Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley

Episode 152: Greening Death

Green burials, also referred to as natural burials, are structured to care for the dead with minimal impact to the environment.

In many ways, green burials are a return to the past with simple methods. We once disposed of our dead in earth-friendly, regenerative ways with no chemicals and biodegradable containers. Dust to dust. But over the last 150 years, death care has become toxic and polluting in the United States. Over the last two decades, however, green burials are increasingly considered a sustainable death care choice that contributes to a healthier and less wasteful planet.

In today’s world, most death rites are linked to a $15 billion market of goods and services including cultural traditions, use of chemical embalming, sealed hardwood and metal caskets, reinforced concrete vaults and liners, and restrictive cemetery rules. Rituals can vary widely along ethnic, geographical, and religious lines.

In contrast, natural burials help to curb unsustainable conventional care of a deceased body that pollute, dishonor natural decomposition processes, and provide grieving families to experiences of loss, through a connection to each other as well as the natural world.

Suzanne Kelly, an author, scholar, farmer, cemetery administrator, and resident of the Hudson Valley, explores the myths that drive many of our standard environmentally damaging burial practices. In her book, Greening Death – Reclaiming Burial Practices and Restoring Our Tie to the Earth, she explores the myths that drive many of our standard environmentally damaging burial practices and the movement to ‘green’ death while integrating death and life.

In this episode of Nature Calls; Conversations from the Hudson Valley, learn how people are reclaiming old practices of death care in new ways and thus changing the American way of death. Suzanne sheds light on the ways in which individuals can make a positive impact on the planet even in death. As the movement lays claim to greener, simpler, and more cost-efficient practices, it also offers tangible way of restoring our relationship to nature.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Suzanne Kelly

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 151: Rob Handel

 Rob Handel is a chef, forager, caterer and educator. He joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley in a discussion about his farm-to-table business both in-home and as a corporate caterer. A native of the Hudson Valley, he grew up with a love of nature. He tends to be a trend-setter. Lilac lemonade anyone?

Rob likes to educate folks about how to bring wonderful ingredients, that are farmed and foraged in the Catskills and the Hudson Valley, to plates across Upstate New York. With experience catering locally sourced meals for groups ranging in size from 2-200, he provides unique and thoughtful fare that cannot be found elsewhere. He pairs locally farmed and foraged produce with the grass-fed and pastured meats and poultry.

If you are interested in restaurant quality meals, cooking and foraging presentations, hand on classes, or foraging walks throughout the Northeast, give Rob a call! With years of experience working in unfamiliar home kitchens, bringing all the tools necessary to prepare a multi-course meal, he prepares, cooks, serves AND cleans up, leaving the kitchen clean and ready for the next day. He sounds perfect for bachelorette/bachelor parties, birthday weekends, family vacations, and holiday parties.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Rob Handel

Photo by: Rob Handel

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Robin Smith, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Episode 150: Kid-Friendly Gardening

Master Gardener Volunteer, Shelley Haefner, from Old Chatham (Columbia County) is passionate about gardening, nature photography and the great outdoors. She re-joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast for an informative discussion about Kid-Friendly Gardening.

As a mother of two, and the organizer of a summer gardening program for children in Chatham (NY), Shelley has lots of ideas and practical experience to get kids engaged in gardening and keep them interested throughout the season.

Perhaps the easiest way to get children engaged with nature and gardening is to make it fun and treat it as a game or play. Consider making a bug bingo game or treating the garden as a place for a scavenger hunt. A pole bean race is one way for kids to have fun. Have you thought about using hornworms with parasitic wasps to introduce a child to pest control? Using edible flowers (pansies, nasturtiums, herbs, etc.) in an arts and crafts project is another possibility.

Obviously, gardening tasks should be tailored or customized to the age, attention span, and the interests of the individual child. Some are interested in getting their hands dirty. Others prefer to look at the garden from a more scientific perspective. Others can be encouraged to get engaged in learning about nature from an artistic or culinary perspective. Pizza gardens anyone? How about a sensory garden? Kids can also create a photo journal of their experiences in the garden. Shelley offers lots of ideas and suggestions based on the age of the child and their interest areas.

Listen in to learn more about how to engage children in gardening activities and make some memories with your family.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Shelley Haefner

Photo By: Shelley Haefner

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Episode 149: Forest Ecology

Dr. Charles Canham and Dr. Clive Jones rejoin Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley in a discussion about Forest Ecology. Charles Canham is senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. He specializes in forest ecology and management. He is also the author of Forests Adrift: Currents Shaping the Future of Northeastern Trees. Dr. Clive Jones is a terrestrial ecologist with expertise in biodiversity and environmental management, also working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

The northeast is one of the country’s most thoroughly forested regions, with forests covering two-thirds of the nine northeastern states. But that statistic belies the extraordinary wave of logging and clearing of land for agriculture that followed European settlement 400 years ago. In the Mid-Hudson, forest cover declined to a low of 15% at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, that has rebounded to over 60%.

Trees were the first native plants to recolonize. Today, decades later, these reclaimed forests have understories of shrubs and herbaceous species. It’s interesting to note that a large, well-established tree holds its position for many years, even as the climate changes. Northeastern forests today are a critical source of carbon sequestration to combat climate change and can potentially provide a renewable energy source.

That said, our forests are under threat from development, climate change, deer browse, and perhaps most worrisome, the introduction of invasive pests and pathogens. In addition to spongy moths, Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer have done significant damage to the elm and ash tree populations. Dogwoods are under threat with anthracnose. Pine and oak trees have their own issues.Despite these threats, there are still lots of reasons for optimism.

In this discussion, you’ll gain an appreciation of the flexibility and resiliency demonstrated by our forests.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guests: Charles Canham and Clive Jones

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Episode 148: Spongy Moths

The spongy moth (lymantria dispar) is a non-native, foliage eating insect that threatens deciduous trees and impacts humans. It is considered one of the 100 most destructive invasive species worldwide. Originally from Europe and Asia, spongy moths made their debut in the Massachusetts in 1869 in an unsuccessful attempt to introduce silk production to the US. They complete one generation in a full year with a life cycle that consists of four stages:

• Egg: Females lay eggs in masses of 500-1000 in August. The egg masses are beige with velvety texture and spongy consistency.
• Larva (caterpillar): The larval stage typically lasts about 7 weeks. Larvae are most active during May and June. The caterpillars partially or entirely strip trees of their leaves. They prefer oaks, especially white and chestnut. But they’ll also eat alder, aspen, basswood, birch, hawthorn and willow trees.
• Pupa (Cocoon): After feeding and accumulating far, the larvae pupate.
• Adult (moth): The adult emerges from the pupa and reproduces

If you have damaged, compromised, or beloved trees in your landscape, be prepared to treat those trees early if spongy moth injury is expected. Talk to an arborist about applying a well-timed insecticide treatment. Also, consider adding a tree band in late May. These trap spongy moth caterpillars as they hike up and down a tree. Don’t forget to fertilize the tree to improve its ability to recover from spongy moth damage. And make sure to water your tree on dry days to prevent any added stress from drought.

Dr. Clive Jones is a terrestrial ecologist with expertise in biodiversity and environmental management. Working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, he joined the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the recent outbreaks of spongy moths in the area. Clive has spent much of his career studying how organisms physically modify the non-living environment and the consequences for those species, other species and ecological processes. He has also contributed to understanding complex interaction webs in oak forests that connect oaks and acorns with insect outbreaks like spongy moth. He joins Dr. Charles Canham, another senior scientist at the Cary Institute who specializes in forest ecology and management.

We hope you find this conversation and interesting as we did.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guests: Clive Jones and Charles Canham

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 147: Hunting and Fishing

In New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has regulatory and enforcement authority for Environmental Conservation Law, including two law enforcement divisions, as well as administrative and civil actions. To be effective, state enforcement personnel and policies work in concert with their local and federal counterparts, and citizens must be kept informed and involved.

The DEC includes two law enforcement divisions, as well as administrative and civil actions. The DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement employs Environmental Conservation Police Officers to enforce the law and protect the state’s natural resources including fish and wildlife.

Retired Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Captain and current columnist, Larry DiDonato, joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley in a wide-ranging discussion about a wide range of outdoor opportunities including fishing, hunting and trapping.

Learn about how his career evolved from working in New York City versus in upper New York State. The environmental conservation issues downstate vary considerably from those in the Hudson Valley region and northwards. Larry talks about the roles of various environmental enforcement agencies and the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Larry discusses the regulatory changes with deer hunting permits and the data the DEC looks at when setting regulations is each deer management unit. He also discusses the variety of things, besides hunting, that impact deer populations including diseases, car collisions, starvation, and wildlife predation.

Fishing is another one of Larry’s passions as he avails himself of fishing opportunities throughout the seasons. Access to the Hudson River, via boat ramps, is a wonderful asset to this region allowing fishermen to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the area.

And don’t forget about trapping as another outdoor opportunity that helps support the environmental conservation efforts in New York State.

Host: Tim Kennelty and Taly Hahn

Guest: Larry DiDonato

Photo by: CCE Suffolk County

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Robin Smith, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 146: Hits and Myths Retrospective (Part 3)

Have you heard the adage that the month of March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb? Is there any truth to this? Devon Russ, Master Gardener Volunteer, returns to explore the cultural origins and meanings of the famous proverb that associates lions and lamb with the crazy swings of March weather.

What about deer repellents? Do they work? As many gardeners know, deer damage can be a significant problem, and there are many so-called remedies out there. Devon explores the effectiveness of strong-smelling soap and concludes that it's not a magic bullet. Instead, she recommends using deer repellents that contain eggs or creating a simple homemade egg and water spray. Gardeners might want to consider using a protective cage or fence. So, if you want to protect your garden from deer damage and learn the truth about deer repellents, you won't want to miss this segment!

Lawn thatch is a bane of many homeowners. Dethatching the grass every spring is a chore that no one looks forward to doing. Learn how thatch is created and what you can do to reduce the amount of thatch that can cause problems in your lawn. This segment provides some useful information that might reduce the amount of work you need to put in to enjoy a nice lawn.

There are lots of approaches to watering a garden. Do it in the morning. Don’t water in the middle of the day. Is there any science to the best way to keep your plants hydrated? Devon is back to dispel the common myth that watering your garden on a hot summer day will result in leaf scorch. In reality, this condition is caused by either drought, root damage, or acidic damage. Learn about the science behind leaf scorch to keep your garden thriving.

In Part 3 of this Hits and Myths Retrospective, get answers to these questions. In this episode, we’ve compiled four short segments of previously aired content for easier listening. We hope you enjoy and learn from this information. Thanks for listening!

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Devon Russ

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Episode 145: Hits and Myths Retrospective (Part 2)

Part 2 of the Hits and Myths Retrospective focuses on some additional popular nature and gardening myths. In this episode, listen to three short segments of previously aired information on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, that have been collated together for easier listening. Devon Russ, Master Gardener Volunteer, provides insight into the science behind some common myths that have been handed down through the generations.

Do scarecrows work? Will a scarecrow help keep destructive birds away from your crops? The answer is yes, but not for long. So this is a myth that is partially true. Learn how to get the most value from a scarecrow by listening to this first segment.

In the second one, get answers to questions like: “Why should I mulch my garden?” “What kind of mulch should I use?” and “How deep should the mulch be spread?” Devon Russ is back separating the facts from fiction in a segment about mulch.

Have you heard that guinea hens and opossums eat ticks? In the third segment, Devon provides an update on ticks, including their relationships with guinea hens and opossums, and clarifying some myths along the way.

This diverse episode provides lots of interesting and useful information to help clarify the facts associated with commonly understood approaches.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Devon Russ

Photo by:

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim, Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Episode 144: Hits and Myths Retrospective (Part 1)

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a myth is a popular belief or tradition that has grown up around something or someone. There are lots of myths associated with nature and gardening. A popular one is that the woolly bear caterpillar can predict the winter weather. Another is that plants like companions. And if you are a fan of the Farmer’s Almanac, I suspect you’ve heard about planting by the phases of the moon.

Are these myths based on science or hearsay? While there is a lot of science behind the natural world, not everything has been studied to determine if something is true. There are lots of reasons for this as science can be expensive as only ‘high priority’ items tend to get funded. Thus, many ‘myths’ continue to get handed down across the generations.

This episode is the first part of a 3-part ‘retrospective’ on Hits and Myths. It is a compilation of previously aired short segments on this subject. We’ve compiled them here for easier listening.

The first segment will explore whether your garden would be more productive if you planted by the phases of the moon. You may have heard that crops grown for their flowers or fruit are best planted during the waxing half of the moon cycle, when the moon gets brighter each night (from new moon to full moon). On the other hand, crops grown for their roots and tubers should be planted during the waning half of the moon cycle, when there is less moonlight each night (from the full moon to the next new moon). Does this really matter?

Next, learn about the wooly bear caterpillar, which is considered a natural indicator for predicting winter weather. (A narrow orange band is said to signal a snowy winter, which a wide band suggests a mild one.) Is there any science behind this?

The third segment focuses on companion planting, the idea that crops will grow better next to other specific plants. I suspect you’ve heard of the three sisters (corn, planted with squash, and beans), or that basil should be planted with tomatoes, or the marigolds will fend off insects in a vegetable garden. There actually is some science behind some of these common ‘companions’, but not necessarily all of them.

The last segment in this episode goes into why these myths persist. Learn about what goes into confirming or dispelling a myth and why so many of them persist.

We hope this episode is a ‘hit’ with you as you learn more about the science associated with these ‘myths’.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Deven Russ and Jean Thomas

Photo by: University of Maine

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski

Resources

Episode 143: Kaatscast with Brett Barry

We, at Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley, appreciate all of our listeners. Thank you for your support, feedback, and encouragement!

That said, everyone once in a while, we recognize that you might like to check out another special podcast that focuses on the Catskill Region. Kaatscast is an award-winning podcast that focuses on Catskill regional arts and culture, history, sustainability, local business interviews and more.

In this episode, the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley team interviewed Brett Barry, the host of Kaatscast, his biweekly podcast series about the heart of the Catskills. You can subscribe to Kaatscast for free wherever you get your podcasts, to experience what reviewers have called “delightfully informative” storytelling with “great production quality.” There’s a reason it was voted “Best Regional Podcast” 3 years in a row.

Brett hosts and produces Kaatscast from Silver Hollow Audio. He teaches podcasting and audio production in the Digital Media and Journalism department at SUNY New Patlz.  Brett graduated from Syracuse University's television, radio and film program and worked as an associate documentary producer for several years before launching a career in voice-overs in 2002. He returned to Syracuse 10 years later for a graduate degree in television-radio-film.  In addition to doing television and radio commercials, audiobooks, promos, and narration, he is also the host of public radio's 'Sound Beat', was the longtime voice of India's English-language network 'Zee Cafe', and the last announcer for the soap opera Guiding Light.  He has narrated more than 125 audiobooks and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

In this episode, you'll learn about the different approaches taken by Kaatscast and Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley relative to content selection and production methods.  Enjoy!

Hosts:  Jean Thomas and Robin Smith

Guest: Brett Barry

Photo By:

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

Resources