WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
Kind of difficult to tell, but this little flake is all that’s left, while hunting state-owned “wilderness” land a couple of weeks ago. Before NYS DEC took over, this area had once been privately-owned and someone’s farm. Besides a few foundations, rock walls, and pieces of woodstove were two trees you just don’t see too much of back in the deep woods of the higher mountains. One was a mulberry and the other an apple. The mulberry was still alive and doing well despite uprooting and leaning over; this might be the only mulberry growing on state-designated “wilderness.” The apple was far dead. I could tell by its form that it might be an apple. It was confirmed by this one light camouflage-looking piece of bark hanging onto its dead skeleton. These two trees–along with some wild grapevine–are the last living remnants of this “hill-farm.” My 1917 USGS map confirms this farm’s existence, along with 2 others on this lonely hillside. From farm to wilderness.
May the Forest Be with You,
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association