CFA-On-The-Air: From the Forest
Wednesdays 6PM – 7PM
WIOX ROXBURY 91.3FM or www.wioxradio.org
Wednesday Night’s Show: Catskill Trees with Gary Mead – White Oak
Every 3rd Wednesday we talk to Gary Mead about a different tree found in or near the Catskill Mountains. Every tree is different, and there is always something unique & special we find out about it. Tonight we’ll be discussing the WHITE OAK tree. White oak has beautiful wood that is used in a wide variety of wood products. It is also extremely important to wildlife that depend upon its nutritious acorns to survive winter.
Gary Mead is the owner of Fruitful Furnishings. Fruitful Furnishings began in 1979 as a custom furniture shop. Within ten years, a sawmill was added for producing dimension parts and providing custom sawing, planing, and kiln drying services to customers wishing to furnish their homes with wood from their own trees. Gary has also opened to the public – Gary Mead Gallery – located at the mill-site, which showcases one-of-a-kind pieces made from wood. Tune in at 91.3 FM or stream online @ www.wioxradio.org to learn more.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
Been hunting a little differently lately; high up in the mountains. Why is this so different? Well, normally I like to hunt where there are more deer. In the mountains there are fewer deer, but there is the potential for finding “the big one.” Or so that is the idea. Anyway, high up on an isolated ridge, far away from any population center, I stumbled upon an old cellar. Near this cellar were 20 or so piles of rocks stacked up in here and there throughout the woods. Was this farmer stacking rocks to help plow his crop-field or perhaps improve his pasture for animals; or both? Some believe that perhaps these piles are older, and have a Native American origin. I’m not sure. In any case, the trees have seeded in and grown to maturity. Someone’s dreams, someone’s hard work, someone I have no idea about. Judging by the terrain, this someone must have been one tough individual to try and make it up there, and I gotta respect that. Well, I did end up seeing some deer, and I had to thank that farmer. After all, the deer were using his old roads and feeding on acorns from red oak that probably wouldn’t have lasted as long without him.
May the forest be with you,
Ryan Trapani
Education Forester
Catskill Forest Association