WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Shortly after Memorial Day or so & into August marks the best time to peel bark from hemlock trees. Hemlock bark was traditionally used in the Catskills–and many parts of the eastern US–for making tanning liquor from. Bark is grinded up and water addedContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Got a chance to do some hiking in the mountains. Sometimes I like to just find & follow an old “bark road” as high as it’ll go. Can you see the road from the photo? “Bark roads” are numerous throughout the Catskills. They wereContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Spring has sprung and with it the bark of some trees is beginning to loosen up. Last week, I took the bark off a chestnut oak and ran it through the chipper. The bark will be used to make a “tea” or “liquor” forContinue Reading