What is Forest Therapy? Forest Therapy is a relational practice that brings people into deeper intimacy with natural places. And one of those natural places is our natural self; it’s a practice that holds the possibility of meeting again the kernel of who we are, what we are born to
Do you want to learn hands-on technical conservation skills for useful purposes here in the Catskill Mountains? CFA has designed a seasonal 3-day long, in-person training module series to improve your skills for Catskill Mountain Forest Living. This is a MEMBERS-ONLY EVENT. This is a multi-day course to provide Catskill
Portable Sawmills have grown in popularity in recent years. CFA invested in one back in 2018. Come see it in action as we mill logs from a landowner’s yard into usable lumber for a high-end furniture build. We will discuss the difference between various cuts, the uses of each board,
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is a
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is a
Have you ever heard of the Emerald Ash Borer or Hemlock Wooly Adelgid? How about the processes of mesophication and densification? Join Zane Lawyer, CFA’s Education Arborist, for a walk-through Frost Valley’s Model Forest. He will discuss the role of pests and disease in a functioning forest and show examplesContinue Reading
A chainsaw is a must-have tool for most Catskill Mountain landowners. We’ll show you how to properly sharpen chains, maintain saws to ensure a longer life cycle, and demonstrate proper techniques to safely operate the saw. Feel free to bring along your own saw for the maintenance and sharpening portionContinue Reading
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is aContinue Reading
Our backyards, big and small, urban, and rural are full of plants that have functional values in our lives. Come learn how to ID plants in your backyard for edibility and medicinal use with Amy Metnick. We will walk through a Catskill Mountain backyard and find what there is toContinue Reading
Join Catskill Forest Historian, Dr. Michael Kudish and CFA’s Education Forester, Zahra Bellucci on a hike exploring a patch of old-growth forest on Mill Brook Road in Margaretville, NY. Learn about what old-growth means, old-growth forest characteristics, the history of the local forest, and witness trees over 200 years old—includingContinue Reading
We’ll take a walk to identify local Catskill Mountain trees as well as figure out why that tree might be growing there using a little forest forensics. Learn about how past land use may have sculpted the diversity of today’s Catskill forests. Non-Members: $10 Members: Free We would likeContinue Reading
The Catskill Region’s forests have been shaped immensely by the land use history of our recent, and also very distant past. Some trees only grew here because of the actions of the people who came before us. We will walk through a forest describing the trees around us and pointContinue Reading
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is aContinue Reading
What is Structural Pruning? CFA’s Certified Arborists will demonstrate how to structurally prune a small to medium-sized tree using climbing techniques. “Structural Pruning” is the development of a central dominant leader & spacing of “scaffold” or main branches along the stem. Many trees have “poor structure” since they are open-grownContinue Reading
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is aContinue Reading
CFA will be leading a hike to help participants identify one of our mountain’s most famous plants: American ginseng. Indicator plants, forest type, slope, topography, and overall habitat requirements of American ginseng will be shown while out in the field. We will also discuss how to conserve this important plantContinue Reading
Join ISA Certified Arborist Zane Lawyer for a Tree Planting Demonstration. Zane will give a short lecture on sourcing trees, what to look for in quality nursery stock, and simple site preparation. He will then demonstrate the best practices according to the ANSI Standards for tree planting and installation. ThisContinue Reading
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is aContinue Reading
The saying goes “There are old mushroom hunters and there are Bold mushroom hunters, but there are no Old and Bold mushroom hunters.” Don’t be a bold mushroom hunter. Join us at the Rider Hollow Trailhead at 10 AM – Noon to learn about mushroom identification, best practices, and learnContinue Reading
This outdoor workshop will cover the life cycle, ecological functions of Fungi, as well as outdoor cultivation of fungi. We will drill holes in logs, fill them with mushroom spawn, and seal them with wax. You will learn what types of wood are viable sources for the mushroom spawn, howContinue Reading
Learn the best practices for feeding birds in the backyard with CFA board of director president, Mike Porter. Mike is a lifetime birder and has kept extensive record on bird sightings and migrations from outside his window over the decades. He has observed a lot and has a lot toContinue Reading
The Game of Logging (GOL) is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety and productivity training program in the country, offering hands-on chainsaw safety training in a competitive environment. Top instructors across the country combine demonstration with participation to teach chainsaw safety, productivity, conservation, and cutting techniques. This is aContinue Reading
Join Mike Porter where you will be shown the “art” of wreath-making and build and decorate one for your home. Made of fresh-cut greens of pine and hopefully fir, these wreaths will remain fresh and viable for up to 2 months on your door. We will be outdoors, so dressContinue Reading
So, you’ve harvested a deer during hunting season. Good job; Now what? Sending a deer away to be processed may cost you $100 or more. Why not learn how to do it yourself? We’ll teach you how to process a deer at home from start to finish and provide tipsContinue Reading