Catskills Magazine - Winter 2018

CATSKILLS AMERICA’S FIRST WILDERNESS

HOW TO OVERWINTER

HONEYBEES — LEAVE NO TRACE A WINTRY GUIDE

LIBRARIES WITH A MISSION

LUCKY DOG FOOD HUB CATSKILL CAKE

FIRETOWER COLORING PAGE

WINTER 2018

CONTENTS 3

AT THE ERPF GALLERY

4

CONTRIBUTORS

6

CATSKILLS LIBRARIES WITH A MISSION HOW TO OVERWINTER HONEYBEES

16

A WINTRY GUIDE - LEAVE NO TRACE

18

ILLUMINATED FIRETOWER

21

SNAPSHOT

22

CATSKILL CAKE

26

LUCKY DOG FOOD HUB

32

A BIG BEAUTIFUL SIGN

34

ENDNOTE

Cover: Campmor’s Tahir Thomas atop Giant Ledge

Morton Memorial Library: Pine Hill, NY

10

Photo: Heather Phelps-Lipton

Nov 19-Jan 4

Rosalind Dickinson / pottery Howard Harrison / lights

ERPF GALLERY

Annie Hayes / hooked rugs

43355 Route 28

Linda Heller / ceramic plates

Arkville, NY

Susan Kukle / jewelry and floor coverings Lisa Marie Layman / soaps + honey

Mon-Fri

Judy Mensch / hand decorated napkins

9:30am - 4:30pm

Functional items of beauty by Catskill makers

THE THIRD ANNUAL UTILITARIAN ART SHOW

AT THE

ERPF GALLERY CATSKILL CENTER

3

CONTRIBUTORS Winter 2018

JEFF SENTERMAN Jeff is a Catskill native and when he’s not steering the ship that is the Catskill Center, can often be found atop a local peak.

Jeff contributed his regular column, "Endnote" and is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.

HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON Heather edits, contributes to and creates the photography for the magazine. She plied Lucky Dog’s Richard Giles with questions for this edition. Heather is the Catskill Center’s Director of Communications.

MICHAEL CONNOR Michael runs Open MIC, a non-profit media advocacy organization, and lives in Phoenicia. He is a member of the Catskill Center’s Board of Directors and contributed "Beyond Books: Catskills Libraries with a Mission".

WILL LYTLE aka Thorneater Comics Will is a Catskills-born and raised comic artist and illustrator.

Deeply influenced by the natural environment of the Catskills, WIll tries to capture the form of magic they inspire.

He created the coloring page, "Illuminated Firetower".

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WINTER 2018

MARKLEY BOYER Markley splits his time between Brooklyn and the Catskills —and has for 23 years. He has pulled fish from most of its rivers and streams and is the Board Chair for the Catskill Center. Markley tells us about the happenings at the Catskills Interpretive Visitor Center.

ANDY MOSSEY Andy has a knack and a passion for speaking up for public lands without a voice. For this issue, he shares pointers on leaving no trace in the cold months. Andy is the Stewardship and Advocacy Coordinator at the Catskill Center.

CHRIS LAYMAN Chris Layman is a beekeeper/mentor and manages hives in the Catskill Mountains and throughout the Hudson Valley. With his wife Lisa, he owns Fox Farm Apiary in Hannacroix, NY. Check FoxFarmApiary.com and @foxfarmapiary for news about their upcoming beekeeping classes for beginners Chris offers in Woodstock, NY.

KELLI HUGGINS Visitor Experience Coordinator, Catskill Interpretive Center Kelli is an historian, educator and native Catskillite. She experimented with and contemporized a 19th century recipe — Catskill Cake!

ABOUT US: Since 1969, the Catskill Center has protected and

CCCD can be reached at:

fostered the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of

43355 State Highway 28

the Catskill region.Our mission is to ensure a bright future for

Arkville, NY 12406

the Catskills by preserving our environment, expanding our economy

845.586.2611

and celebrating our culture. Become a member at: catskillcenter.

cccd@catskillcenter.org

org/membership

CATSKILL CENTER

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6 

WINTER 2018

MICHAEL CO N N O R

BEYOND BOOKS: CATSKILLS LIBRARIES WITH A MISSION If you live in the Shandaken hamlet

"We really take our marching orders

of Phoenicia and need help with

from the community," says Liz Potter,

math, you might want to head to

director of the Phoenicia Library,

the library on Main Street. The same

which offered local residents some

advice would apply if you need help

366 programs in 2018 - an average

obtaining Medicare benefits. Or if

of 33 per month - all free of charge.

you simply want to learn how to play the ukulele.

The solutions to your problems probably won’t be found in the library’s books, however. They’re more likely to emerge from one of dozens of seminars, counseling sessions, and how-to programs that put the Phoenicia library at the heart of the town’s activities.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THEIR LIBRARIANS HAVE GRADUALLY TAKEN ON OTHER FUNCTIONS WELL BEYOND LENDING OUT BOOKS In the town of Delhi, Cannon Free Library director Susan Frisbee says, CATSKILL CENTER

7

"I tend to think of libraries these

Woodstock, taxpayers rejected a

days as sort of a secular church in

controversial measure that would

the community, serving a lot of the

have dissolved the town’s library

same purpose," by providing space

district;

for locals to gather in small groups

library’s board to pursue plans for a

or as participants in a variety of

multimillion-dollar expansion of its

programs, from watercolor painting

library building.

the

vote

enables

the

to meetings of the local historical society.

To be sure, not all libraries are

O

thriving, and some face budget

n Catskill ballots this past

shortfalls. But the dire future that

November,

won

many forecasters had predicted

in

for libraries with the advent of the

Marlborough, Olive and Shandaken

Internet just hasn’t happened. One

all approved substantial budget

big reason, according to researchers

increases for local libraries. And in

at the Brookings Institution, is the

big

8

libraries

victories.

WINTER 2018

Voters

critical role that “third places”

And even in the digital age, people

like libraries play in strengthening

are still reading, either traditional

communities

those

print books or "e-books" that can

places that are neither one’s home

–

meaning

be borrowed electronically. Delhi’s

(first place) nor workspace (second

Cannon Library circulated 1,268

place).

books

and

other

materials

in

one recent month. In Phoenicia, "A reason public libraries are seen

circulation has almost doubled in

as

third-place

the last 10 years with more than

institutions is that they and their

25,000 "checkouts" of materials

librarians have gradually taken on

annually.

such

important

other functions well beyond lending out

books,"

Brookings

The most popular activities at local

researchers. "In many communities,

libraries are generally those for

librarians are also ad hoc social

children (especially pre-K), including

workers

They

reading and crafts. Delhi features a

help local people figure out the

monthly LEGO club for young folk, for

complexities of life, from navigating

example. But the Phoenicia library

the health system to helping those

has recently hosted one activity for

with housing needs."

more seasoned residents: a "Grief

and

say

the

navigators.

Group" for those in mourning or In rural areas like the Catskills,

coping with the prospect of death.

access to the internet is a particular draw. "Basic connectivity is a huge

As the Catskills brace for this year’s

reason people come here," says

wintry temperatures and snow, the

Phoenicia’s Potter. Some visitors

Phoenicia Library plans to repeat

use the library’s computers, others

a popular "Cabin Fever" live music

bring their own laptops, tablets or

series that it has held for the last

smartphones. Delhi’s Susan Frisbee

couple of years. "You’d think nobody

says it’s not uncommon for local

would come out during the dead

residents to park their cars outside

of winter" says director Liz Potter.

the library at night, after the building

"But that’s one of our most popular

has closed, to access the web.

programs. It’s a wonderful event."

-MC

CATSKILL CENTER

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C HRIS LAYMAN

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY OVERWINTER HONEYBEES BEEKEEPING OFFERS ULTIMATE ONENESS WITH NATURE — WATCHING BEES INTERACT WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS INVITES ONE TO BE MORE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT. VETERAN BEEKEEPER CHRIS LAYMAN OF FOX FARM APIARY OFFERS ADVICE ON HOW TO ENSURE THE WINTER HEALTH OF HONEYBEES.

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WINTER 2018

W

inters can be cold and long in the Catskills and honeybees appreciate all the help we can offer if they are to make it through the season. Successful beekeeping in winter begins

in the Spring when you receive your bees. With good nutrition, vector virus management (Varroa mites), adequate honey stores and proper venting and insulation, you stand a much better chance of seeing those bees again in the Spring.

CATSKILL CENTER

11

SUITABLE BEES

cluster becomes immobile, unable

T

every year as the forests continue to

VARROA MANAGEMENT

populate. Honeybees in the Catskills

The Varroa mite is a parasite that feeds

need hardy queens and resourceful

on honeybees. Varroa are responsible

foragers. You may wish to consider

for the deaths of millions of colonies

requeening

appropriate

worldwide. Mites are here in the

genetics. There are many sources

Catskills and have decimated most of

in the Northeast for queens that

the feral hives. In addition, the mites are

have acclimated to colder areas and

the vector for new viruses which bees

that are varroa sensitive hygiene

are struggling to fight.

He Catskill growing season

to laterally reach even two frames

is short and bees’ nutrition

over for honey.

on the ground decreases

with

(VSH). Join a bee club and talk with other local beekeepers who are raising suitable queens, or inquire at Hudson Valley Bee Supply in Kingston.

VARROA MITES ARE IN THE CATSKILLS AND HAVE DECIMATED MOST OF THE FERAL HIVES

Bees need a good, healthy population going in to winter. When honeybees

Without addressing mites your hives

feel sick, they don’t want to infect the

will have a much lower chance of

entire hive and leave the hive to die.

survival; varroa management must

Altruistic self-removal is a practice

begin as soon as you hive your bees.

that puts the welfare of the colony

There are many ways to manage varroa;

above that of the individual, but if

this is what I have found to work for

the recruitment (birth) of bees is out

the hives I keep. Before winter sets in

of balance with the natural attrition

you can treat for mites with oxalic acid

(death) of bees, even with adequate

vapor without opening the hive. I apply

honey stores, the colony’s chance for

a treatment of oxalic dribble directly

survival is greatly reduced. During

on the bees In the Fall. While this helps

late Fall and Winter a normal bee

eliminate any remaining mites it may

colony can lose a few thousand

also help the bees to purge any nosema

bees. A large enough cluster can

ceranae spores while there is still time

shift around the hive, but a small

for a few cleansing flights. May through

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WINTER 2018

CHRIS FEEDING FONDANT TO THE BEES AT THORN PRESERVE

October I use organic acids to manage

winter. During these periods you may

Varroa mites. I find that one formic

want to supplement feed any and all

acid strip cut in half and applied every

hives with low honey stores. Leave at

30 days keeps mite counts down

least 75 pounds of honey in each hive.

and reduces visible signs of virus

With proper nutrition, bees can fight off

in the brood. I also add red banded

most diseases. It is so important that

polypore hydrosol to my sugar syrup

they have enough of their own honey

in the Spring and Fall to boost healthy

but if honey stores are low, fondant

immune function and reduce the viral

or winter patties will help get them

load. The bees that overwinter need to

through. A mild November means that

be at their healthiest to survive.

supplemental feeding is essential, as the honeybees will fly around and use

HONEY STORES/NUTRITION

up resources with nothing to forage.

In the early Fall, you may want to begin some supplemental feeding.

COLD/MOISTURE

Summer and Fall in 2018 were quite

Excessive Winter moisture can bring

rainy, providing a reminder of the

down a hive. Using wooden bottom

importance of supplemental feeding

boards in place of screened boards

for your honeybees. During rainy

can be helpful for cold, but make sure

periods before Winter, every day of rain

the hive is tilted slightly forward so

is one less day of foraging, plus hive

that moisture can drain. For those

bound bees are eating honey stores

with resource hives (two hives back to

meant to get them through the coming

back), drill two quarter-inch holes in the

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WINTER 2018

CHRIS LAYMAN AT THORN PRESERVE, WOODSTOCK, NY

bottom toward the back of each hive to

winter cluster. When bees are settled

allow excess moisture to drain and air

in a cluster and there are mice present,

to enter. I also wrap my hives with tar

a mouse’s every move disturbs the

paper to protect against harsh winds.

cluster, using valuable energy. Food stores are further depleted as the

To

help

with

insulation

and

mice eat pollen and honey stores. They

simultaneously assist with feeding,

also defecate in the hive, producing

I remove the inner board and place a

additional

shallow empty honey super (hive box)

conducting a final inspection, it’s

at the top of the hive. Fondant or other

essential to ensure that no mice are

dry winter patties can be placed on top

in the hive. Mouse guards should be

of the frames. Keep the feed centered.

installed at this time; we use screened

Cedar or pine chips can be contained

guards.

toxic

moisture.

When

in a net bag, placed over the fondant and spread out over the top of the

Bear attacks are common in Fall.

hive to absorb moisture and provide

Many bears are coming down from the

additional insulation. The bag can

mountains in search of protein and

easily be pulled up when it’s time to

they can’t resist the lure of honeybee

refeed. Install the inner board, then the

larvae to fatten up for winter. Now is the

winter board with vent, then insulation.

time to check your electric fences. After the bears go into hibernation and it

PROTECTING THE HIVE

begins to snow you can disengage your

When cold weather temperatures

fence, as heavy snowfall can short out

set in, honeybees will go into a state

and damage your solar electric unit.

of torpor, which enables animals to survive periods of reduced available

Even

food. Torpor is a state of decreased

beekeeping is well worth the effort.

physiological activity in an animal

Beekeeping

usually through a reduced body

experience of oneness with nature and

temperature and lower metabolic rate.

invites you to be more present in the

Hibernation is an extended form of

moment. I invite you to try it!

with

all

these

offers

challenges,

the

ultimate

torpor, but is not the same.

If you have any questions, please reach The bees’ temperature will hover

out to info@FoxFarmApiary.com.

around 55 degrees Fahrenheit in a cold

-CL CATSKILL CENTER

15

Leave No Trace

A WINTRY GUIDE ANDY MOSS E Y

Planning a winter adventure? First

keep a tight grip on the ground when

things first, consult reputable weather

things get slick, aka, microspikes.

forecasts such as weather.gov, then get

Gaiters are another essential piece of kit

to packing. In winter, avid recreationists

to keep the snow where it belongs, out of

stack multiple layers to combat the cold

your boots.

and possibly snowy conditions. Leaving

TRAVEL

a copy of the itinerary with a homebound

SURFACES

AND

CAMP

ON

DURABLE

someone is a smart choice no matter what time of year, but in winter it is

Snow is a durable surface, but when its

crucial. PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE

less than six inches deep, can compact and become very icy. Come spring, any

As the snow builds up, so does the

area that was compacted to ice will take

possibility of losing traction on the trail.

far longer to thaw — stick to the trail and

Pack some traction into your pack to

camp only in designated sites to help

16  

WINTER 2018

vegetation bounce back in the spring.

their energy expenditure during the cold

Trash and litter have no place in our

weather months and spooking wildlife

beautiful mountains; be certain to pack

can alter their natural behavior and force

out everything that you pack in.

them to leave food and safety. Do your best to visit their home with their best

Cat holes are not a viable option in frozen

interests in mind. RESPECT WILDLIFE

ground. The best option for the solid earth time of year is to pack out human

Not all trails are created equal for

waste using a WAG (waste, alleviation

winter exploration. Always be prepared

and gelling) bag system.

with some snowshoes or skis for deep

DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY

snow conditions. If snowshoeing, avoid walking in designated ski paths — skiers

Bring a map and compass, GPS, a smart

will greatly appreciate your effort to keep

phone with an extra battery pack and

the sking or XC trail intact.

avoid building cairns or leaving other

BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS

markings for wayfinding. Responsible winter explorers leave all rocks, animals, natural items, and artifacts intact and in their original place to help preserve the character of the Catskills.

LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND Stick to the stove whenever possible.

Cooking on modern stoves is a very fuelefficient and timely alternative to fire.

Downed wood is generally frozen and wet in the wintertime, but in an emergency,

The Catskill Park is a fantastic place to explore — even in the depths of winter. The cold keeps many at home or cozy in a lodge, which makes for some serene opportunities to reconnect with the wild nature of the Catskills.

fires can be a literal life saver. If possible, use existing fire rings in designated areas.

MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS Let nature’s sounds prevail; you never know what wildlife you might encounter

Clove is the Dutch word for a deep mountain valley, rooted from kloof, meaning a “cleft”

on the trail. Animals are very careful with

CATSKILL CENTER

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ILLUMINATED FIRETOWER — A COLORING PAGE — CREATED BY WILL LYTLE ILLUMINATED FIRETOWER - A COLORING PAGE — CREATED BY WILL LYTLE

ADD THIS GEAR TO YOUR WINTER HIKING KIT

EXTRA LAYERS FOR INSULATION AND PROTECTION A THERMOS OF HOT TEA OR COFFEE HAND WARMERS MICRO SPIKES AND/OR CRAMPONS GAITERS TO KEEP YOUR FEET DRY SNOWSHOES AND/OR SKIS A LIGHTER IN A PLASTIC BAG A SPARE BATTERY TO RECHARGE CELL PHONES

»» Wifi »» Guidance »» Maps »» Sculpture Trail »» Snacks »» Restrooms »» Events »» Books »» Hikes »» Treasures

CATSKILLS VISITOR CENTER 5096 Route 28 Mount Tremper, NY 12457 845-688-3369 catskillsvisitorcenter.org

Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy ecosystems and vibrant communities throughout the Catskill region.

Catskillcenter.org/membership Or complete this form and mail to:

Become a Member Individual ($35) Dual / Family ($50) Senior/Student ($25)

CATSKILL CENTER P.O. BOX 504 ARKVILLE, NY 12406 NAME

SUBSCRIPTION to the Catskill Center’s quarterly newsletter with news from the Catskill Center and across the Catskill Region.

ADDRESS

10% DISCOUNT on purchases at the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center, all Catskill Center facilities and Campmor in Paramus, NJ with presentation of member card.

EMAIL

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ACCESS TO THE CATSKILL CENTER ARCHIVES at the Erpf Center in Arkville. Please contact the Catskill Center to schedule an appointment.

MEMBER PACKAGE Members receive a membership package in the mail, including a member card and Catskill Center cling sticker.

CITY STATE PHONE

MEMBERSHIP LEVEL $35 ­— Individual $50 ­— Dual / Family $25 ­— Senior/Student $100 ­— Partnering member $250 ­— Benefactor $500 ­— Leadership Circle $1000 ­— President’s Circle

AMOUNT CARD # EXPIRATION SECURITY #

20

WINTER 2018

ZIP

Snapshot MICHAEL KUDISH "In 1969, the first people stood on the moon and looked back at the earth observing that all life was concentrated on our small planet - resulting in the environmental movement.

That same year, The Catskill Center was formed.

In 1970, when I joined as a graduate student working on my Ph.D. thesis "Vegetational History of the Catskill High Peaks", we had out first Earth Day. The Catskill Center was then the only private organization that bound the whole region together and cared for its environment.

There was no question that I should join..."

Read more at bit.ly/mkudish

CATSKILL CENTER

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Vintage Recipe

CATSKILL CAKE Scone-esque and buttery with a burst of fruitiness from dried currants, Catskill Cake is well-suited to the holiday (even breakfast!) table.

KELL I HUGGIN S

In March 1887, Good Housekeeping

There is no indication of what

printed a letter to the editor from

exactly makes this cake "Catskill".”

a reader in Pewee Valley, Kentucky,

And unfortunately, as the writer was

referred to only as LTC.

identified simply as LTC, tracing any personal or family tie to this area

LTC’s letter detailed three recipes for

would be difficult, if not downright

using surplus egg yolks, including

impossible.

one bake called "Catskill Cake."

Mystery aside, newspapers across "One

cupful

of

sugar,

one-half

the country reprinted the recipe

cupful of butter, one-half cupful of

for Catskill Cake. It was relatively

sweet milk, one and one-half cupful

popular in 1887, but how does it suit

of flour, yolks of seven eggs, one

a 2018 palate?

teaspoonful of cream of tartar, one half teaspoonful of soda. A cupful of

Catskill Center staff sampled a test

currants floured and put in adds to

bake of Catskill Cake and it got the

this, when baked in a solid cake."

thumbs up all-around.

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WINTER 2018

Catskill Cake 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup room-temperature butter 1/2 cup whole milk ("sweet milk" in the original recipe) 1 1/2 cups flour, plus ~1tbsp for flouring currants 7 egg yolks 1 tsp cream of tartar 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup currants (you can substitute raisins)

Before ovens had controls, bakers managed their oven temperature by adding fuel or moving coals

Preheat oven to 325.

Dust the currants with remaining flour and stir into the mixture.

Cream butter and sugar until light. Add egg yolks one at a time, combining

Grease well and lightly flour a bundt pan.

completely.

Pour mixture in an even layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown

In a separate bowl, combine the flour,

and a toothpick inserted in the cake

cream of tartar, and baking soda.

comes out clean. Wait until completely

Alternate stirring the dry ingredient

cooled to remove from pan.

mixture and the milk into the sugar, butter, and egg mixture until all

Decorate with powdered sugar or serve

ingredients are fully combined.

plain.

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WINTER 2018

Give it a go and share with us your thoughts + a pic. @catskillcenter #catskillcake

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WINTER 2018

THE LUCKY DOG FOOD HUB A Chat with Richard Giles H E A T H E R P H E L P S - L IP T O N RG: I’m Richard Giles and I operate

transporting, storing, and making

Lucky Dog Organic Farm in Hamden,

good local food. In a sense, the hub is

New York. We’re in the center of

the aggregation and transportation

the Western Catskills, which is a

business that goes from here in the

beautiful place to be.

Western Catskills down to New York City. There are stops along the way

ARE THE CATSKILLS A GOOD PLACE TO FARM? RG: It’s a place

and there are local markets too.

where you want to be very in tune

To me the larger, more important

with the seasons.

thing is that there’s a growing group of very small farms here that form a

We’re in a valley, right on the west

kind of central need for a hub.

branch of the Delaware River. We take pride in keeping the New York

DID YOU CREATE THE HUB?

City water clean.

RG: No, not alone. I sell in the New York City Green Markets and go to

It puts us in a pretty cool climate.

New York every week anyway. Other

We’re surrounded by mountains,

farms would ask me occasionally to

which is an advantage for growing

take a pig to a butcher in New York. I

great sweet vegetables, but we do

started doing some of that.

have a long winter.

Together with support of some

WHAT IS THE FOOD HUB? RG:

really good local agencies, The

The food hub is a group of farms in

Center for Agricultural Development

this area that work together selling,

and Entrepeneurship (CADE) and CATSKILL CENTER

27

the Watershed Council are ones I

because that’s where I focused.

would mention primarily, and also

From the start, small restaurants

the local economic development

seemed to fit our model and almost

department of the county as well as

became a parallel enterprise to our

other organizations that look either

group of farms up here, but they

toward economic development or

aren’t all small restaurants.

help develop sustainable farms like We’ve sold to some of the bigger

us.

restaurants too and we’ve sold to I started transporting a little stuff

retail stores. But small restaurants

and then just formalized it over

that want really good really local high

the years. We got help, especially

quality food and are in most cases

from CADE, and had a consultant

willing to pay a little premium for

who worked for them help us create

that compared to large commercial

a business plan to develop that

delivery services continue to be a

business, The Hub Transports, from

major portion of our traffic.

our farm.

The transportation’s now done by a

HOW MANY FARMS ARE PARTICIPATING RIGHT NOW?

young man with trucks who is not

RG: Oh boy, that’s a good question.

me (the old man with trucks). That

We have run from 20 to 30 farms.

part of the system is challenging,

Right now we have fewer than 20.

trucking

Winter time it’s going to be slow.

loads,

getting

enough

load to justify the travel, making deliveries in a big busy city, and

One of the things that Tiana (at

finding qualified drivers. All those

607 CSA) has done, is to add items

things are always challenging. It’s

to their CSA, a few dozen eggs here

one of the essential parts of this

and a few chickens there and a few

farm system called the hub.

other meat products and milk. If you counted every one of those additions

IS THE NYC MARKET PRIMARILY RESTAURANTS + COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA)S? RG: It

as a participating farm, that’s quite

has been for our hub; maybe it’s

important

28

WINTER 2018

a number.

I think that may be the most farm

growth

aspect

SMALL DIVERSE FARMS ARE MORE RESILIENT TO CHANGE AND I THINK THERE’S A LOT OF POSSIBILITY IN THAT

because a very small farm, a start up

I bought this farm in 2000 and

farm say, can latch onto the hub and

had a crop that year. We’ve grown

also to the CSA as it pulls in more

every year a little bit. Growth isn’t

sales that don’t require a farmer to

everything, but it’s a necessity to

go and sit all day at a market.

survive, to have enough volume so that we can pay our wages, so that

Often start up farms need time to

we can make repairs, so we can grow

be on the farm, might not have a

our crop. Over the years, I’ve had

truck or don’t have the time or the

great fortune of developing a really

efficiency to take a truck down once

great crew here. I think that’s one of

a week or twice a week.

the loveliest things on all of these small farms here — there’s a large

HOW HAS THE HUB AFFECTED THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF LOCAL FARMS AND FARMERS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FARMING? RG: I would say almost

number of people who want to work,

all of the farms that have shipped

should be the economic opportunity

through the hub locally have been

to help developing small farms

able to grow their own businesses.

thrive. Small diverse farms are

who enjoy farm work.

I believe farming should be seen as the jobs program in the Catskills. It

more resilient to change and I think To me that’s most important thing.

there’s a lot of possibility in that.

They have this one channel for getting their farm product out for distribution, which supplies some income, so they can invest.

They can have some confidence that they’re going to be able to grow and move their product. I see farms growing in size and in product diversity and in product quality.

Because of the hub, our own farm has been able to grow.

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WINTER 2018

...

IT’S SKI SEASON GET YOUR Discounted Passes HUNTER BELLEAYRE PLATTEKILL WINDHAM at the CATSKILLS VISITOR CENTER

YOUR LEGACY

THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS

Planned Giving. Secure the health of the Catksills for generations.

catskillcenter.org/plannedgiving

Catskill Interpretive Center

A BIG BEAUTIFUL SIGN GRAND ENOUGH TO SIGNIFY ONE OF AMERICA’S GREAT PARKS IS IN THE WORKS.

MARKLEY BOYE R

In the spring of 2019 changes are coming to the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center — starting with the sign on Route 28. A big beautiful sign is in the works, grand enough to let you know that you are in one of America’s great parks!

A massive stack of rocks, suggesting the ledges and overlooks for which the Catskills are famous, will serve as the backbone of the sign. The Hudson River School painters were drawn to these ledges and painted them often. We’re still hunting for just the right stack of rocks, and when we find them, you might just recognize one of your favorite overlooks.

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Below the sign, a low wall will echo the

create a microcosm of some of the

thousands of miles of old stone walls

characteristic materials of our region,

that any avid explorer of the Catskills

and a suitable welcome for visitors.

will recognize from their rambles.

Stones cleared by early settlers made

You may also notice that we’re

for great boundaries between the

making a few small adjustments to

fields and kept livestock in or out.

the name to make clear what really

Some believe that some of the stone

goes on there.

walls go back further than that and that native peoples created them for

When the sign goes up, it will

obscure purposes.

announce the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center.Â

Capping the wall will be a massive slab

We’ve put the emphasis on the word

of bluestone, which has been quarried

"Catskills" to make it absolutely clear

in the Catskills starting in the 19th

where we are!Â

century. The stone of sidewalks and buildings of many of the great cities

We also think that visitors might

in the region were sourced in the

want to take a picture of themselves

Catskills.

standing in front of our big beautiful sign to show the world that they’ve

Finally, the sign itself will be made of

made it. In fact, we’re copying an idea

wood and will gradually weather to the

that our Executive Director saw out

characteristic gray of an old Catskill

west last summer and installing a

barn. The combination of the ledge

discreet "selfie stand" where you can

rock, the field stone, the bluestone

prop your smartphone and get in the

and the barn wood is designed to

picture!

- MB

Ç?Ç?M Ç?A U Ç?R I C E D . H Ç?I N Ç?C H Ç?E Ç?Y

CATSKIL

Ç?C E N T E R

Endnote

I

n

1969,

the

Catskill

Center

affair as we partner with friends and

became the first environmental

supporters to celebrate the progress

organization dedicated to the

of the Catskills over the last 50 years

preservation and protection of the

and look forward to the future. Special

Catskills, but that wasn’t just what

events, activities, publications and

the organization was. Created with a

more will be forthcoming throughout

dual mission to preserve and enrich

the year — so stay tuned!

the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of the Catskills,

While we are celebrating the past 50

the Catskill Center simultaneously

years, I am just as excited by thinking

works to preserve our natural areas,

how the next 50 years in the Catskills

while working to ensure continued

are going to turn out. We have plenty of

economic viability and growth of our

challenges and opportunities facing

communities.

us to work on. Those include major issues like climate change and more

This

dual-natured

is

regional issues such as the transition

one that the Catskill Center has

to a tourism-based economy and

embraced and followed in the five

protecting our forever wild Catskill

decades since our creation. In that

Park lands from too much use. There

time, we have met that mission

are also opportunities to create

in many different ways including

resilient communities, strengthen

through planning, advocacy, main

our local economy and better protect

street

our natural lands and their wildlife

work,

actions,

land

mission

stewardship, preservation

legal and

corridors.

much more. The only thing that hasn’t changed over the years is our

Over the last two years, the Catskill

commitment to preserve, protect

Center has worked hard to adjust its

and enrich these beautiful Catskill

programs and its strategic direction

Mountains.

to address these opportunities and challenges.

Celebrating our 50th year of service to the Catskills will be a year-long

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Some of the recent work includes:

- Managing the Catskill Park’s first

Well, it led to this — our new Catskills

and only visitor center

magazine. A quarterly collection of

- Hiring stewards to assist New York

news and information from and about

State manage use at popular areas on

the Catskills (still with a healthy dose

the Forest Preserve

of information and news about the

-

Partnering

organizations

with to

dozens advocate

of

work of the Catskill Center). We hope

for

you love this new magazine format as

additional regional resources from

much as we do!

Albany - Finding and implementing an effective biocontrol that gives us hope that our hemlock trees will survive - Working to protect streamside areas to preserve water-quality and reduce flooding impacts

WE HOPE YOU LOVE OUR NEW MAGAZINE FORMAT AS MUCH AS WE DO I look forward to continuing our work to preserve and enrich the wonderful

Together with those new programs, the Catskill Center has been working to update and refresh the way it communicates with you! Today you can join our conversation on social media, follow our websites and take

mountains, forests and communities of the Catskills. I invite you to join us in that work so we can celebrate our next 50 years together!

To the Catskills!

part in new and exciting memberdriven activities and events.

You may have also noticed that our quarterly

membership

newsletter

has been changing over the last year.

JEFF SENTERMAN is the Executive Director of the Catskills Center.

CATSKILL CENTER

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Delivered directly to Catskill Center members.

A periodical celebrating New York’s State’s glorious Catskills.

PO Box 504 43355 State Highway 28 Arkville, NY 12406

The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development