Annual Potluck Dinner (Lunch)
2025-01-18 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Broome County Cooperative Extension, 840 Front Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901, United States
Ed Nizalowski will speak at our annual Potluck Dinner (lunch) on his many observations and items found in the woods. Ed Nizalowski is a director at the Bement-Billings Farmstead in Newark Valley, NY. Doors will open at 1:30 PM with the meal starting at 2 PM. The meeting will be held at the Broome County Cooperative Extension, 840 Front Street, Binghamton, NY. Bring a dish to pass and your table service. We will provide beverages and a sheet pizza to supplement your gourmet offerings. Please call Steve at (607) 902-4090 to let us know you will attend. This will allow us to plan for seating and beverages.

SAC Annual Meeting
2025-01-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Warren County Cooperative Extension, 377 Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, NY, 12885, United States
10:00 am – Business meeting begins
11:30 am – Pot luck lunch (please bring a dish to share)
1:00 pm – Presentation by Ryan Robinson, Why Knot Services LLC
Ryan has experienced and dealt with many different types of plant base and insect based invasive species. He will present solutions (if available) to combat invasives. Ryan is a licensed commercial applicator with NYSDEC and performs science-based treatment plans compliant with state, local and federal regulations.

Controlling Unwanted Vegetation, With and Without Chemicals
2025-03-29 13:30 - 15:30 | Broome County Cooperative Extension, 840 Front Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901, United States
A panel discussion featuring Consulting Forester and Certified Pesticide Applicator Mike Blasko, plus four Southern Tier Chapter members who have had considerable experience with controlling invasive and interfering vegetation on their own properties.
In our recent survey, several SOT Chapter members expressed their interest in a program on this subject. Mike Blasko has provided consulting services on numerous stewardship projects involving unwanted vegetation control, some with cost-sharing under the NRCS EQIP program. Jerry Michael and Steve Kutney have decades of experience with chemical control of invasive vegetation in their woodlots, while Darryl Wood and John Knapp have enjoyed success with non-chemical means of control. Each panel member will take a few minutes to describe their experiences, and there will be time for questions and additional sharing from other attendees.
March 29, 2025, 1:30 – 3:30, in the auditorium at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 840 Upper Front Street, Binghamton, N.Y. This meeting is free and open to the public.

Tioga County Woods Walk - Sweetrees Maple Products
2025-04-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Sweetrees Maple Products, 761 Glen Road,, Berkshire, NY, 13736, United States
We will start the day with an introduction to SweeTrees by the farm family, followed by presentations about NY Tree Farm and Tioga SWCD’s conservation work that promotes healthy watersheds and forests. After lunch, we will tour a newly completed Tioga SWCD project that created climate resiliency for the future and reduced large gully erosion that was impacting the farm’s sugarbush. Tioga SWCD was able to complete the project with state funds from the Climate Resilient Farms grant and landowner match. This will be a free event with lunch provided. Please RSVP so we can plan ahead for refreshments. You can use the QR code on the flyer, give our office a call (607) 972-2365 or use this link https://forms.gle/f1DBkYxEFmEhXJxr5 to RSVP.

SAC Spring Event
2025-04-26 09:30 - 12:00 | SUNY ESF Pack Demonstration Forest, 136 Pack Forest Road, Chestertown, NY, 12817, United States
Arrival: 9:30—10:00 am (walk will begin at 10am)
Lunch: approximately 12:00pm (please bring a bag lunch and your own beverage
At SUNY ESF’s Pack Demonstration Forest in Warrensburg, NY we will tour recently completed timber harvests for white pine, red oak, hemlock and northern hardwood management. We will also visit marked timber sales specializing in hemlock resiliency as hemlock wooly adelgid approaches and climate adaptive silviculture.

CHRISTMAS TREE FARM & MANAGED FOREST WOODS WALK
2025-04-26 10:00 - 12:30 | Scott Brady Christmas Tree Farm, 1165 County Highway 34 (Elk Creek Road), Schenevus, NY, 12155, United States
Several members have expressed interest in seeing an operating Christmas tree farm. This one has been in operation for over thirty years as a choose and cut operation. The Christmas tree plantation includes spruce and fir trees. The property has been in the family since 1946. Scott also manages the property as a managed forest. He did his first Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) project in 1978 on five acres. Over time the TSI project expanded to 83 acres. In 2024, The Upper Susquehanna River Basin funded a 14-member crew to plant a diversified forest of 900 trees using tree tubes. Scott has been working on forest regeneration for ten years. Scott Brady and his wife, Stephanie Brunetta, were featured in a member profile in the May-June 2020 issue of the New York Forest Owner Magazine.

Bring appropriate footwear, your lunch, and a drink if you wish to the woods walk. This event is free and open to the public.
At 10 AM on Saturday, April 26, 2025, NYFOA will host a woods walk on the property of Scott Brady, 1165 County Highway 34 (Elk Creek Road), Schenevus, NY. 12155.

Future of Private Forest Lands
2025-05-03 09:00 - 16:00 | Northwest Bay Conference Center, 640 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY, 12804, United States
The Adirondack Landowners Association will be having a very useful Conference centering on the Future of Private Forest Lands on Saturday May 3 at the Northwest Bay Conference Center at SUNY Adirondack, Queensbury NY. This event is open to all interested persons and will be a one-day set of panel discussions and round table discussions. One set of 45-minute sessions will focus on planning for the long term management of your forest and woodlands, different financial tools such as tax relief, easements and transferring property to heirs. A second group of topics will focus on challenges to private forest owners, impacts of climate change, and invasive species management with examples of landowner actions. A third session will deal with the relationship between private forests and the local community. This topic is of particular importance to Adirondack region landowners but affects forest owners anywhere in New York.
Tying all things together is a keynote talk by Kim Ellman, former CEO of the Open Space Institute. The conference runs from 9 AM to 4 PM and lunch is included in the registration fee. Here is the link to the event website which can then get you to the registration page. Early bird registration is $65 until April 14, later registration is $75. This event should be very useful to all our NYFOA members and the Adirondack Landowners Association has extended a welcome to all.

New Baltimore Antique Machinery & Agricultural Festival
2025-05-31 09:00 - 2025-06-01 17:00 | Van Etten Farm, 1314 Saw Mill Rd., Raena, NY, 12143, United States
Click on the following link for more information: New Baltimore Antique Machinery & Agricultural Festival

Michigan State University Forest Carbon and Climate Program
2025-06-05 | NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233, United States
The Michigan State University Forest Carbon and Climate Program will be hosting a series of Voluntary Forest Carbon Market Workshops across the eastern US this summer. Participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from extension educators and practitioners working in the field about online tools and resources to understand existing carbon market opportunities. Over the course of 1-day, participants will also visit a nearby forest carbon offset project site for an in-depth look at what project management looks like. Click here to learn more about the workshops.
Forestland owners of all parcel sizes are encouraged to attend. Other forestry professions and extension professions are encouraged to attend. There is no cost to attend a workshop. Food will be provided during the workshop. Participants are eligible for travel reimbursements up to $150.
REGISTER
Support for these workshops were provided in part by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Renewable Resources Extension Act Capacity Grant

Gathering Growth Foundation - Preserving Significant Trees and Forests
2025-06-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Lawson Lake County Park, 293 Lawson Lake Rd., Fuera Bush, NY, 12067, United States
Please join us on Saturday June 14 at 11am for a program by Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth Foundation, highlighting the efforts of the foundation in New York State. The event will be held at
Lawson Lake County Park
293 Lawson Lake Rd.
Fuera Bush NY 12067
The Foundation was founded in 2019 by photographer Brian Kelley with a mission to visually preserve the legacy of significant trees and forests across the United States. Through powerful, archival-style photography, the foundation seeks to inspire a deeper appreciation for the ancient trees and forests that still stand today- encouraging education, awareness, and stewardship for future generations.
We encourage you to bring a bag lunch; drinks and dessert goodies will be provided by the chapter. Following our repast, take a short walk with Brian on the park grounds, and interact with him about his educational work, and with other attendees about their woodlot experiences.
Please RSVP to Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com by the 7th of June.
The parking areas are marked; use either the lot near Waldman Lodge where the program is held or, overflow – further out in the lot just off Lawson Lake Rd.
To learn more about the organization, visit the Gathering Growth Foundation’s website https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/ or check out an interesting TimesUnion article found at this link:
https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/outdoors/article/gathering-growth-trees-new-york-20171761.php
We hope to see you! If walking in the woods, dress appropriately and remember it is bug season.

June Woods Walk
2025-06-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Wilson Woods, 4384 Brainard Road, Kennedy, NY, 14747, United States
Wilson Woods Walk Saturday, June 21, 2025 LOCATION: 4384 Brainard Rd Kennedy NY (bounded by US 62 and Brainard Rd), Chautauqua County GPS: 42deg;11’40” N;79deg;05’49” W REGISTRATION: 9:00 – 9:30 AM This will be an opportunity to participate in a “very variable woods walk” in the words of long-time owner and host, Dennis Wilson, a retired professional forester (33 years NYSDEC). You’ll see a 65 acre managed (25 years) property featuring a 2 acre old growth forest, primarily hemlock but also white pine (over 300 years old) and hardwoods. Last sawtimber harvest in 2010. White ash “pre-salvage” 2013; ongoing TSI and fuelwood harvests. In addition, 80 plus year old plantations of larch and white pine; a 4 acre man made pond; and an Osprey nest with the possibility of observing the parents feeding their young at this time of year. As well as a demonstration of an innovative “semipermanent” boundary line and sign attachment method. Variable terrain: a level section with unimproved, unmowed trails and a steep section of old growth with little undergrowth. The reasonably fit 78 year old owner is able to navigate the property…slowly… lol The program will proceed rain or shine unless there is a severe weather warning issued. Please dress for the weather. There is no fee and the event is open to the general public. ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS: From Kennedy, take US 62 East – toward Ellington; turn right on Little Rd.; turn left on Brainard Rd. Park on shoulder near 4384. A lightly traveled road with narrow shoulders.

Golden Wing Warbler Habitat Walk
2025-06-21 09:30 - 13:00 | Grand Lakes Reserve, 45701 Burns Road, Redwood, NY, 13679, United States
Join us as NYFOA partners with Audubon NY and Indian River Lakes Conservancy to bring you a woods walk workshop to demonstrate forest bird habitat management in practice. Specifically, this program will focus on the unique habitat required by Golden-winged Warblers. Golden-winged Warblers are a migratory shrubland species that have suffered one of the steepest declines of any North American songbird over the past 50 years. Restoration for golden-winged warblers can be challenging due to their habitat needs, they require a layer of grasses for nest construction, shrubs to provide nest protection and single standing trees to provide a perch for males to sing. During this program we will tour an area of the reserve that has been specifically managed for golden-winged warbler habitat. We will discuss the habitat needs of this species and highlight opportunities for landowners to incorporate this type of management on their own properties. We will also highlight other forest bird species that will benefit from this type of management. Space is limited to 40 participants, pre-registration is required.

Greene Lumber Sawmill Tour
2025-06-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Greene Lumber Company, 16991 NY Route 23, Davenport, NY, 13750, United States
The Green Lumber sawmill is a quality production facility located amidst some of the finest hardwood timber in Upstate New York and capable of producing thousands of board feet per day. Founded at their Davenport location in 1989, they are a leading producer of many hardwood species, including Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Cherry, Ash, Birch, Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, Basswood, and Yellow Poplar.
This tour is free and open to the public.
Registration for this event will open on April 1, 2025, on the Catskill Forest Association website, CatskillForest.org. Look under EVENTS. Click on the title.
On Thursday, June 26th, from 10 AM to 1 PM, NYFOA will be teaming up with the Catskill Forest Association with a joint tour of the Greene Lumber Company 16991 NY Route 23, Davenport, NY. 13750

From Trees to Timber: A Woods Walk Through Time
2025-07-19 09:45 - 12:00 | Gallo Farm, 2305 Ridge Road, Ransomville, NY, 14131, United States
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! on July 19th join the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the New York Forest Owners Association for a Woods Walk Through Time. The Chapter will demonstrate and discuss the following topics: woodland management, invasive species – methods of removal, enhancing diversity, planning/planting for the future bounty of the forest, nature studies, plant/animal identification – useful apps, foraging for edibles woodworking, from log to lumber, green woodworking, and creating handmade woodenware.

From Field to Forest Woods Walk
2025-07-19 09:45 - 13:00 | Gallo Farm, 2305 Ridge Road, Ransomville, NY, 14131, United States
Please join us on July 19, 2025 at 9:45 am for a woods walk at Mark and Jean Gallo’s property located at 2305 Ridge Road, Ransomville, NY. This free event is sure to educate regarding some of the major issues regarding our local flora and fauna. Come and see the various habitats located on the property and the ways to effectively manage them from grassland, wildflower meadows, shrubland, early successional forest, and mature deciduous hardwood forest. Each have their unique stewardship issues and concerns. Individuals from Niagara County Soil and Water, the NYS Department of Conservation, a forestry consultant, members of NYFOA, and a member from the Tuscarora Nation will be available to discuss various issues related to land use and management. There will also be representatives from Norwood Sawmills demonstrating their products and wood- workers and woodturners who will also show how to turn wood into valuable items. Bring your lunch and get ready for a fun-filled day.

SAC Woodswalk
2025-08-15 09:30 - 13:00 | Dan Ladd Woodswalk, 188 Buttermilk Falls Road, West Fort Ann, NY, 12827, United States
188 Buttermilk Falls Road, West Fort Ann, NY 12827. Address is the same as 184. There is green house and garage in the front, go past these to the log cabin in the back. Plenty of parking, including in the field if needed.
Arrive: 9:30 —10: am (refreshments available)
Woodswalk— 10:00 am
Lunch following woodswalk – Please bring your own lunch, beverage and lawn chair
Please: Dress for the weather bring bug spray/tick repellant. If there is any recent wet weather, rubber boots are advised.
Please RSVP to Kurt Edwards 518-661-5685 or at edwardsk922@gmail.com by 8/8

Capital District Chapter Picnic
2025-08-17 11:00 - 16:00 | Thacher State Park, 779 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville, NY, 12186, United States
There is still time to RSVP with Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com
Join us for the NYFOA – Capital District Chapter picnic at the Paint Mine Shelter area of Thacher State Park on Sunday August 17, 11 to 4 (?) pm. As well as being the member picnic, this will be our annual member meeting with election of officers.
Thacher Park with spectacular views and the cool woodlands surrounding the pavilion, is a great place to enjoy the friendship of our NYFOA chapter. Grillmeister Russel is wielding spatula and tongs this year, preparing hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst and other grill items. The grill food, the beverages and place settings, admission to the park and parking fees, are all paid through chapter funds. However, please bring a dish of your favorite picnic food to share – we always have great choices prepared by the many wonderful cooks and bakers in the group.
Grillmeister Russel expects to have the grill items ready starting 12:30-ish, but arrive as early as 11 for time to visit (or help set up), and snack on any contributed hors d’oeuvres.
We expect to have a short presentation about the Master Forest Owner Program followed by a short hike into the woods – on these walks there is always sharing of knowledge and individual experience about the natural world around us. We are a smart bunch!
MEMBER MEETING/ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Any CDC member in good standing is eligible to become an officer on the Chapter Steering Committee. Four positions include:
Chapter Chair – Jason Post, incumbent, agreed to serve another term if elected.
Chapter Vice-chair – Gerry McDonald, stepping down, Russel Freeman agreed to run for this position. (Russel has provided strong leadership and involvement, and holds vast experience and knowledge that will contribute positively for our members).
Secretary – Carol McDonald, incumbent, agreed to serve another term if elected.
Treasurer – Phil Walton, incumbent, agreed to serve another term if elected.
Anyone wishing to apply for one of these positions please contact Tracy Lamanec at tlamanec@msn.com or Carol McDonald at happyinthehollow@gmail.com. Election is by voice vote.
To facilitate our planning, please reserve your place(s) by Wednesday August 13th with Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com We will need to know your grill food preferences (vegetarian options available upon request), possible food allergies, and an idea of the dish you will be bringing. When registering, please provide a good contact phone number should we need to reach you prior to the event.
The Paint Mine Shelter is located at 779 Thacher Park Rd Voorheesville, NY, 12186 (coords 42.65236 N, 74.01541 W)
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Visit the New York Forest Owners Association online at http://www.nyfoa.org.
Please distribute this information to anyone you think would be interested. Most NYFOA events are free and open to the public.

Bird-friendly Maple Woods Walk – Uihlein Maple Research Forest
2025-08-23 09:30 - 12:00 | Uihlein Maple Research Forest, 157 Bear Cub Lane, Lake Placid, NY, 13946, United States
Join the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA), Audubon New York, and Cornell’s Uihlein Maple Research Forest for a Woods Walk Workshop focused on the Audubon Bird-Friendly Maple Program. Through the Bird-friendly Maple program Audubon partners with maple producers to enhance sugarbush habitat for forest birds—supporting bird conservation while maintaining productive maple operations. Recognized Bird-Friendly Maple producers commit to managing their forests in ways that improve habitat conditions for priority bird species, without compromising syrup production. During this workshop, we will tour Cornell’s Uihlein Maple Research Forest—an officially recognized Bird-Friendly Maple site—and explore how forest management practices can benefit both birds and maple producers. While the event is geared toward maple producers, forest landowners and managers who do not produce syrup will also gain valuable insights into habitat-friendly forest stewardship.

Currans Renewable Energy Pellet Mill Tour
2025-09-06 08:45 - 12:00 | Currans Renewable Energy Pellet Mill, 20 Commerce Drive, Massena, NY, 13662, United States
The Curran Difference – We are a family-owned and operated group of companies with over 40 years of experience in the forest harvesting industry. We produce premium wood products like wood fuel pellets, BBQ pellets, and cedar mulch from locally and sustainably harvested timber sourced in the North Country. Our History – With only a few chainsaws, one used logging truck, and a doodle-bug built to operate as a skidder, Patrick Curran and his brothers started a family logging business in Massena, NY, in 1976. Curran Logging, Inc. came together in 1984, and Seaway Timber Harvesting, Inc followed in 1990. The companies are owned and operated by brothers Pat, Tim, and Lee. Other family members have worked for the company from its early days, and some continue today, along with over 100 dedicated employees. Vertical Integration – Seaway Timber Harvesting and Curran Logging harvest timber for paper and board plants in NY, Ontario, and Quebec, Canada. Due to changes in paper market demands, Curran looked to opportunities in the biomass industry to keep hardworking North Country locals employed. Seaway Timber’s history and expertise paved the way for the establishment of Curran Renewable Energy, LLC in 2009. Curran Renewable Energy produces Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) certified – premium grade wood pellet fuel. CRE purchases the necessary feedstock from our sister company, Seaway Timber Harvesting, to manufacture our pellets. This relationship allows CRE to control the supply, wood species, and the parts of the trees that end up in the products, giving higher quality wood pellets to meet the demands of our customers. The Future of Biomass – Curran Renewable Energy has been producing renewable biofuel for 14 years. We at CRE are proud of our products because they come from our backyard. Stewardship of the land drives Seaway Timber Harvesting, Curran Logging, and Curran Renewable Energy to be innovative leaders in harvesting and manufacturing forest products today.

SOT Tree Identification Woodswalk
2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Jerry Michael, 3192 State Route 206, Whitney Point, NY, 13862, United States
The woods walk will be held at Jerry Michael’s tree farm, 3192 State Route 206 in Whitney Point, NY. The property is one mile east of the village of Whitney Point and parking will be along the wide eastbound shoulder of the road. The walk will be approximately one mile in length on mostly level ground. There are 15 different hardwood and 8 conifer tree species on the property. Some of the less-common trees are Swamp White Oak, Sycamore, Tulip Poplar, American Chestnut and Cedar of Lebanon.
If you have a tree identification app, bring your phone and test your app against the real thing. Wi Fi is available from most points on the property, but not all. Bring your kids and grandkids and introduce them to a basic skill for woodlot management and enjoyment. Please call Jerry at (607) 648-2941 if you are coming so we can plan for parking, and leave a phone number we can call if we have to cancel due to severe weather (we won’t cancel for a drizzle).

Peter Smallidge, NYS Extension Forester, wrote an article in the November 2023 NY Forest Owner with recommendations for plant ID apps.

SAC Annual Picnic
2025-09-20 09:30 - 13:00 | SAC Annual Picnic, 407 South Shore Road, Lake Pleasant, NY, 12108, United States
Hosted by: Diane Corvetti, 407 South Shore Road, Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
Arrive: 9:30 —10:00am (refreshments available)
Woodswalk— 10:00 am
Picnic following woodswalk – Hamburgers, hotdogs and beverages, paper products will be provided.
Please bring: A salad or food item to share and lawn chairs
Please RSVP to Kurt Edwards 518-661-5685 or at edwardsk922@gmail.com by 9/12
After passing the Welcome to Speculator sign on Route 30, you will see a Camp of the Woods sign on the left. Turn off Route 30, go past Camp of the Woods, go up the hill and South Shore Road takes a sharp right curve. Red Pines is 3 miles after you turn off Rt 30. It is the next driveway after Pearson Lane (about another 1/2 mile).
There is a small sign “Red Pines” sign. Go slowly down the driveway which is almost a half mile. It is the only house and on the lake.

Capital District Woodswalk
2025-09-27 09:00 - 13:00 | Tom & Anna Wolfe, 88 Curtis Road, East Berne, NY, 12059, United States
Tom retired from a career in forestry at NYSDEC, and he has practiced his skills on their 180 acre property since the day he and Anna made their first woodland purchase. Join us for a walking tour of a special portion of their woodlands.
There will be an overview of past and ongoing management practices on this land, but the focus will be on an area where a timber harvest was conducted in 2023. Many valuable trees were left standing with crowns released to allow continued growth. We will see how the forest has regenerated in areas of past management, and in the most recent harvest area. Getting desirable vegetation species to return is always a challenge, so there will be examples of mitigation efforts to help create the next woodlot stand, one that is healthy and diverse.
Any disturbance to the woods creates opportunities for wildlife, and we will see examples of how critters are thriving as a result of the disturbance. The great flush of vegetation that comes in, responding to added sunlight, creates rich feeding grounds and physical protection for many wildlife species.
The trail leads through an old agricultural field now grown into a forest. Of interest is seeing which tree species naturally seeded in, and which of those are winning the competition to grow to maturity!
The terrain is nearly level and we will be walking on skid/tractor trails and some grassy fields. Sturdy shoes are recommended, and dress for the weather.
Please RSVP with Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com by Thursday September 25.
Sponsored by Capital District Chapter of NY Forest Owners Association, the event is free and open to the public.

Western Finger Lakes Chapter Dinner and Business Meeting
2025-10-08 16:30 - 20:00 | Mendon NY Fire Hall, 101 Mendon Ionia Road, Mendon, NY, 14506, United States
Please come and join us for what is always a great evening of friends, sumptuous food, and a lot of exciting raffles: door prizes, 50/50 raffle, and other surprise items. As you are aware, these raffles
help to keep our chapter’s funds at a healthy level so that we might continue to offer great programming and educational events.
Brad Stevenson, of Laurier Catering, will once again grace us with his superb cuisine. The WFL Chapter will continue to subsidize the cost of the dinner by charging less than the caterer charges.
The cost is $45 per ticket. Your check should be made out to WFL/NYFOA and mailed to Ron Reitz, 6086 Canadice Hill Road, Springwater, NY 14560.
Please consider joining us along with your family members and fellow woodland owners. All are welcome!

Forests Under Pressure: A Hike on Hunting & Conservation
2025-10-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Sisters Hill Woods, 176 Sisters Hill Road, Stanfordville, NY, 12581, United States
Join us for a guided hike at Winnakee’s Sister’s Hill Woods during hunting season to explore how conservation, hunting, and forestry go hand-in-hand. We will observe the forest through the eyes of different environmental experts and seasoned hunters.
We will venture through hemlock stands, wetlands, and mixed hardwood forests, discussing topics such as the effects of overabundant deer populations on our local forests, habitat needs for wildlife and game animals and how to improve the forest to meet different management goals. We will also discuss trail cameras, wildlife viewing, and how & where landowners can use them to learn about the wildlife using their properties.
Participants will come away with a greater understanding of why we manage deer on Winnakee preserves for forest health and to improve habitat for species dependent on young forests, insights into how deer hunting might fit with your property and a connection with other conservation-centric hunters through the Winnakee community.

Timber Stand Improvement - In-Progress
2025-10-18 09:00 - 12:00 | The Boarding House, 212 Harold Myers Road, Earlton, NY, 12058, United States
Park along Indian Ridge Road at the corner of Harold Myers Rd. coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nxuh4A9aVYgzgXWr8
This property has a historic old boarding house. We will visit a locust, mulberry and hybrid chestnut silvopasture project. We will see parts of the property that are under USDA-EQIP contracts for brush management and timber stand improvement.
Goals on the property are to transition from an even age stand to a more climate resilient multiage ecosystem.
Brush management includes controlling undesirable plants: barberry, buckthorn, honeysuckle, multiflora rose, stiltgrass. We have been doing this for one year with 2 more years left on the contract.
Interesting flora include: some very large mid-story and shrub spicebush, winterberry holly, serviceberry, surviving American chestnut, population of flowering dogwood, and a very old stand of declining hemlock.
There is a Catskill Mountain View.
Please wear ankle supporting sturdy shoes since footing can be uneven.
RSVP with Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com by October 16 so we know how many to expect.

2025 NYNGA Fall Meeting
2025-10-18 09:00 - 15:00 | Ramble On, 3383 Colegrove Road, Trumansburg, NY, 14886, United States
The New York Nut Growers Association announces that our 2025 Fall Meeting will be held on Oct. 18, 9 am – 3 pm, at Ramble On, 3383 Colegrove Rd, Trumansburg, NY.
Breakfast starts at 9:00 am, and the program begins at 9:30 am. Speakers and discussion topics will include Jeff Zarnowski (Establishing a Commercial Nut Orchard – the First 8 Years); Bryan Caldwell (Growing Chestnuts Organically); Peter Haarmann (Cloning Hazelnut by Stooling); Bradford Smith (My Experiences Growing Chestnut and Other Nut Crops); and Bonny and Rick Monheim (50 Years of Planting and Nurturing Nut Trees: from Almonds to Walnuts).

A light breakfast and lunch are included in the cost of meeting registration, which is $20/member, $25/non-member. Pre-registration is required to facilitate meal planning.

Please feel free to share this announcement with others who may be interested.

For additional information and to register for the meeting, use the link below. Thanks for your ongoing interest in and support of nut growing in New York!

Reserve your ticket

Protecting Wetlands for Wildlife, Water & Resilience - WEBINAR
2025-10-23 13:00 - 14:30 | NY
Join Winnakee for a free educational webinar focused on the vital role of wetlands in supporting biodiversity, clean water, and climate resilience. We will share insights from our joint projects to monitor wildlife and enhance habitat, as well as how landowners can play a key role in protecting and enhancing wetland ecosystems. Learn more about Winnakee’s wetland programs, youth stewardship initiatives, and how local partnerships are making a lasting impact across the Hudson Valley.
Register Here: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E74841&id=136&formid=1362&Preview=true

November Woodswalk
2025-11-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Freeman – Campbell-Nelson, 86 Meadow Lane, Hannacroix, NY, 12087, United States
Owners: Russell and Forrest Freeman and Katie Campbell-Nelson
Presenters: Forester Ron Frisbee and the landowners
84 wooded acres. The property was purchased by Katie and Russell in 2018 and they began living there full time in 2019 when they also began forest management.
To focus their efforts, they secured a forest management plan written by Ron Frisbee, paid for by USDA-EQIP funds. Contracts for conservation practices (brush management and timber stand improvement) will begin when EQIP funds become available again.
From their forest management plan:
“Our vision is to develop a climate resilient forest with improved biodiversity and wildlife habitat that can be a place for education of future generations.
This vision will be achieved through several goals and objectives:
1. Coax a multiage, biodiverse forest out of the trees, including flora that has been present for over 2 centuries.
2. Utilize bi-products of forest stewardship- find multiple purposes for the forestry we conduct.
3. Develop drought resilience with respect to water quantity and quality and support downstream ecosystem health.”
Things to see: a portable sawmill operation. We recover lumber from undesirable trees as part of our timber stand improvement and mill them on-site. Thus, small scale forest openings are created throughout the property while putting low quality timber to use.
More to see… a 4-story barn re-habilitation project utilizing timber from the woods, a several hundred log shiitake mushroom operation, maple sugar-bush conversion, hemlock grove
If conditions permit, we will get a a peek at a blackgum bog.
Please RSVP with Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com by November 6th.

Southern Tier Annual Potluck
2026-01-17 13:30 - 16:00 | Broome County Cooperative Extension, 840 Front Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901, United States
The Southern tier Chapter of the New York Forest Owners Association will have Tom Tasber speak on American black bears at our free, open-to-the-public annual Potluck Dinner (late lunch). Doors will open at 1:30 PM with the meal starting at 2 PM. The meeting will be held at the Broome County Cooperative Extension, 840 Front Street, Binghamton, NY. Bring a dish to pass and your table service. We will provide beverages and a sheet pizza to supplement your gourmet offerings. Please call Steve at (607) 902-4090 to let us know that you will attend. This will allow us to plan for seating and beverages.
Thomas Tasber works for Broome County Cooperative Extension as a naturalist and educator. He runs the popular “Lunch with Tom” educational seminars, sponsored by the Broome County Cooperative Extension. Research has shown that residents would like to see a black bear, but not necessarily have them living near their homes. With the black bear population increasing across our area since the 1980s, sightings and encounters are more frequent. Tom will examine the bear’s natural history in addition to discussing ways to coexist with this widespread species.
