Catskills Magazine / 2020 Issue 1.

CATSKILLS AMERICA’S FIRST WILDERNESS

FORESTS: THE FRONT LINE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T MOVE FIREWOOD PRIZE-WINNING MOLASSES GINGER COOKIES WOOD BURNING STOVES: QUESTIONS ANSWERED

WINTER 2020

CONTENTS 3

CATSKILL PARK DAY

4

CONTRIBUTORS

6

WARMING AND BURNS

10

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T MOVE FIREWOOD

13

FIREWOOD ABC’S

17

SNAPSHOT

18

WINTER IN THE CATSKILLS COLORING PAGE

22

THE FRONT LINE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

27

WOOD BURNING STOVES

29

CALL FOR ARTISTS

30

MOLASSES GINGER COOKIES

34

ENDNOTE

Cover Photo: Heather Phelps-Lipton

PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

CATSKILL PARK DAY

THIS IS WHAT ADVOCACY LOOKS LIKE February 4, a coalition of 33 organizations visited Albany to present a common list of asks to benefit the Catskill Park and its communities.

Learn more at catskillcenter.org/catskillparkday CATSKILL CENTER

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CONTRIBUTORS 2020 WINTER

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 and contributes to the magazine. She’s also the Catskill Center’s Director of Communications and for this issue, plied the Catskill Forest Foundation’s Ryan Trapini about firewood.

KELLI HUGGINS Kelli is an educator, historian, and native Catskillite. For this issue, she experimented with and contemporized an old recipe for molasses cookies. Kelli is a Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Catskills Visitor Center and helps edit the magazine.

WILL LYTLE aka Thorneater Comics Will is a Catskills native comic artist and illustrator. Deeply influenced by the natural environment of the Catskills, Will tries to capture the form of magic they inspire.

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2020 WINTER

MICHAEL KUDISH Michael has been studying Catskills forest history since 1971 and penned his dissertation on the topic. He has been a Catskill Center member since 1970.

GABE D. CHAPIN Gabe has spent his professional career measuring, burning, modeling and generally admiring trees and forests from Florida to Alaska, and is currently the Forest Carbon Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in New York. He spends much of his free time walking in, building his house with and admiring the trees around his home in Accord, NY..

NOELLE MARTIN Noelle is a recent graduate with her MA in English. She joined the Catskill Center to gain experience in the nonprofit world and contribute to an organization that has a purpose. In her past year at the Catskill Center, she has worked as an executive assistant and helps edit the magazine.

DAN SNIDER Dan is a hiker, a paddler, and a board game aficionado. He’s also the Field Projects Manager of the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership.

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

43355 State Highway 28

fostered the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of

Arkville, NY 12406

the Catskill region. Our mission is to ensure a bright future for the Catskills by preserving our environment, expanding our economy and celebrating our culture.

845.586.2611

Become a member at: catskillcenter.org/membership

cccd@catskillcenter.org

CATSKILL CENTER

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

AN EXPERT GIVES HIS THOUGHTS

WARMING AND BURNS WILL CLIMATE CHANGE LEAD TO MORE CATSKILLS FOREST FIRES? MICHAEL KUDIS H The question was asked whether climate change will lead to an increased frequency of forest fires in the Catskills. The answer is generally no. Here is why: Climatologists feel that climate change will involve warming and an increase of precipitation. A wetter climate would not lead to an increase in frequency and severity of forest fires.

M. Kudish has been studying Catskills forest history since 1971 and penned his dissertation on the topic.

But along with more frequent

capacity and should not be greatly

storms with greater precipitation,

affected. Pines, oaks, and hickories,

climatologists

which exist on lower slopes, are also

predict

that

there may be longer occasional

drought tolerant.

intervening droughts. If so, will these

droughts

increase

the

likelihood of forest fires? They might, but only when the drought is especially severe. If people are extra careful and vigilant during these occasional droughts, forest fires may still be rare.

What droughts will do is place stress on certain species of trees, shrubs, and herbs. Basswood, white ash, elm, and especially sugar

IN THE 19TH CENTURY, FOREST FIRES WERE FREQUENT IN CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE CATSKILLS, SUCH AS THE ESCARPMENT, AND WHAT ARE NOW THE LOWER ASHOKAN RESERVOIR BASIN AND IN THE PEPACTON RESERVOIR BASIN.

maple will feel it the most, as these species today grow on sites with

There were many more people

greater soil water holding capacity.

working in the woods back then—

That’s why we rarely see these

bark peeling, logging, and quarrying.

four species along the crests of

Almost all the burns were caused by

high ridge lines over 3,000 feet in

people, some by accident and some

elevation; soils here are shallow-

by the deliberate setting of fires to

to-bedrock, exceedingly stony, and

promote blueberries. Lightning fires

therefore lack much water holding

were, and still are, rare because of

capacity.

accompanying downpours.

Species common along the high

Because of the worst fire years,

ridge lines are hemlock, red spruce,

in 1903 and in 1908 (primarily in

balsam

paper

the Adirondacks), New York State

birches, red maple, beech, and

became tired of the conflagrations

black cherry. These more drought-

and set up programs to prevent,

tolerant

grow

locate, and suppress forest fires. It

on soils with less water holding

was in 1909 that fire towers started

8

fir,

yellow

species

2020 WINTER

and

already

to grow in great numbers atop the peaks. Since 1909, fires in the Catskills have been only a minor concern.

One further thought is that a warming

climate

may

create

problems in the forests far more 1909 WOODEN FIRE TOWER ON HUNTER MOUNTAIN

serious than occasional droughts and resulting burns, such as the invasion of insect defoliators and fungal diseases from The South, as well as the invasion of more pests from Eurasia.

-MK

CATSKILL CENTER

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DAN SNIDE R

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T MOVE FIREWOOD Invasive forest pests have had devastating impacts on the American landscape. Not long ago, emerald ash borer catapulted into the public consciousness as it began to munch through the Northeastern United States’ ash population. Hemlock woolly adelgid has contributed to upwards of 80% hemlock mortality in some early-affected areas, such as in the Great Smoky Mountains. However, these pests haven’t done this damage all on their own.

MOST INVASIVE FOREST PESTS IN THE CATSKILLS DO NOT MOVE VERY FAR OR VERY QUICKLY — THEY TYPICALLY TRAVEL ONLY AS MUCH AS THEY NEED TO FIND SUITABLE HOSTS. For

Asian

firewood cut and moved from within

longhorned beetle and emerald ash

newly-emerged

an infested area to an unaffected

borer adults, healthy ash, maple, or

one is a risk of a potential new

birch trees are often close at hand.

infestation.

They will fly a few hundred feet, or maybe a few miles, before settling

The moving of firewood is part of

down for a meal. On their own, insect

the reason why some invasive forest

populations spread relatively slowly.

pests have spread across the country

PHOTO: ASIAN LONG-HORNED BEETLE, COURTESY OF THE USDA

so rapidly, and why many impacted So, what makes managing these

states

insects problematic? When they can

movement regulations. These laws

get a little help finding unaffected

are created to slow the unintentional

trees to feed on by hitching a ride

spread of invasive pests like the

with humans. Humans can and have

Asian longhorned beetle, oak wilt,

accidentally

larvae,

spotted lanternfly, and many others.

eggs, or adults around in firewood.

By using firewood locally to where

A 2012 study of retail firewood from

it is cut, we reduce the potential

Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and

to introduce new populations of

Wyoming found that larvae can

these pests throughout the region.

survive in felled and cut wood for

The fewer populations of each pest

as long as eighteen months before

there are, the easier it is to contain

emerging as adults [1]. The study

and eradicate that pest, and the

collected 371 bundles of firewood

more native trees we preserve in

from 163 retailers throughout the

our landscape and in our yards.

four states over ten months. They

Slower spread of these pests can

report live insect emergence from

also give more time to develop

47% of the collected bundles, with

new management tools, such as

one bundle at the extreme end

biological controls, to help reduce

hiding 520 insects! Every log of

these pests’ populations.

transported

have

enacted

firewood

CATSKILL CENTER

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New York State regulations limit firewood movement to within 50 miles of where it is harvested, and it cannot be imported from outside the state. There is a simple form to fill out on the NYS Department of

Environmental

Conservation’s

website that allows the movement of firewood within that 50-mile limit.

There are also heat-treatments that allow firewood to be moved outside the 50-mile limit. These treatments subject firewood to high heat for long periods of time, which kills any insects that might be hiding within the firewood. Firewood treated in this way must carry a specific label: "New York Approved Heat-Treated Firewood/Pest Free."

The best way you can help prevent the spread of harmful forest pests is to source your firewood locally (within 50 miles of where you intend to burn it). You can help keep any

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES AT CATSKILLINVASIVES.COM OR DONTMOVEFIREWOOD.ORG -DS

invasive pests living within their immediate area by buying and burning untreated firewood locally.

This simple precaution helps to

Notes [1] Jacobi, William R., et al. "Retail Firewood Can Transport Live Tree Pests." Journal of Economic Entomology, vol. 105, no. 5, 2012, pp. 1645-1658. doi: 10.1603/ec12069.

prevent the introduction of new satellite populations of invasive insects

in

currently

unaffected

areas and helps slows the insects’ spread considerably.

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2020 WINTER

Dan Snider is the Field Projects Manager of the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership

HE

SPREAD

OF

H EATHER P H E L P S - L I P T O N

FIREWOOD ABC’S A CONVERSATION WITH RYAN TRAPANI OF THE CATSKILL FOREST ASSOCIATION

Do you warm your house with wood?

RT - Yes. And I like to get three years ahead, so I’m cutting for three years from now.

How many cords do you go through in a year?

RT - Maybe three to four. I also do it for sugaring, and that’s called sap wood, which is different than firewood. For sap wood you only use trees that are really light, that burn hot and fast, like aspen, sassafras, white pine, or hemlock. That’s a different pile.

A perfect segue! Do particular sorts of trees have more heat than others?

RT - Absolutely. Here in the Catskills, we have a great variety. In Alaska, where it’s awfully cold, they only have balsam fir or spruce, for example, and that’s really light and not very dense, so it doesn’t have as many BTUs. But here we have everything from the densest like apple and black locust, to sugar maple, which is somewhat in the high-medium range, to ash and red maple in medium. We wouldn’t even touch sycamore or aspen.

You wouldn’t touch it because you feel like it doesn’t have any energy?

RT - Because we have so much to choose from. Why cut down aspen for firewood when you can cut down black birch or black cherry?

CATSKILL CENTER

13

Is there a lot of black cherry around?

RT - Yeah, it grows up in the old abandoned fields that were farms like 60 years ago. Black cherry will still be there now unless it gets shaded out by other trees over time.

Any recommendations for people making fires?

RT - You have to have dry wood. If you don’t burn dry wood you’re burning twice as much wood or you’re paying twice for your wood. My father used to burn green wood, eight cords a year, when he lived in New Paltz, then when he got dry wood it was four and a half cords.

But then, how you burn also really matters. The wood should be all charred in the stove, and in full flame, before it’s damped down. If you see that wave of fire on top you did it right because that’s unburned gas being burned and that’s what they’re there for. It’s called pyrolysis, and it’s like burning unburned gas. That’s what wood gas fires do. But if you damp it down too soon there’s a lot of vapor in there, and it’s going in your chimney, and you’re losing heat through vapor.

A lot of people don’t get the wood hot enough, before they damp down if you damp down too soon, because you’re in a rush, or whatever, you want to go to bed ... but you’ve got to get it hot. The best thing to do is damp down in stages, not just damp down all the way, but sometimes you have to, right?

You want to get that rolling flame on top. That’s when you’re getting the most heat out of your wood.

What do you think about the theory of leaving the flue open all the time? Can you get more heat that way?

RT - No, you’re wasting it. Now it’s just going up the chimney and if you have a newer stove you are going to over fire. They’re very efficient and you can ruin your stove. You’ll get away with it if you have steel because steel tends to expand more, but if you have cast iron, you will crack it. Especially if you have dry wood.

READ MORE AT CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/BLOG

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HOLZHAUSEN : A METHOD OF STACKING CUT AND SPLIT FIREWOOD USING A BUILT-UP CIRCLE THAT TURNS INTO A BEEHIVE-LIKE SHAPE

YOUR LEGACY

THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS Planned Giving.

Secure the health of the Catskills for generations. catskillcenter.org/plannedgiving

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

Become a Member Individual ($35) Dual / Family ($50) Senior/Student ($25) BENEFITS INCLUDE SUBSCRIPTION to the Catskill Center’s quarterly Catskills magazine with news from the Catskill Center and across the Catskill Region.

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.

MEMBER ONLY INVITATIONS to the Annual Gathering, lectures and special events.

MEMBER PROGRAM SERIES 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.

Catskillcenter.org/membership Or complete this form and mail to: CATSKILL CENTER P.O. BOX 504 ARKVILLE, NY 12406 NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE

EMAIL

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 #

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2020 WINTER

ZIP

PHONE

Member Snapshot SUNNIE JO MEMBER SINCE 2018 As a landowner, ecological designer, and community organizer, I find the Catskill Center to be an invaluable local resource — my go-to organization for research, recreation, and inspiration.

As a member, I know my small annual donation goes a long way to support the hard work of protecting, promoting, advocating, and educating.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet other members, partnering organizations, and the folks behind the scenes at the annual Outdoor Event and last year’s Fall Gala, which celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary. I’ve been so impressed by the richness of our community and the enormity of the area the Catskill region covers (10% of the state). The park alone is close to 700,000 acres, and the Catskill Region is five times that! For a small organization, they accomplish a lot and seem to have fun doing it.

The Center is more than just an environmental organization with the best map of hiking trails; they are our economic and cultural stewards, and, as the climate crisis intensifies, they provide a source of inspiration and direction. I look forward to learning and getting more involved each year.

CATSKILL CENTER

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A WILL LYTL E C O L O R I N G P A G E

Notice

a

chipmunk

among

the

undergrowth, and a chickadee and a titmouse in the branches of the tree.

A WILL LYTLE COLORING PAGE

The flowering natives below are goldenrod,

white

lowries aster.

snakeroot,

and

ERPF GALLERY 43355 Route 28 Arkville, NY Mon-Fri 9:30am - 4:30pm

Selected photos and outakes from the 2019 Catskill Center publication,

NATURAL RESOURCES: 50 STEWARDS OF THE CATSKILLS

AT THE

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ERPF GALLERY

2020 WINTER

Hiking, Paddling, Bicycling, Climbing, Skiing, Backpacking, Birdwatching, Fishing, Snowshoeing, Dude-ranching and loads of other excellent Catskill outdoor activities. 10am-5pm. Kingston. catskillcenter.org/outdoorexpo

Wifi.

Guidance.

Garb.

Maps.

Snacks.

Restrooms.

Events.

Books.

Hikes.

Treasures.

Firetower.

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

21

GABE D. CHAPI N

FORESTS: THE FRONT LINE AGAI CLIMATE CHANGE AS AN ECOLOGIST AND FORESTER FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I’M FORTUNATE TO SPEND TIME WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OUR NY FORESTS PROVIDE

AINST GE — habitat for wildlife, high quality timber, a source of fresh drinking water — the list goes on. Recently, I have begun to focus on another critical, yet often overlooked, resource that is found in our forests: carbon.

THE CARBON CYCLE Trees and the other plants around us use energy from the sun to combine CO2 and water to produce the sugars that they use as food to live and grow. While many of us appreciate this process, called photosynthesis,for the maple syrup we put on our pancakes or the toasty heat from the woodstove, my focus is on the value that trees provide in removing and storing (i.e. sequestering) carbon from the air.

CATSKILL CENTER

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This movement of carbon between

store carbon at very high rates, even

the atmosphere and other various

at well over 100 years of age. Old-

carbon storage "pools" — such as

growth forests with complex, multi-

forests and other vegetation, the soil,

storied canopies and very large trees

and the oceans — is known as the

can easily store over 220 tons of

carbon cycle. Trees are particularly

carbon in every acre of trees.

effective at taking in carbon and locking it away in the wood that

CARBON

makes up their stems, branches, and

about carbon markets and engaging

roots. In fact, pound for pound, wood

with landowners on projects to

is about 50% carbon. While some of

manage their forests lands more

this carbon may be re-released as a

sustainably through The Nature

tree dies and decomposes, much of

Conservancy’s Working Woodlands

this carbon eventually transfers into

program has been some of the most

the soil, and new trees rapidly grow

interesting and rewarding work of my

and fill in the space.

career. Recognizing the importance

AS

A

RESULT

OF

THIS

of

MARKETS

tackling

climate

Learning

change,

individuals and corporations are

PROCESS, A SINGLE ACRE OF

increasingly looking to offset carbon

MIDDLE-AGED FOREST IN THE

emissions that cannot be reduced

NORTHEAST MIGHT STORE

through efficiency improvements or use of renewable energy.

THE EQUIVALENT OF 120–190 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE,

One common way of offsetting carbon emissions is to buy forest carbon

or about as much as the emissions

offset "credits" from landowners who

from powering 17 homes or driving

take steps to increase the carbon

31 cars in one year, while continuing

stocking in their forests. Each credit

to suck in an additional one to two

is essentially a ton of carbon dioxide

tons of carbon dioxide each year.

taken in and stored in the forest that

While we used to think that this

would otherwise have been released

process slowed down considerably

through more aggressive timber

as the forest aged, we now know that

harvesting.

they can continue to take in and

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2020 WINTER

These programs allow continued

— usually around 2,000 acres or

timber harvesting on the property

more.

but require landowners to maintain

being developed that may expand

the carbon that is sold on their

these

property for anywhere from 40-100

landowners, there are several ways

years (depending on the specific

that you can manage your woods

marketplace).

While new programs are opportunities

to

smaller

For the landowner,

to store more carbon while meeting

this provides a financial incentive

your other important management

to sustainably manage their forest

objectives.

PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

at a time when property taxes and other financial pressures may steer

If you are interested in managing

them towards more heavy-handed

your woods for carbon, talk with

management or even selling their

a professional forester and let

property.

them know that this is one of your management goals.

Some simple

MANAGE YOUR FOREST FOR CARBON Currently, carbon market

steps to consider that can both

projects

overall quality of your woods include:

are

only

feasible

for

landowners with very large holdings

improve carbon storage and the Increase

your

rotation

length

CATSKILL CENTER

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between harvests and distributing

low-impact

logging

your harvested trees across all size

that

classes, not just cutting the biggest

and damage to residual timber and

ones.

small trees during any harvests.

Focus as much of your harvest as

To learn more about The Nature

possible on lower quality trees to

Conservancy’s Working Woodlands

make room for those with greater

Program

future growth potential. Prior to

WorkingWoodlandsNY.

minimize

soil

visit

techniques disturbance

nature.org/

harvesting, take steps to ensure that you have or will get adequate

-GC

regeneration of new trees once the harvest is complete. Implement Gabe D. Chapin is the Forest Carbon Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in New York

MAY 29, 30 + 31 SPEAKERS + OFFERINGS WILL FOCUS ON BIRDING AS AN INCLUSIVE WINDOW INTO THE NATURAL WORLD. WITH MOLLY ADAMS - FOUNDER OF THE FEMINIST BIRD CLUB CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/TAKINGFLIGHT 26

2020 WINTER

N OELLE MAR T I N

WOOD BURNING STOVES: questions answered

you frequent in the summertime), we looked to a few local retailers for answers to some frequently asked questions about the wood stove:

WHY HEAT YOUR HOME WITH A WOOD BURNING STOVE? The

number

one

question!

Everyone who has ever had to heat their house knows that electric is expensive, that oil may be better but still expensive, or that gas is another (and potentially expensive) alternative.

With the winter months comes a

The

longing to keep warm and cozy.

Oneonta’s local wood stoves seller,

folks

at

Hearths

A’Fire,

There is an influx of hot chocolates,

say burning wood to heat your home

crockpot stews, weighted blankets, puffy coats (that maybe don’t zip as well as they did before the holidays) and many other creature comforts necessary for thriving through winter in the Catskills. No matter how many cups of chamomile I try to drown my freezing insides with, there is nothing that expels the cold-to-the-bones feeling like a wood burning stove.

Whether you have a wood burning stove, intend to make the purchase in the near future, or make sure to only choose friends that have one (those same friends whose pool CATSKILL CENTER

27

is a natural and available option;

https://www.iii.org/article/wood-

and wood stoves "can supplement

stove-safety.

furnace usage and reduce heating

a wood burning stove’s robust and

HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF THE ASH LEFT FROM A WOOD BURNING STOVE? Lauri

steady heat can’t be matched.

Kennedy from Cracker Mill Hearth

costs up to 30 percent" [1]. In addition to the cost savings, the efficiency of

& Emporium, in Shokan, had this

ARE WOOD BURNING STOVES SAFE? Experts say that it is not

to say about disposing of ash:

generally the wood stove itself that

should be done carefully. Some wood

is unsafe; rather, it is improper

stoves come with a convenient ash

installation and/or handling of a

pan removal system, and others rely

stove that can make it hazardous. So

on the homeowner shoveling out

make sure to review the commonly

the ash from the firebox. Either way,

available "Dos" and "Don’ts" when

making sure that the ash is placed

it comes to maintaining a fire in

in a metal can, that is not then

your home. Some basics to keep

placed on a combustible surface,

in mind: always make sure there

will ensure that heat from possible

is enough space between your

hot ash or coals will not transfer to

stove and combustible materials

other surfaces. Once the ash is cold,

(being sure the base for your

it can be disposed of on driveways or

stove is noncombustible and fire

used in gardens when appropriate."

resistant);

have

your

chimney

by

AT WHAT POINT IN THE STOVE’S AGE SHOULD YOU REPLACE IT? How often should

properly inspected; burn only dry, well-seasoned

wood;

purchasing

a

stove

recognized

testing

"Disposing of ash from a wood stove

consider listed

laboratories;

you clean your stove? Is there a way

and really think about where you’d

to safely keep your stove burning

like to install your stove within your

overnight?

home—a central location is best when using it as a home heating

According to the folks at Arkville’s

system. Many more of these safety

Mountain Flame Inc., the longevity

tips can be found on the Insurance

of your stove depends on the model

Information Institute’s website at

and the care put into it. For example,

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2020 WINTER

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM AT PLATTE CLOVE PRESERVE is now accepting applications. Until April 24. catskillcenter.org/plattecloveartresidency

homeowners

should

consider

There is a lot more attention to

servicing a stove at least once a

detail necessary when it comes to

year and avoid burning green wood,

safely maintaining a wood burning

which has high moisture content.

stove versus the click of a button required for the more mainstream

Lastly, if you’re thinking of keeping

forms of heating a home; however,

your stove burning all night, make

the all too frequent sound of heat

sure the stove is designed to burn

clicking on cannot be compared to

all night. Most new stoves are not

the warmth produced by the robust

designed to keep the fire ablaze

fire in a wood burning stove.

through the night, nor is wood itself a resource that burns for longer than a few hours without needing to be attended to.

Notes [1] “Tips, Frequently Asked Questions and Resources.” Hearths A’ Fire, 2016, www. hearthsafire.com/faqs-tips.

CATSKILL CENTER

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Vintage Recipe

PRIZE-WINNING MOLASSES GINGER COOKIES IN 1939, THE COUNTRY WAS STILL REELING FROM THE SHOCK OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND CATSKILLS RESIDENTS WERE NOT IMMUNE FROM THE STRAIN AND AUSTERITY IT CAUSED. K ELLI HUG G I N S

F

or the most part, getting by

would select one 1st prize winner each

meant

budgets

week and four runners-up. The local

and taking any work one

stretching

runners-up won a can of Brer Rabbit

could find. But that year, there was

molasses, which, depending on local

a unique opportunity for women to

sale prices, was about a 15-30 cent value.

bake their way to better finances: the Brer Rabbit Molasses National Recipe contest.

Brer Rabbit molasses partnered with newspapers around the country and PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

hosted a series of local competitions that funneled winners into a national grand prize contest. The Catskill Mountain News was one such newspaper. The contest was simple: bakers could send

FIRST PLACE WINNERS RECEIVED $1.00 IN CASH AND ENTRY INTO THE GRAND PRIZE RACE. THE GRAND PRIZE WAS $500 CASH OR A $500 CREDIT WITH THE WINNER’S LOCAL GROCER.

in as many molasses-based recipes as they wanted throughout the month of

Contest

November 1939. A panel of local judges

what a life-changing amount of

promoters

stressed

CATSKILL CENTER

31

money that could be for a family:

IDA J. SLITER, A SCHOOLTEACHER

"No grocery bills for one year. No

FROM MARGARETVILLE, WON

pinching pennies to make ends

THE FIRST WEEK WITH HER

meet....Entertain your friends royally

MOLASSES COOKIES.[3]

without fear of crippling the budget.

And set the best table for your family

1 cup sugar

in the community."[1]

1 cup Brer Rabbit molasses 1 cup shortening

Local women submitted more than 50

2 eggs, well beaten

entries to the Catskill Mountain News in the

1 cup hot water or coffee

first week alone. Throughout the month,

2 level teaspoons soda

recipes like Pear Gingerbread Upside

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Down

1 1/2 teaspoons ginger

Cake,

Spicelettes,

Molasses Pumpkin

Doughnuts, Chiffon

Pie,

1/2 teaspoon cloves

California Filled Gingerbread, Molasses

1/2 teaspoon allspice

Taffy, and Carrot Pudding tempted the

1/2 teaspoon salt

judges and rose through the ranks to

4 1/2 cups flour

become weekly winners and runners-up.

Judging was based on "originality,

Cream shortening and sugar, add

practicalness, and good results."[2] If

molasses and eggs. Sift dry ingredients

you’re curious to try out any of the above

together and add alternately with water

treats, recipes for them and more can

or coffee. Beat thoroughly and let dough

be found in the Catskill Mountain News

stand overnight. In the morning roll out

archive digitized on the New York State

and bake.

Historic Newspapers website. (www. nyshistoricnewspapers.org).

I put myself in the position of the judges

MY TAKE ON IDA’S WINNING RECIPE

and decided to test Ida’s recipe for

1 CUP SUGAR 1 CUP MOLASSES 1 CUP SHORTENING 2 EGGS, WELL BEATEN 1 CUP HOT WATER OR COFFEE (I USED COFFEE) 2 LEVEL TEASPOONS BAKING SODA 3 TEASPOONS CINNAMON 2 TEASPOONS GINGER 1/2 TEASPOON SALT 4 1/2 CUPS FLOUR

myself. I made a couple of changes right from the start. I upped the ginger and cinnamon and eliminated the allspice and cloves (just a personal preference, you could leave them in if you like) so there was more of a gingerbread kick.

Brer Rabbit molasses still exists, but you can use whatever molasses you find at the store. I also noticed that the dough was more slack than a typical rolled dough. Letting it stand in the refrigerator does firm it up, but I found making them drop cookies an easier way to handle the mixture.

The resulting cookies have a flavor reminiscent of gingerbread and a pillowy soft texture. I dipped my cookies in white chocolate for added flair. They’re also nice rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking.

Cream shortening and sugar, add molasses and eggs. Sift dry ingredients together and add alternately with water or coffee. Beat thoroughly and, for best results, let dough chill overnight. Roll dough into small balls and press lightly to form roughly 2-inch circles. Bake at

Ida’s cookies are good, but did they take the big prize or not? By the end of the month-long contest, more than 8,000 bakers across the country entered

350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until their bottoms are golden brown.

- KH

over 13,000 recipes. Ultimately, the winning recipe, a Molasses Chocolate Cake, belonged to Olive A. Gormley, a widow and mother of three from Medway,

Massachusetts.

Although

no Catskill Mountain News readers took home the main prize, the contest did seem a welcome distraction for those who entered and it was definitely good marketing for Brer Rabbit Molasses.

Notes [1] "Best Recipe Wins 500 Cash Prize, "Catskill Mountain News, November 10, 1939, 8.

[2] "Best Recipe Wins 500 Cash Prize."

[3] "Brer Rabbit Prize Winners," Catskill Mountain News, November 3, 1939, 7.

Endnote Winter is often thought of as a quiet

Tuesday of February. Usually just

time; a time to enjoy sitting by a warm

after Catskill Park Day, the Assembly

fire; a time to hibernate. At the Catskill

and the Senate release their budgets.

Center, however, winter is actually

Then, through April 1st when the

one of our busiest seasons. With the

State Budget is due, there is a lot of

new year comes New York State’s

work to be done to ensure that the

budget season. As we work to educate

Catskill Park and the Catskills are well

lawmakers about the importance

represented.

of the Catskill Park and our greater Catskills, this is an intense period

We work hard to guarantee that

of advocacy work for the Catskill

the Catskills are at the table and

Center. Our goal is to ensure that the

involved in as many conversations

resources needed make their way to

as possible. Keeping up conversation

the Park.

about the Catskills is always effective to

continue

achieving

accomplishments

important

within

the

Catskill Park, like past milestones such as: the Catskills Visitor Center, improvements to trails at Kaaterskill Falls, resources to manage highuse at the Peekamoose Blue Hole, new parking lots for many popular trailheads and many more throughout the last several years.

These accomplishments have been This important season begins with the Governor in mid-January when he presents his State of the State and annual budget address. February kicks off with more advocacy work at Catskill Park Day—always the 1st 34

2020 WINTER

achieved through the hard work and collective effort of many people across the region, and through the leadership of the Catskill Park Coalition which the Catskill Center co-chairs.

WHEN IT COMES TO RESOURCES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CATSKILL PARK, OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN ALBANY. Whether you’re a hiker, angler, biker, hunter or any of the many other types of people who come to the Catskills, we all benefit from working together.

change. We’re lucky to be in a state that values our natural lands, such as the Catskills, and at the same time works to save our entire planet for generations to come.

Join me in raising your voice for the Catskills this year. All it takes is a call to the Governor, your Assembly member, and your State Senator to help make a difference!

This is the reason why I don’t mind a busy winter: this time of year we can make a real difference for our beautiful Catskill Park. We can help drive those resources to the Park, and

Jeff Senterman

we can help New York pass some of the most progressive environmental legislation in the country. Already in 2020, the Governor has proposed $33 billion in efforts to improve New York’s environment and combat climate

JEFF SENTERMAN is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.

CATSKILL CENTER

35

2020 WINTER

Delivered directly to Catskill Center members. Read it and pass it along!

A periodical celebrating New York State’s glorious Catskills.

PO Box 504 43355 State Highway 28 Arkville, NY 12406

The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development