology at Hope College (Holland, MI), M.S. (Wildlife Science) and Ph.D. (Natural Resources) degrees from The University of Tennessee, and worked 4 years at Michigan State University.
1 hr
August 29, 2024 State Trees of the USA with Gary Mead--Part 7
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 again be discussing some of the official state trees of the US since we didn't finish last time around.
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.
1 hr
August 25, 2024 From Wildland to Woodland--How the Tanning Industry Changed a Valley
Last week's show covered "Bark Tanning in the Catskills." We'll continue the conversation on this most significant mountain industry with Paul Misko. Paul's talk will focus on a particular area of the Catskills—Woodland Valley, located in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County.

Paul Misko has been hiking in the Catskills since childhood. Over the years he has learned much about the Catskill forest, and the human history within it. Though his main focus is Woodland Valley, near Phoenicia, he has done research throughout the whole Catskill region.

In 2009 he founded the Catskill 4000 Club, a small hiking group which focuses on history themed hikes and events. He has written articles for Kaatskill Life, and the Catskill Mountain Region Guide. He regularly gives talks on Catskill history, American history, and John Burroughs. He shares his research both in person, and on WIOX radio's "From the Forest."
1 hr
August 14, 2024 Bark Tanning in the Catskills
On this week's show, we'll be discussing the Catskill Mountain's first industry--the Tannery Industry, of the 19th Century. Tanneries of the Catskills were "vegetable-based" or used bark of hemlock trees to tan cowskins into leather. Many of our hamlets today trace back their roots to this industry that required hemlock trees, cold running water, and animal hides.
1 hr
August 08, 2024 American Plum--A Fruitful Opportunity
On this week's show we'll be discussing America's wild plum tree or American plum (Prunus americana). American plum may present a fruitful opportunity for the Catskills; it's one tough tree.
1 hr

About From The Forest

From the publisher's feed

Talking all-things-forestry, every Wednesday, for 10 years and counting. New guest speakers every week. Listen to the archives at catskillforest.org/radio. Contact us at [email protected].