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-cha...

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 e...

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...

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 in...

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.

Join Zane and Erik as they discuss their experiences working in the landscaping and tree care industry. They'll discuss their first impressions, learning on the job, what they liked about it and what they didn’t.

Each spring, Ryan takes a walk near where he grew up--the Shawangunk Ridge. We'll talk about this unique area, its history, how it's changing, & where it might be going.

On this week's show, we'll discuss some "Forest Forensics." Forest Forensics can be defined as the "Study of the history and ecology of forests by analyzing visual clues in the landscape... It helps us understand past human activities and natural events that have shaped the forest environment."

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 bald cypress 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 discussing some of the most melodic summer songsters of the Catskill Mountain forest--the thrushes. Mike Porter knows his birds & we'll get some insight about these summer migrants.

Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware...

Tom's been on the show before discussing his business--Woodsman Forest Products. However, Tom is also a long-time listener of the show and has questions for the Staff of Catskill Forest Association. We'll "talk shop" with Tom about the forest, wood products, forest management, mushrooms and mushroom logs, sawmilling, and more. 

ABOUT TOM
Tom is a retired EMT & still is an EMT (volunteer). He serves small forest owners to get started. He has decades in the woods that is supplanted by field training in Silviculture, Tree Logger Certified; Best Management Practices; Timber Stand Improvement; & wildlife hab...

On this week's show, we'll be talking to Jason Egan from Egan Performance Saws. He custom builds parts & accessories in Idaho--with his wife Kara-- to make your
saw awesome.

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 American persimmon 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.

Spring is in full swing now, and it's time to reflect on all that firewood we burned this winter. We'll get Mike Porter's thoughts about all that and more.

Mike is a retired teacher from Margaretville Central School. He taught Earth Science, Environmental Science, Science Research in the High School, Driver Education and several elementary and junior high courses over his 33-year career. In 1988 he was selected as the New York State Conservation Teacher of the Year by the New York State Board of Soil and Water Districts. A life-long resident of Delaware County, Mike is an...

On this week's show, we'll be going through the process of grafting mainly "wild" or volunteer apple trees. CFA's grafting season normally runs from mid-April into May.

Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. This week Zane, Jen, Giovanna, and Erik will dive into what they've been up to and what their plans are for Spring.

CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Jen Betz, Forest Process Efficiency Coordinator
Erik Heidenfelder, Forest Technician

On this week's show, we'll be discussing how Giovanna inoculates mushrooms--mainly shiitake and now oyster--through CFA's FOREST FARMING PROGRAM. Giovanna is also looking into growing other mushrooms for members. Giovanna was hired full-time as CFA’s Education Forester in December 2024. She earned her Associates of Applied Science from The New York State Ranger School of SUNY ESF in May 2024. She leads the Forest Farming Program and assists in the development, implementation, and marketing of CFA’s programs and events. She additionally creates written content for the CFA newsletter and weekly email blast. She strives to foster reconnection with our lands thro...

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 Gary's recent trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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 discussing Apple Tree Pruning, especially those overgrown ones.

On this week's show, we'll discuss with Joel Riotto & Carl Grocholl the benefits of food plots to deer and other wildlife.

About Joel Riotto
Joel Riotto resides in New Jersey and the Catskill Mountains of New York State. He is also an author of many archery and bow-hunting publications such as:

Joel is also a Senior Member of the Pope & Young Club; Life Member #9 of the Professional Bowhunters Society; Life Member #95 of the NY Bowhunters; Life Member of the NJ Fo...

The 2026 maple sugaring season has begun. On this week's show we'll discuss some of those stories and topics that often come up while sitting around the maple boiler. 

Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. Last month it was pear; This month we'll be the peach 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 discussing the importance of prescribed fire on deer habitat with Oklahoma State University's Mark Turner.  Mark Turner is an Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. His research and Extension programming focuses on applied habitat management practices including prescribed fire, forest stand improvement, and nonnative species management. Research Interests: Prescribed fire; Forest stand improvement; Nonnative plant control; White-tailed deer; & Wild turkey.

On this week's show, we'll be talking to John Musacchia about his experiences with burning his land in the Catskill Mountains. John used to live down south where burning is far more common. He is an avid hunter & former owner of Muzzy Broadhead.

On this week's show, we'll be talk about how humans can co-exist better with beavers--and some of the cool things about this busy animal-- with Aaron Hall. Aaron is the Program Director for The Beaver Institute. The Institute's Mission is "to be a catalyst for advancing beaver management and watershed restoration, training mitigation professionals, supporting scientific research, and increasing the public’s appreciation of the beaver’s critical role in creating climate resilient ecosystems."

Every Third 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 pear tree.

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

On this week's From the Forest radio show, we'll be discussing the "sustainability" of managing vegetation, the tools or methods used (i.e. livestock, chemicals, and mechanical), as well as future options like fire. 

Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. This week Zane, Jen, and Giovanna will dive into what they've been up to and what their plans are for Winter.

CFA Field Staff
Ryan Trapani, Director of Forest Services
Zane Lawyer, Forest Program Manager
Giovanna D'Angelo, Education Forester
Jen Betz, Forest Technician

On this week's show we'll have 4th generation deer hunter--Jen Betz--on to discuss this important forest heritage in the Catskill Mountains. Jen was hired at the Catskill Forest Association (CFA) in August of 2025 and oversees their Legacy Tree Program and helps support their IT & business systems. Prior to this she served a short stint on the CFA Board of Directors, before taking a leave of absence to work as a contractor, then transitioned to staff. She has an A.A.S degree in Park and Recreation Management from SUNY Delhi and a bachelor’s in business administration, as well as Gr...