Support your local farm and forest producer, working landscapes and your community by making your purchases count for clean water and the environment! Holiday shopping just got easier with the Fresh From the Catskills Holiday Gift Guide 2015. We’ve gathered honey collectors; wool and fiber makers; outlets for wreath, and holiday decorations; cut-your-own tree farms; wine, beer and spirits makers; handmade gift ideas; holiday caterers; jelly and jams varieties; botanical/soap lines; holiday bakers; value-added dairy producers; maple syrup makers; local stores…all in ONE easy-to-access resource.
We have had a great fall in the NYC Watershed! The weather has been beautiful and farmers have had an extended harvesting season. The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) has been busy finishing projects on participant farms, Pure Catskills has had a hectic season of markets and festivals, Forestry has been working on a large project that will be showcased in the upcoming months and Easements has been working hard to protect additional land in the Watershed.
On November 12th WAC hosted a meeting for our Advisory Committee at the Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra, NY. Every five years we look to our partners and stakeholders for input and direction of our programs and organization as a whole. Each WAC program presented their successes of the past five years and a workshop was held for future direction. It was a very productive meeting and WAC looks forward to implementing the suggestions of our trusted colleagues in our future planning.
As we approach Thanksgiving we hope you have a wonderful holiday and don’t for get to shop local this giving season!
Read the November 2015 News from the Watershed Agricultural Council here.
Hamden, NY- In an effort to continue conserving and protecting working land in the watershed, the Watershed Agricultural has expanded our Conservation Easement Program to include forest lands.
Since 2001, The Watershed Agricultural Council’s (WAC) Easement Program has expanded to include more than 25,000 acres of land committed to conservation. Through support from program participants, partnering agencies and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), WAC’s conservation footprint marks one of the largest private land protection efforts in New York State.
Building upon the great success of WAC’s Forestry Program, we are pleased to announce that similar easement opportunities are now available exclusively to protect working forest-lands. As part of a select group of landowners currently supporting local forestry initiatives, you may be eligible to participate in WAC’s Forest Conservation Easement pilot program. Conservation Easements (CE) allow landowners the unique opportunity to realize cash equity in their property, while retaining ownership and continuing to promote our region’s unique forestry heritage.
WAC is committed to the future of forestry in the NYC Watershed by preserving land, promoting sound forestry practices and maintaining the economic viability of working lands.
For more information on agricultural and forestry easements, contact the Easement Program at 607-865-7790 ext. 100.
“New York City’s water is kept safe and clean by an innovative cooperative agreement with farmers that benefits both the city and rural communities. The programme demonstrates that water utilities can go beyond applying traditional engineering solutions and pioneer innovative governance, management and financial arrangements with upstream farming communities.” -Daniel Moss, Farming Matters
Walton, NY- Gather up those old paints, thinners and pesticides. Clean Sweep 2015 is the place to turn in all those questionable items that might pollute our waterways, soils and homes.
Every year, regional partners for clean water and a healthy environment host a community hazardous waste collection day, known as Clean Sweep. Now in its 19th year, Clean Sweep provides a safe disposal venue by collecting chemicals and other materials which pose a threat to public health, water and environment.
Clean Sweep is free to farmers in the eight watershed counties and free to all Delaware County household residents. Delaware County businesses, municipalities and county agencies are also invited to properly dispose of waste materials. Disposal services for businesses and municipalities are provided “at cost” with a cost estimate based on your itemized disposal list.
Register online at cleansweep.eventbrite.com or call (607) 865-6474 to get your appointment for HHW (household hazardous waste) redemption.This public service is brought to you by The Watershed Agricultural Council, Delaware County Department of Public Works, CCE-Delaware with funding from NYC DEP and NYS DEC.
It’s been a great month in the Catskills! The Delaware County Fair was a huge success for the Watershed Agricultural Council, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and Pure Catskills members who shared a tent all week. The Forestry program attended the NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days with particpants in Boonville, NY, while the Agriculture program continued to implement Whole Farm Plans and Best Management Practices on farms in the Watershed as well as host a farm tour for students at Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy. The Easement Program continued to protect additional farmland in the watershed, bringing their eased acre count to over 25,000!
In a continuing effort to protect water quality in the Watershed, WAC is partnering once again to bring Clean Sweep to Delaware County farmers, residents and business owners. This event takes household hazardous waste free of charge. It will be held on September 18-19th.
Read the August 2015 News from the Watershed Agricultural Council here.
DEP Commissioner Lloyd signs 100th Agricultural Lease to WAC participant and pilot farm, Byebrook Farm owned by Paul and Gwen Deysenroth of Bloomville, NY.
“Summer is in full swing for all the programs at the Watershed Agricultural Council. A self-guided day of creamery farm tours are being held this Sunday, June 21st by the Catskills Family Creameries group. The Agricultural Program has welcomed a slew of interns working hard taking soil samples and assisting technicians on farms this summer. The Forestry Program is hosting a log bucking workshop at the end of the month and the Easement Program is wishing their Stewardship Coordinator luck as he begins a new farming venture. It’s a busy time of year, but be sure to take some time to enjoy the working landscapes we are all working so hard to protect! ”
Read the June 2015 News from the Watershed Agricultural Council here.
