Advertise on podcast: From The Forest

On this week's show we'll be talking about agroforestry, or the "integration of trees & agriculture" with the Agroforestry Center's Tracey Testo-Smith. Tracey Testo-Smith is on the Agriculture and Natural Resource Team at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties’ Agroforestry Resource Center and Siuslaw Model Forest as an Agroforestry and Natural Resource Educator. She graduated from SUNY Cobleskill’s Plant Science and Horticulture Bachelor program, has worked on many farms including the world’s largest wild-simulated ginseng farm, and manages her own forest farm. Her employment at CCE is multi-faceted, including her role as co-chair of the NYS Agroforestry Program Work Team, and educator of general forestry and agroforestry topics such as deer browse, mushroom cultivation, ginseng production, plant, and mushroom identification as well as foraging classes. Much of her work is applied at the organization's 142-acre watershed demonstration forest, the Siuslaw Model Forest. Tracey enjoys working with natural systems, specifically forests and streams, to build more resilient communities through education. Her passions include gardening, hiking, wild plant identification, the study of mycology, and foraging for food and medicine.

Summer is sunsetting, while fall is rising. On this week's show, we'll discuss some of the science behind these beautiful fall colors and our favorite fall foliage trees as well.

Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the Douglas fir tree. Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.

On this week's show we'll be checking back in with Forester Collin Miller on biocontrols with emerald ash borer. As many of you know, ash trees are being devastated by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Currently, the only control is chemically-based to save a few sentimental trees mostly in the arboricultural-sphere near one's home. However, biocontrols are being used and we'll see how they're faring.   Collin Miller is a Forester with the NYC DEP and also a "Cooperator" or "Partner" with the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help release biocontrols--or in this case parasitoid wasps--to kill emerald ash borer larvae.    Collin Miller, CF® is Watershed Forester for the Bureau of Water Supply at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, a position he’s held for nearly seven years. Located in their regional office in Downsville, NY, he works with other foresters to steward City-owned forestlands primarily in Delaware County. Collin is also a CFA member and manages his family woodlot for multiple uses at his home in South Kortright.

On this week's show we'll discuss the midstory of the forest. A forest is made up of three canopy stratums--the overstory, midstory and understory (forest floor). We'll focus on the midstory and why it might be less important than originally thought. That's right. Less important.

On this week's show we'll discuss a shrub that went from being a hero or pushed onto the landscape, to one that has been shunned or prohibited. Whether you like or dislike this plant, it seems to symbolize how culture has changed surrounding plants and their management.

Paul Misko is an avid hiker who grew up in Woodland Valley, Ulster County. Paul will discuss Wednesday's hike with CFA Staff up Woodland Valley, things that have changed and what not over the many decades.

On this week's show we'll talk with Arborist Charlie Blume about chainsaws & their maintenance, chains, trees, arboriculture & more.  Charlie Blume grew up in Freeport, Long Island, NY where he owned a Tree Care company. Over 20 years ago, he relocated to Grahamsville, Sullivan County, where he has been practicing arboriculture ever since.

Since 2004, CFA's Ryan Trapani goes on a walk-about in the higher elevations of the Catskill Mountains. Normally this is a solo trip, but this year Tanner--Ryan's 8-year-old son--came along. We'll discuss this brief trip, forest observations, etc.

This week Zane Lawyer, CFA’s Program Manager, and Jen Betz, CFA’s Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator, discuss what they’ve been up to at CFA and outside of work. Recent and upcoming events, Jen’s ongoing timber harvest, and other sightings and topics will be discussed. One of CFA’s Education Foresters may also make an appearance to round out the episode.

Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the hackberry tree. Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.

America is turning 250 years old, but for the last century it has been without one its most cherished trees--the American chestnut--due to an invasive blight. SilvaBIo is now ready to bring this tree back through a scientific breakthrough. SilvaBio is a Public Benefit Company committed to developing and supplying superior seedlings to restore America’s forests and strengthen the ecosystems and economies they support.   Michael Bloom--Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder Entrepreneur and lifelong outdoorsman who previously founded and successfully built two education technology companies. Combines more than 25 years of leadership experience with a passion for conservation, forestry, and restoring the American chestnut. Holds a B.S. from Boston University and an MBA with High Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Occasionally, each 1st Wednesday, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest.  CFA Field Staff Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester Erik Heidenfelder, Forest Technician Jen Betz, Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator

On this week's show we'll be talking to Ethan Cramton. Ethan will discuss past, present, and future forests in the Catskills region, industry trends, and highlight the recent development of Baillie Forestry Division's Private Land Management Program. Ethan Cramton is the Manager of Baillie Forestry Division's Private Lands Program, a growing division of the Baillie Group. He received his BS from Cornell University in Development Sociology with a focus on environmental and social dynamics within the Appalachian coal belt, and nearly a decade later received his Master of Forestry from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. His top interests include dendrology (shout out to Dr. Don Leopold), forest ecology, land use history, and the intersect of forests and humans.

Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the pitch pine tree. Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.