From The Forest

By fromtheforestBusiness Education Non-Profit

From The Forest episodes

November 02, 2023 Backyard Maple Syrup Production
It may seem early to start talking about maple season, but colder weather is upon us and it's never too early to start preparing. On this week's show, CFA's Education Forester Zahra Bellucci & Board President Mike Porter will discuss Backyard Maple Syrup Production - another service included in CFA's new Forest Farming Program. We'll cover all the basics from identifying maple trees, best practices for tapping, getting your firewood ready for the sugarin' season, ways to set up an at-home evaporator, and more.
Zahra Bellucci is CFA's Education Forester & administers & implements their FOREST FARMING PROGRAM which includes (1) Backyard Maple Syrup Production; (2) Shiitake Mushroom Log Inoculation; & (3) Wild-Simulated Ginseng Cultivation.
Mike Porter is the President of the Catskill Forest Association. He is a lifelong resident of the Catskill Mountains and has extensive experience running his own "backyard" maple syrup operation, with lots of wisdom to offer.
1 hr
November 02, 2023 Kousa dogwood 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 unique kousa dogwood tree and why you might want one near you.

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 19, 2023 Old & Emerging Diseases of American Beech
On this week's show we'll be covering the American beech tree (Fagus grandifolia). We'll cover the basics of this tree, its importance to both humans and wildlife, as well as both old and--unfortunately--new diseases wreaking havoc on this already ravaged tree.
1 hr
October 12, 2023 Fishing, Climate Change, & New Regulations on Esopus with Ed Ostapczuk
On this week's show we'll talk to Ed Ostapczuk, who many consider to be "the face & voice of the Esopus River." It's no secret that Ed loves to fish and has been at it for quite some time. We'll get Ed's view on trout fishing in the Catskills, impacts to fish and their habitat, new regulations, & more.
Ed Ostapczuk is a master fly tyer and member of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, Ed has written numerous articles, essays, columns, and even a few books. In 1991, Trophy Trout Streams of the Northeast was published and included a chapter on the Esopus written by Ed Ostapczuk. In 2012 he wrote Ramblings of a Charmed Circle Flyfisher, recounting his fly-fishing adventures. In 2022, he wrote a second book titled The Wanderings of a Mountain Fly Fisher.
Ed is a chapter officer of the Ashokan-Pepacton chapter of TU. He also regularly contributes to conversations with the DEC and DEP.
1 hr
October 05, 2023 Ryan’s Walk in the Woods (2023)
Each fall I take a small camping trip to the "High Peaks" of the Catskill Mountains. I've been doing this since 2004; Time sure is flying by. We'll discuss some notable things seen, heard, and felt, while out in the woods last week.
1 hr
September 28, 2023 Trees for Framing & Lumber 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 how to select different tree species for both timber-framing & lumber.
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
September 21, 2023 Wild Simulated Ginseng Cultivation with Education Forester Zahra Bellucci
On this week's show, CFA's Education Forester--Zahra Bellucci--will discuss how to grow wild-simulated ginseng. We'll introduce this amazing plant by covering some of the basics and then go into how you might perpetuate it on your land. Wild ginseng is highly sought after in the marketplace for its medicinal attributes. Deer and other herbivores also like it, making this plant rare in the forest. Why not improve its abundance by planting it?
Zahra Bellucci is CFA's Education Forester & administers & implements their FOREST FARMING PROGRAM which includes (1) Backyard Maple Syrup Production; (2) Shiitake Mushroom Log Inoculation; & (3) Wild-Simulated Ginseng Cultivation.
Zahra joined the Catskill Forest Association team as Education Forester in May 2022. She is originally from Rochester, NY but has spent several years living in the Catskill and Hudson Valley regions working in sustainable agriculture. She assists in the implementation of CFA’s programs and works to administer and develop the forestry education services offered by CFA to members and the local community. She received her Associate of Applied Science in Forest Technology in May 2022 from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School.
1 hr
September 14, 2023 Keeping the Pinelands with NJ Forester Bob Williams
On this week's show we'll talk to Forester Bob Williams about "Keeping the Pinelands" in New Jersey. Recently Bob appeared on PBS discussing the NJ Pinelands.

"In the 20th century, the once vast forests of the New Jersey Pine Barrens were vanishing. In 1979, a controversial ban on over-development became law, saving over a million acres. But today, the Pinelands face new threats from climate change and fire suppression. To help these forests survive, people are using new ways to manage them. Collaborating with nature is the key to Keeping the Pinelands." We'll get Bob's perspective on the Pinelands in NJ, something that might share similarities with the Forest Preserve in New York State.
Bob Williams is the owner and founder of Pine Creek Forestry LLC. Bob graduated with an Associate's degree in forestry in 1972 from Centralia College and a Bachelor's Degree in Forestry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1975. Bob has 43 years experience in the field of forestry. His experience includes working for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service in Alaska and Washington, and Scott Paper Company as a logging engineer. Since 1985, Bob has worked as a consulting forester in New Jersey working with both private and public landowners to achieve management and stewardship goals for natural resources. In addition to consulting work, Bob has authorized many forestry activities, as well as newsletters put out by various forestry organizations.
1 hr
September 08, 2023 Trees that No One Wants
On this week's show we'll discuss "low-grade" trees or "trees that no one wants." We'll define & decipher low-grade from high-grade trees and how forest markets--or the lack thereof--impacts our forests today and tomorrow.
1 hr
September 07, 2023 Mindset of an Emergent Hunter
For many people, hunting is a tradition passed down through family ties - kids are introduced to the lifestyle and gain a passion for hunting at a young age. It's becoming more and more common to hear about hunters that have found the passion later in life, though. We will speak to the latest emergent hunter, CFA's Education Arborist Zane Lawyer, about what sparked him to take up the sport, where he is at in his journey, and where his goals lie with becoming an "adult-onset hunter".
1 hr

About From The Forest

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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].