Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley

Episode 169: Julia's Local

Julia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine withulia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine with a Scandinavian twist. Located in Round Top (Greene County), NY. After a multi-year building renovation, the restaurant was opened about four years ago. Three of the key forces behind the restaurant joined Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the restaurant and how they bring fresh produce to their patrons every day.

Julia Joern has lived in Round Top since 1999. Her background includes architecture, design, and public relations. She purchased the building that houses the restaurant in 2019, initially for a boutique company that organized public and private programs, and was the host of 'Hudson Valley Work of Mouth', a radio show on WGXC/90.7 FM interviewing creative people throughout the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Capital Region. She loves working with creative people who know how to make 'something' from basic materials.

Chef Henning Nordanger is a native of Bergen, Norway. Escoffier-trained, he gained experience working in large hotel restaurants and mountain resorts throughout Norway. A quarter of a century after arriving in the United States, he worked in New York City in restaurants and as a private chef. He moved to Sullivan County in 2006 and after a stint as a carpenter, opened and ran his first restaurant. Henning's Local (Sullivan County) between 2012-2024. He has developed long-time relationships with many regional, sustainable agricultural businesses throughout the Catskills and the Hudson Valley.

'Tractor Dan' Hartquist, a fruit and vegetable farmer originally from Columbia County, moved to Round Top once he bought a house in Greene County. Purely by chance, he met with Julia and Henning, and the rest is history! There is a wonderful collaboration between Henning and Dan selecting what to grow to enhance the menu in the restaurant. Using organic practices, they continually try new produce yet need to balance the new with some of their standard fare. If there is extra, they package offerings that can be purchased retail. But their produce is always picked the same day so everything is at its peak of flavor..

Learn about the history of this restaurant, the backgrounds of the individuals involved, and how they create a menu from what the garden produces throughout the year

Your taste buds will waken hearing about their eggplant parmesan tomato soup, and tomato salads,

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests: Julia Joern, Henning Nordanger, and Dan Hartquist   

Photo by: Julia's Local

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kenelty, Amy Meadon, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 168: Viburnums

Viburnums are a genus of flowering evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous shrubs or (in a few cases) small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. There are more than 150 species and cultivars, many (but not all) of which are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere either in North America or Asia. With this many to choose from, it may be hard to pick which might be appropriate for your landscape.

Enter Eli Joseph-Hunter from Greene Bee Greenhouse ltd, located in Cornwallville (Greene County), NY. Greene Bee is a full service nursery that was started in 2007. Owned by passionate gardeners, it contains a wealth of herbs, perennial, and woody plants and is a delight to visit. Eli rejoins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to provide us with a deep dive into this favorite landscape plant.

The good news is that viburnums are adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, whether it be wet or dry soil, or anywhere between full shade to full sum. In addition to providing beautiful aesthetics, once established, viburnums tend to be drought resistant, require minimal maintenance, and have relatively few disease or insect problems. Some compact species max out under two feet tall, while others grow to be 20 feet high. Considered mostly moderate- to fast-growing plants, viburnums typically grow from 1- 2 feet per year. Some varieties (like arrowwood viburnum) may take seven to eight years to reach their mature size of 15 feet.

Viburnum leaves are opposite on the branches and can be rounded or lance-shaped, smooth, velvety, or rough, and are often deeply veined. They typically have attractive white or pink flowers that bloom between early spring and early summer. The individual florets that grow in clusters at the ends of branches attract many butterflies.. On the deciduous varieties, their fall color can be striking ranging from bright yellow, to glossy crimson, to a deep rusty maroon. Their fruit (drupes) contain a single seed, set in late summer, attract birds and other wildlife, and can be metallic blue, bright red, yellow, orange, or in some cases change from red to deep purple as autumn progresses. A heavy fruit set is more reliable when at least 2 different cultivars or seedlings of the same species are planted together.

Most viburnums are dense shrubs, great as hedges or border screenings, forming a mass of green foliage. They also tend to be relatively deer-resistant shrubs, although recently planted ones should be protected from deer browse, at least for the first year.

From a disease perspective, a variety of fungal leaf spots and a bacterial leaf spot may be fairly common in some areas. Viburnum leaf beetles, aphids, thrips, spider mites, and scale can also be problems, but they are relatively easy to care for.

So don't hesitate to experiment with and enjoy one or multiple viburnum varieties in your landscape.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Eli Joseph-Hunter

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson, Robin Smith

Resources

Episode 167: Chatham Berry Farm

Founded in 1982 by Joseph Gilbert, The Chatham Berry Farm has been providing Columbia County and the surrounding areas with local, healthy and wholesome food for over 4 decades. Starting as a fruit stand pulled by a tractor, the 25 acre farm now includes a specialty food store, a garden center, a farm kitchen, a full-service meat and seafood department, production greenhouses and even a Cidery.
Joe Gilbert, a vegetable and fruit farmer, joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the history of the Chatham Berry Farm, lessons learned over time, and what the future may hold. Joe was born in New Jersey, and lived in Connecticut, before moving to Columbia County, NY. Working with a friend, they initially sold their produce in New York City, but eventually started the farm stand in1982. At that time, produce was only sold in bulk but they differentiated themselves by allowing customers to buy their produce by the 'piece'. They worked the land, focusing on creating rich soil and Improved it by composting leaves from neighboring towns on the property, tilling it into the soil every year. That approach paid off as, even today, they don't use any chemicals. They primarily grow blueberries, raspberries, herbs, and vegetables, partnering with other area farms to offer more options, and only selling retail (not wholesale). The Cidery, opened in 2016, is a relatively new addition which became very popular during the pandemic and beyond with its outdoor seating.

The Chatham Berry Farm is a family owned and operated farm that faces the same challenges of other farmers in the region. Joe describes how farmers need to be multi-talented, able to handle carpentry, electrical, and plumbing tasks to keep everything working properly in addition to knowing how to run a farm. The hours are long to keep the fields productive and weed free and to keep their prices competitive and affordable. Farmers must adhere to many regulations and face many challenges. The number of farms in Columbia County today is a small fraction of what existed in the past. Farmers learn through trial and error what works and what doesn't, and Joe shares some of the lessons he's learned over the years. While Joe and his family enjoy the farming lifestyle, he understands that the long hours are not for everyone, especially in light of the challenges associated with turning a profit. Unfortunately, most farms today do not provide the only income for farm families.

Joe's two sons, Jon and Mike, are integral in the day-to-day management of the farm business. Together, they've invested in their land, in the people they serve. as well as in the future of the entire community. Joe served on the board of Cornell Cooperative Extension for 20 years and continues to have great outreach to the local community with classes and seasonal events. The future of the farm lies in the hands of his children who will need to address the challenges of climate change, finding skilled labor and affordable housing for farm workers, among other things..

Listen to Joe to learn about the joys and challenges of farming in the Hudson Valley.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Taly Hahn

Guest: Joe Gilbert

Photo by: Taly Hahn

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Eileen Simpson

Resources

Episode 166: Cultivate Catskill

Cultivate Catskill is an all volunteer group dedicated to the beautification of their village. It all started over a dozen years ago when Shelly Pulver, who has lived in Catskill for 55 years and President of the organization, saw an email about hanging baskets. She thought that installing them along Main Street was something that could be done. Over a dozen years later, the village, with a population just under 4000, has over 90 hanging baskets along both Main Street and Bridge Street to the delight of the local residents..

Joining Shelly in this endeavor is her long-time friend, Robin Smith, who is a native Catskillian, Treasurer of the organization, and has been a Master Gardener Volunteer for over 20 years. The two of them along with another dozen volunteers get together every year to help plant pride in their community. In addition to the hanging baskets, they install brightly colored annuals in numerous urns and other containers, care for multiple pocket parks adding seasonal flowers, and  make the downtown shopping district attractive and inviting for visitors and residents alike.

The local Tree Council, spearheaded by Hudson Talbott and now part of Cultivate Catskill, has planted over 76 trees in the village along Main Street and more recently in the cemetery. They even worked with the Village Board to create a Tree ordinance to protect and maintain the local trees. Their combined efforts have contributed to a kind of renaissance of the downtown area. To get started they worked with a national organization, America in Bloom, which helped to prioritize their efforts and provided a framework that helps revitalize other municipalities. With their guidance and a lot of hard work, the Bank of Greene County and the Department of Public Works have become great supportive partners in this initiative.

To fund their efforts, they have sold memorial bricks, held cookie sales, applied for grants, hosted a Holiday House tour, and still hold monthly Trunk Sales (on the 2nd Saturday of the month between May and October). They decorate for all seasons including funding Holiday snowflake lights (complete with swags that cross the street). Working with local merchants, they organized 'Caturday' and Winter Solstice Strolls events, became an official non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and have gradually expanded their focus beyond Main Street. Uncle Sam's Bridge becomes a feature during the summer months adorned with window-boxes overflowing with multi-colored flowers. The Howard Street and Mott Street slides (alleyways) get attention, as do the Blue Star Park, Policeman's Park, Leggio Park, and now Dutchman's Landing. Recently, working with the local Fortnightly Club, they built a Sprayground (a.k.a. a spray playground) at Elliott Park for children and adults to enjoy during the summer months.

Volunteers are always welcome especially to weed and water. Listen in to learn more and potentially apply this approach to your community.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guests; Shelly Pulver and Robin Smith

Photo by: Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tally Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Resources

Episode 165: Tools Retrospective (Part 3)

Welcome to the third retrospective episode featuring previously aired short segments about Tools of the Trade with Tim Kennelty and The Grateful Shed with Annie Scibienski. They discuss Tools that most gardeners deem essential.

The episode starts off with Tim Kennelty discussing two resources that help you choose perennials for your garden. The Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware is a not-for-profit organization that has a great display garden and offers courses on native plants and ecological gardening. They also conduct three year native plant trials to determine which cultivars of a certain species might work best. Plants are rated on their habitats, floral display, disease resistance, among other factors. The web site includes lots of photos and basic information on each cultivar. Similarly, the Chicago Botanical Garden website focuses on herbaceous and woody plants. They also conduct trials to identify the best cultivars looking at factors that include the plants ability to respond to winter damage. Both are useful resources when looking to design a garden or add some additional plants to an existing one.

Next, Annie Scibienski discusses garden forks of which there are many varieties. The typical garden fork has a horizontal 'shoulder' with four tines that is used for loosening and lifting hard-packed soil. It can also be used to mix compost or other fertilizers into the soil. Look for a garden fork made out of forged steel and either a hickory or ash wooden handle. Pitch forks or hay forks are an option to break up and turn compost or aerating soil in addition to working with hay. A hand fork is useful to use for weeding or cultivating shallower areas. There's lots to learn about forks!

Annie comes back for the last segments when the discussion shifts to shovels, spades and trowels, A shovel has a bowl shaped blade with a pointed tip and typically a longer handle to break up the ground, dig holes, or move dirt and other materials from one place to another. A spade typically has a straight-edged blade flat made with pressed steel and a handle made of a hardwood. It's great for edging a garden bed or lawn, cutting through compacted soil, slicing roots, and typically offers greater precision in digging. A trowel is typically used with one hand to dig small holes, transplanting seedlings, or even scooping potting soil. The right tool for the right job makes any gardening task easier.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guests: Tim Kennelty and Annie Scibienski

Photos by: Tim Kennelty and Teresa Golden

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Resources

Episode 164: Tools Retrospective (Part 2)

Welcome to the second part of our Tools Retrospective with Master Gardener Volunteer, Joan Satterlee, which consists of 3 previously aired segments known as Tools of the Trade. Learn about some great resources that many gardeners consider essential.

This episode starts off with a short segment about bird identification. The Merlin app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was developed over 10 years ago with contributions of photos and recordings from over 5000 birders around the world. It's very easy to use as it asks you very easy questions such as where and when you saw the bird, its size, colors (up to 3), and what activity the bird was engaged in when you saw it. It then provides you with photos and a brief description to help you identify what you saw. It also has a sound ID feature that allows you to make a recording and the app tells you what birds you are hearing. A very useful tool to better understand the world around you.

Next, learn more about perennials with three great resources. "Essential Perennials" is organized by botanical name but has a handy common name index too. It provides information such as the plant's flower color, bloom time, foliage characteristics, and light requirements."Gardening with Perennials by Month" is another great book featuring 700 different species, with great descriptions, that is organized by bloom time, as well as providing information on growing conditions and potential plant diseases. So if you are looking to create a garden with something in bloom all season, or a garden with plants that are in bloom at the same time, this book is for you. Finally, for beginners, check out "Perennial All Stars" featuring 150 different options. Plants are selected for their long bloom times, ease of maintenance, ability to grow in a variety of conditions, and reliability to come back year after year.

The third segment in this episode features the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. You might wonder why we recommend this for Hudson Valley Gardeners, but it is such an easy, ready-to-use web tool. You can search by both botanical and common name with over 8,000 plant listings that are concise, informative and consistent. It includes 17 attributes for each plant including zone, bloom time, bloom description, suggested uses, noteworthy characteristics, etc. So it's a wonderful tool for New York gardeners.

Next time, we'll have even more tool resources that you may find helpful.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Joan Satterlee

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

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

Resources

Episode 163: Tools Retrospective (Part 1)

This episode contains three previously aired segments about a common topic that have been put together for easier listening. Tools of the Trade is a series of descriptions of essential tools that Master Gardeners use to research and answer questions about our natural environment. Master Gardener Volunteer Joan Satterlee provides detailed explanations of each tool including how it is best used.

The topic of the first retrospective segment is iNaturalist, which is a website or app that can be used to identify plants, insects, and animals. Launched in 2008, it uses photographs and artificial intelligence to help you explore your surroundings. Available on iOS and Android operating systems, there is no fee to use it. There is even a version, called Seek, that is an alternative for beginners.

Are you looking to find native plants for your garden? Stay tuned for information about the Audubon Native Plant Database. Once you enter your zip code, you'll find a listing of all the native plants that are from your area. You can organize the search results in many different ways such as type of plant, features, or even the type of bird it may attract. There are lots of search options and filters to get even more information specific to your interests.

The last segment in this episode features a gardener's classic resource for woody plants: the Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants written by Michael Dirr. Organized by botanical name, this gardening 'bible' also has an index of common names that can be extremely helpful. It provides information about the plant's leaves, bids, flowers, fruit, size, hardiness, and diseases, among other things. It even describes its landscape value. While this manual contains line drawings, if you prefer photographs, consider investing in the Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs as another potential resource.

Host: Jean Thomas

Guest: Joan Satterlee

Photo by: Teresa Golden

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

Resources

Episode 162: Soil and Water Conservation District

The Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley team was honored to meet with Joel DuBois who is the Executive Director at Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District (GCSWCD), as well as chairman of the Greene County Planning Board. and a board member at the Greene Land Trust.

There are 58 Soil and Water Conservation Districts across New York State. Each is focused on an individual county's specific needs. They are all dedicated to the best management of natural resources.

Greene County is located in southeastern NY and is home to the northernmost Catskill high peaks and is bordered on the east by the Hudson River. The GCSWCD has been in existence since 1961. Since its inception, they have developed a diverse conservation program to address local needs, and assist landowners, local municipalities, as well as state and federal agencies in their conservation efforts. One of their focus areas is watershed management, including both policy and programs.

A watershed can be defined as the area or land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins or seas. As Greene County (along with Schoharie County) is home to New York City's drinking water supply that serves 9 million people, managing water quality is of prime importance. The watershed is the largest unfiltered water system in the country so maintaining the health of the system saves the expense of building an expensive water filtration system. The only treatment NYC's water receives is some ultraviolet light exposure.

So the Soil and Water Conservation district spends a lot of time reducing any turbidity (cloudiness) of the water typically due to glacial lake clay. Other causes of turbidity include flooding or long term channel migration. The network of roots from the forest trees along the watershed areas helps to stabilize the soil and becomes a natural filter for the water.

But stream water quality is also a focus where they install buffer initiatives. For example, with the landowner's permission, GCSWCD will plant native trees and shrubs in fallow fields up to 300 feet away from a stream.

GCSWCD typically plants over 3,000 trees each year, but they sell another 4,000 annually at their bare root plant sale as a public service. Trees can be ordered in late winter and picked up around Earth Day in April. They come in bundles of 10. Compost, fertilizer, and tree tubes (to protect the seedlings from deer browse) can also be ordered for pickup during the annual sale.

The GCSWCD can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and offers volunteer opportunities to interested residents. Listen in to the good work that is being done to help the entire community today and into the future.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Joel Dubois

Photo By: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Jean Thomas

Resources

Episode 161: Houseplant Care

A houseplant can be defined as a plant that is grown indoors, typically in some kind of a container. Many houseplants are those that are adaptable to the lower light levels usually found indoors. But all plants, including houseplants, require water, light and food. The trick to success with houseplants is to find the right plant for the conditions within your home and practice moderation in taking care of it.

Water is a key to success, but overwatering is often the cause of houseplants that fail to thrive. Wait until the soil is dry to the touch to water them, as most don't like 'wet feet' if the soil is too moist.

Light is another key ingredient. Many plants do best in a window with a southern exposure that maximizes the available light. But others don't like direct sunlight and may prefer a well lit room with filtered light (e.g. through a curtain) or a light from a bulb. Plants that don't get the light they need may not flourish.

Soil is the third key ingredient. The best soil depends on the plant species, so read the labels carefully or do some research to determine the best growing medium.

If you successfully nurture houseplants through the winter, you might be able to move them outdoors for the summer. This helps to build roots and foliage, but be careful when and how you do this. If you care for your houseplants indoors the same way you care for them in the garden, you will maximize your enjoyment of these plants.

Listen to Master Gardener Volunteer Kristin Swanson in a general discussion about houseplants on Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley. In addition to talking about basic year-round care, she'll cover considerations when bringing houseplants outdoors in the spring and back indoors in the fall. If you care for your houseplants indoors the same way you care for them in the garden, you will maximize your enjoyment of these plants. Just remember they’re living things, so take care of them the best you can.

Unfortunately Kristin left this world at the end of December 2024, so we pulled this interview from our radio archives from the fall of 2019 when Digging In with Master Gardeners was a radio show on WGXC 90.7 FM. With the permission of the radio station, we've edited the interview to fit our podcast format and are presenting it again for your listening pleasure.

In addition to being a Master Gardener Volunteer, Kristin was a nurse, an educator, a musician (playing the bagpipes and the flute), a volunteer at the New York State Museum and at the Clermont Historic As a dedicated nurse, she was compassionate and always saw the patient as a person first, and strove to recognize their true needs. Drawn to nature, she loved to hike and became a Master Forest Owner volunteer helping others appreciate the natural landscape.She was proud of her military service and passionate about her cats, her ferns, and learning new things. She will forever be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, intelligence, enthusiasm, sage-like wisdom, strong convictions, and insight. As a Master Gardener, she touched our lives and for that we are forever grateful.

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden

Guest: Kristin Swanson

Photo by: Jean Thomas

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

Resources

Episode 160: Adaptive Gardening

Health challenges, unfortunately, tend to come with age. Gardening is a popular retirement hobby but may require a new approach as we age. Adaptive Gardening means making small changes to accommodate a gardener's physical needs. This approach may help us continue to enjoy this hobby. However, realistically, adaptive gardening applies to gardeners at any age. Think about gardening smarter, not harder.

Examples of some adaptations might include gardening in raised beds, containers, or soft-sided bags. Different gardening tools might also help in the care of plants and even reduce the chance of injury. For example, a balanced watering jug with a wide handle might lessen the tightness of the grip needed to carry it. Once you understand some adaptive considerations, you can get creative implementing gardening techniques.

Three areas typically require some form of adaptation:

• Muscles and Joints,
• Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary issues,,
• Visual and Memory problems.

Special tools can make a big difference to help with some of these issues. But the selection of plants can also help. For example, woody plants are easier to care for and don't require the same amount of work as annuals and perennials. Air Plants are a great option indoors.

Life long marketer and gardener, Duane Pancoast, has helped tree, landscape, and lawn care businesses market their services. His passion for gardening started when he studied Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, As mobility restrictions began taking their toll on his own gardening abilities, he decided to share his experience with other senior gardeners, including how he 'adapted'. His blog and book "The Geriatric Gardener 2.0" provide a wealth of information that might be helpful to you too. He joins the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley podcast team to share his insights.

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Duane Pancoast

Photo by: Duane Pancoast

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

Resources