WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Last week I posted how the 2020 maple sugaring season had begun in central Ulster County (for me). Well, the first few days were giving that old “sap snow.” Sap snow is when it’s snowing, temperatures are in the mid-30s or so and theContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Well, I tapped my trees on Monday, January 6th. Later that night, they ran over 1 gallon per tap at about 2.6% sugar content or 32 gallons of sap to 1 gallon of syrup. I realize it’s awfully early, but the forecast later inContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Looks like Santa delivered on a special request for a bat box. After reading a little bit about bats, I figured they might be good for my orchard. Apparently one little brown bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour; They alsoContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Well another Christmas is upon us and that brought the girls & “Tan the Man” out to get another Christmas tree at Bell’s Christmas Tree Farm in Accord, Ulster County off Mettacahonts Road. The Bells are great people, hardworking, and offer everyone hot chocolateContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Been away for the weekend at my in-laws in Rockport, MA near Gloucester. Rockport & Gloucester sit on an island called Cape Anne or the North Shore. Every time I’m there I occupy most of my time walking about 4 miles from Rockport toContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I was over near Peekamoose Mountain driving around & had to snap this photo. It’s hard to tell, but the hemlock are getting their butts kicked over there as well as many portions of Ulster and Sullivan Counties. Many of these hemlocks are losingContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Last night I got to eat some “hunter’s steak.” Hunter’s steak is the inner-loin or tenderloin portion of a deer; It’s one of the most tender cuts. I assume it would be the same as “beef tenderloin” on a cow. I got a littleContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I often use the analogy of “hunter generations” to show changes in habitat and forest regrowth. For instance, my grandfather didn’t hunt since back in his day most people were farmers and the land was completely cleared for pasture and crops in the HudsonContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Looking at the weather forecast in central Ulster County and the high & low temps are looking like great maple sugaring weather (if it was February or March). The problem is that it’s November! Some people–believe it or not–haven’t been able to wait thatContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Fall foliage is pretty much done in central Ulster County barring some oak trees. A couple of weeks ago I snapped this photo of a sassafras tree. Normally they seem to turn a brilliant gold, showing up any sugar maple tree. However, this year,Continue Reading