WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? It’s not perfect, but if you’re looking for an all-around pesticide to apply to your apple trees, perhaps Surround WP might work. Surround is mostly kaolin clay and is far less toxic than other pesticides. It forms a barrier or film that protects theContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I mostly plant fruit trees around the house. People are often surprised that I don’t grow vegetables. The fruit trees, chickens, chasing deer, and tapping maple trees are enough. Besides, the forest has some good vegetables already growing in it. Trout lilies are oneContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? More charcoal. While walking off-trail near Cross Mountain, I came across some charcoal hidden on the forest floor. Another place that must have experienced fire in its past. Charcoal doesn’t really breakdown & will be there for a long time. Often these tiny littleContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? At CFA, we often install owl boxes for members. We can’t guarantee tenants since these animals are unpredictable. Also, most forests have plenty of competition for rentable rooms inside large, decayed spaces of dying trees. Still, these boxes offer one way to attract owlsContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? The apple tree pruning season is now far in the rear-view mirror, but I came across this photo taken on the last day of pruning somewhere near Margaretville. Pretty cool tree to leave off on. The photo doesn’t really do it justice, but thisContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I like fishing most for brook trout in small, remote mountain streams. Often, these streams dead-end at the head of a hollow in a beaver meadow, miles from the nearest beaver encampment. I wondered if I’d ever see a beaver in transit or commutingContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Spring has arrived. As I stepped out of the truck last weekend I couldn’t help but snap a couple photos of early snowdrops and crocuses beginning to bloom beneath a sugar maple. Commonly seen flowering in late February or March snowdrops get an earlyContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Another maple sugaring season is in the books. After doing this for 15 years, I can say I still enjoy making the sweet stuff. Maple sugaring or the process hasn’t changed too much for me. However, many things have changed around me. Instead ofContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Yellow birch is a cool tree. It has beautiful yellow or gold papery bark and like black birch, its twigs taste like wintergreen. Yellow birch also has one unique competitive advantage over other trees. It can grow on just about anything. On a steepContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I remember talking to a local logger years back about his upcoming work schedule. There was some weather coming in or something, and he would calmly reply, “Well, if the mailman works, then I will be.” Although I would argue working outside is moreContinue Reading