Cary Institute for Mind, Body, & Spirit

Cary Institute, Millbrook, NY

Their guide helps you identify local butterflies.

     The Cary Institute of Ecosystems, a private, not-for-profit environmental research and education organization, is a valuable local resource for the mind, body, and spirit.  

     They offer naturalists—and future naturalists—access to their extensive acreage through use of their hiking trails.  Because they are dedicated to “the dissemination and application of knowledge about ecological systems”, they supply scientific information on site and online so visitors can learn about the local environment while enjoying the natural beauty.  Their butterfly guides, bird checklist, and field notes will help prepare you for your visit. 

     Their summer ecology camp's theme this year is “Wetland Watchdogs: Studying swamps, marshes, vernal pools and ponds”.  What child would not love to spend a summer week searching for critters in the water?

Map of hiking trails

     Throughout the year they organize free public events on environmental issues.  This spring they have scheduled well known experts to present important current issues.  Here are some excerpts from their website's events page:

• Bill McKibben: The Building Movement to Tackle Climate Change (Thursday, April 28, 2:30 p.m.)  He will discuss how people around the world - many in the poorest parts of the planet - are working to address global warming.  He will also talk about how people close to home can play part in the political and practical work necessary to make a real difference.
• The Singing Life of Birds (Friday, May 6th, 7:00 p.m.) Bird song expert Donald Kroodsma will describe how birds communicate and why. Listen to the sounds of birds as you’ve never listened before, using their songs as a window into their minds.
• The Last Mountain (Friday, May 13th, 7:00 p.m.)  Join us for an advanced screening of this documentary film exploring how mountaintop coal mining impacts the environment and human health.
• The Environmental Footprint of Marcellus Shale Gas  (Friday, June 10th, 7:00 p.m.)  Will gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale be a boon, providing cleaner domestic energy, or a bust, contaminating our air and water resources?

    Whether you're interested in learning about local wildlife, current sustainability issues, or taking a stroll through the woods searching for birds and butterflies, Cary Institute is a few exits north on the Taconic, waiting to be explored.

Blueberries for Edible Landscape

     Blueberry bushes are one of my favorite edible landscape plants.  If you supply your blueberry bushes with soil pH between 3.5 and 5.5, moisture, direct sun, good drainage, air circulation, and protection from critters, they will supply you with delicate flowers in the spring, sweet fruit in the summer and landscape color in the fall.  

     Blueberries are not self-fertile, so plant two or more cultivars (varieties) that are appropriate for your growing area.  When choosing a place to plant your blueberries choose a sunny, well drained area that either receives adequate water (I planted mine just under a “gutterless” roof overhang), or is close to a water source, because they require watering when there is insufficient rain.  Add compost to the planting hole, mulch thickly with pine needles or shredded bark, and fertilize with an organic fertilizer for acid loving plants (like Holly-tone).  Each spring, apply fish meal, soybean meal, or blood meal under the mulch.

     Try to avoid a problem that has haunted me for years: rabbits eat my plants to the ground each winter.  Because my plants are adjacent to a woodshed, the rabbits found perfect shelter to sneak into the garden area, eat the plants, and then escape undetected.  After years of lost fruit harvests, a fence with chicken wire dug one foot down and three feet high finally solved my problem.  My friends, Mike and Becky Lapp, have grown their blueberries along a fence near an open field for thirty years with no rabbit competition, so perhaps following their more successful lead makes sense. 

     Mike and Becky have also tried many techniques to deter birds from their crop. After years of battling they have reached a point where they share the harvest with the birds rather than try to keep them away.  They watch their plants carefully to ensure that they are able to harvest their supply of blueberries and then allow the birds their share, "Timing is everything."  

     Because you will not be able to enjoy a harvest the first year—you’ll be picking the flowers to encourage plant growth—don’t put off adding blueberry plants to your edible landscape. Once you begin harvesting your blueberries, try these blueberry cornmeal pancakes.

Ocean Friendly Seafood

     There are many environmental and health issues to consider when buying and eating fish. The concerns are significant: mercury poisoning, over fishing, farming impacts, and water pollution.  Monterey Bay Aquarium scientists keep up with the scientific research and publish Seafood Watch in three formats to help us make informed decisions on our purchases:

 

The online seafood search offers detailed information on almost a hundred types of seafood and contains links to scientific reports for further reading. 

A free app offers extensive information on ocean-friendly seafood to use when  shopping or ordering seafood in a restaurant, as well as maps identifying local businesses who sell it. 

Their Pocket Guide is a quick reference that is organized concisely to help us decide at a glance which seafood to purchase for our health, as well as the ocean’s. 

The seafood in the pocket guide is organized into three categories:

“Best Choices are abundant, well managed and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.

Good Alternatives are an option, but there are concerns with how they’re caught or farmed—or with the health of their habitat due to other human impacts.

Avoid for now as these items are overfished or caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment.”

Currently the "Best Choices" are:

Arctic Char (farmed)

Barramundi (US farmed)

Catfish (US farmed)

Clams, Mussels, Oysters (farmed)

Clams: Softshell/Steamers (wild)

Cobia (US farmed)

Crab: Dungeness, Stone

Croaker: Atlantic*

Haddock (US hook & line)

Halibut: Pacific (US)

Lobster: Spiny (US)

Salmon (Alaska wild)

Scallops (farmed off-bottom)

Squid: Longfin (US)

Striped Bass (farmed or wild*)

Swordfish (Canada and US,

      harpoon and handline)*

Tilapia (US farmed)

Trout: Rainbow (US farmed)

Tuna: Albacore including canned

  white tuna (troll/pole, US and BC)

Tuna: Skipjack including canned

    light tuna (troll/pole)

      Seafood Watch information is updated twice a year to support our efforts to eat sustainably.

Earth Day Outings

Nature's Alphabet "Q"

Nature's Alphabet "F"

      This year Earth Day, April 22^nd, will fall on a day that students will be on school vacation in Pawling.  It presents us all with an opportunity to celebrate the day with authentic Earth Day activities that are not possible in the classroom.  I can’t think of a better activity to connect with the Earth than to take a walk: observe, breathe in, and celebrate nature's beauty. We live in a town that makes it easy to access a perfect walking spot for every level of “hiker”, whether you have children home from school or not.  

Road Strolls:   

     For those who are uncomfortable walking into the woods, Lakeside Park's paved roads make much of the park accessible without stepping off the pavement.  There are also numerous dirt roads throughout town that bring you into the woods and allow you to enjoy nature up close, without having to go off the roadway.
 

Nature's Alphabet "O"

Walks in the Woods:   

     Lakeside Park has a lovely trail circling Green Mountain Lake that contains a few gentle slopes, yet is primarily level.  Park in the Lathrop Building parking lot; walk in front of the Lathrop Building towards the lake, then down the first right hand turn by the flagpole; beyond the residence on the left you'll see a path on the left just after the wooded area begins.  The path is easy to follow and will bring you out to the rear road which will wind you around to the back of the parking lot.

     The Appalachian Trail meanders through Pawling with a number of easy access points: Route 55, West Dover Road, Route 22, and Quaker Lake Road. 

     The Pawling Nature Preserve intersects with the Appalachian Trail near the parking area on Quaker Lake Road.
 

A Moderate Hike: 

     Take West Dover Road beyond Deerfield Ponds.  Park your car under the old oak on the right hand side; cross the street; and follow the Appalachian Trail to the rock outcropping,  “Cat Rocks”.  You'll walk up a steep incline, but be rewarded with a great view of Pawling.

Techniques to Engage Young Hikers:

Nature's Alphabet "X"

• Play nature’s alphabet, where the goal is to find every letter of the alphabet hidden in nature.
• Create a “photo essay” of ten unusual, interesting, beautiful, amazing…images discovered during the walk.

     No matter how advanced your hiking skills—whether you prefer a stroll or heart pumping climb—walks throughout the town of Pawling offer an Earth Day (or weekend) outing for everyone.

With Alliums, Eight is the Magic Number

     As soon as your soil crumbles when squeezed together—rather than sticking together like cookie dough—it’s time to plant the alliums: chives, onions, scallions, shallots, and garlic.  Purchase sets (small onions), shallots, and garlic from garden supply centers rather than at the grocery stores to avoid buying a bulbs that have been treated to avoid sprouting.

Chives

Chives  Plant seedlings just like any other perennial; give them plenty of room to grow (a foot away from other plants on all sides).  Grow them as close to the kitchen door as possible for easy access. You can also add chives to a border garden; they are attractive plants with a display of lavender colored spherical flowers (cut these when they fade to keep unwanted chive plants out of the garden).

Onions, potato onions, shallots, and garlic:  The soil should be loosened at least 8” deep and amended with compost before planting.  Plant sets from 6 - 8” apart by making a hole 2” - 3” deep, allowing the set to sit just below the surface and cover it with soil.  Plant sets in rows spaced 8” apart.  When the plants reach a height of—there it is again—8", or the distance between your thumb and outstretched pinkie, side dress with fish or bone meal, and mulch between plants.

Scallions: Scallions are onions that are pulled when the bulbs are just bulging, to be used for their greens; they need less room to develop, so they can be planted 2 – 3” apart.

Potato onions, shallots and garlic may be planted as early as you can work the soil in spring, but the bulbs are better when planted in the fall.  Try growing them this spring, but next year you'll be even more satisfied with the results of fall planting.  Like daffodils, the greenery pushing through in early spring, although anticipated, is always a pleasant surprise.

Nature's Garden

     The Hudson Valley’s beauty can be divided into two types: mother nature’s brilliance or human creation. There are many examples of each along the river: mountains offer spectacular hikes with awesome views; estates offer a more planned, organized visual display.

     I’ve been perusing the photography in Gardens of the Hudson Valley and I’ve been struck by the stunning visuals when the two types are combined.  When gardeners take advantage of the existing native landscape, distant mountain views, mature forests and natural structures, the results are breathtaking.    

      While walking my dog along our wooded path—even on such a gray morning—my appreciation for creating non-gardens, areas of minimal interference that allow nature’s work to be displayed, was renewed.  Although we have many lovely gardens on our property, perhaps the most appealing areas are located in the woods along a meandering path that bring us initially into view of a cow pasture, then moss covered ledge outcropping, undulating stone walls, towering oaks, and evergreen cedar stands. 

      Our labors along this path have involved  uncovering existing beauty: clearing debris, cutting small trees, removing fallen branches, and eliminating thorny underbrush.  We have never planted anything—never mulched or watered, yet it has all the appeal, if not more, of our maintained garden areas.  Each season brings new colors (mossy greens, cedar berry blues, lichen grays, fallen leaves of red and yellow); different feelings underfoot (crackling leaves, snow, soft mulched compost, bare soil); and seasonal sounds (winter silence, spring birds, summer hooting owls, turkeys gobbling in fall). 

          In the winter, dormant trees allow views of fields, ridges and woods, giving the landscape a spacious feeling.  Yet in summer, greenery brings a feeling of enclosure, creating a secluded haven.  This "natural garden" was created with minimal human interference.

Local Harvest

Local Harvest Logo

     One of the benefits of living in Dutchess County is our close proximity to agricultural land.  Not only do we have one local farm, but we're lucky enough to have choices.  Between our own gardens, the CSA's, farm stands, and town farm market, we can significantly minimize our ecological footprint.  Our food does not have to travel across the globe, carrying with it the negative environmental impacts.  We have the option of buying a major portion of our food locally grown with organic, natural, or conventional methods. If you have not yet connected with a local farmer, the Local Harvest website contains information about USA local farms based on zip codes.  The following farms are in, or within one mile of, Pawling:

Carter Farm

 1.      The Carter Farm, will be accepting ten people in their small organic CSA this growing season, and selling produce at the Pawling Farm Market: http://www.localharvest.org/carter-farm-M43894.    

 2.      Dykeman’s Farm is a conventional farm that has been providing our town with their famous corn, as well as an assortment of other produce for many years. They sell produce from their farm stand on West Dover Road and the Pawling Farmer’s Market: http://www.localharvest.org/dykeman-farm-llc-M3790.

 3.      Kessman Farms offer conventionally grown produce at their stand on Route 22 and at a variety of farm market locations.  Their Route 22 location is also a garden center which carries some organic gardening products for local gardeners: http://www.localharvest.org/kessman-farms-M34772.  

 4.      Cascade Farm (less than one mile south of Pawling) is offering 75 shares of naturally grown produce through its CSA this season.  They also have a farm stand for non-CSA members at their Harmony Road location every Saturday morning: http://www.localharvest.org/cascade-farm-M14011

     With so many local options available, everyone can join the "local foods movement".

Fruit Possibilities

     When people hear that I dry fruit, they often assume that I merely eat the dried fruit as a snack and perhaps add it to my granola.  If you've ever wondered what else can be done with dehydrated fruit, the possibilities are endless! Some dishes that benefit from the inclusion of dried fruit are: pancakes, oatmeal, nut mixes, cookies, cakes, pies, soups, baked squash, and pot pies.  Sometimes I add the dried fruit as it is, other times I rehydrate it first to bring it closer to its original consistency before baking.  Because dried fruit is readily available in my cabinets, it’s easy to achieve the daily 2-4 servings of fruit suggested on the food pyramid.

     Soon fresh fruit will be in season locally; stores will be selling more fruit grown in this country—rather than shipping it across the world.  So if you're considering drying your own fruit, it’s a perfect time to purchase your dehydrator.  If you are new to dehydrating, here are some good reference books:  

• How To Dry Foods by Deanna DeLong 1992
• Making and Using Dried Foods by Phyllis Hobson 1994 
• Complete Dehydrator Cookbook by Mary Bell 1994
• The Beginner’s Guide to Preserving Food at Home By Janet Chadwick’s 2009  

     To whet your appetite, I’m including one of my oatmeal cookie recipes so you can explore other uses for dried fruit.  Experiment with different fruit combinations, and enjoy.

            (Click on the "dehydrating" labels link below to see dehydrating techniques for specific fruits.)