Hudson Valley agriculture

Our old Dutchess farmers may feel proud of their farms,
Producing such fine crops, having beauty that chains,
The stranger that journeys far over the state
Declaring old Dutchess stands first on the slate.
Rhinebeck farmers, of good tillage, are not afraid,
When they gather their harvest, they find they’re well paid;
Their corn, rye, and oats, such a bountiful […]

By |2025-04-28T13:28:23-04:00May 1st, 2025|Farm Feature, Great Outdoors, Our Environment|

Legends of the land & sea

As we’re only a few months into a new presidential administration, I’ve been trying to remain current with news and policy changes. While browsing my news sources in recent weeks, a few headlines about Bigfoot, who is also known as Sasquatch, have caught my eye. 

He does exist

Apparently, there have been several Bigfoot sightings in […]

By |2025-05-06T13:40:24-04:00May 1st, 2025|Animal Tips, Great Outdoors|

Friends, not frights: In the year of the snake, take kindly to this special animal

It’s the Year of the Snake, and we should all be paying more attention to these amazing creatures not just for what they represent, but for what they do.

Snakes, like spiders and bats, tend to subconsciously initiate the fight-or-flight instinct in us. “Get rid of it!” tends to be our reaction to seeing any […]

By |2025-04-28T13:20:33-04:00May 1st, 2025|Animal Tips, Featured Article, Great Outdoors|

All about Scottish Highland Cattle: Environmental education and land restoration at Elk Ravine Farm

If you’re taking a drive through the countryside and you find yourself on Route 83 in Amenia, NY, chances are you’ll come across Elk Ravine Farm. The farm – owned by Jim Archer and named for the Rocky Mountain Elk that it initially housed – sits on 90 sprawling acres that encompass multiple different habitats, […]

Mohonk Mountain House’s Spring Tulip Festival returns at the end of April

The Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY, is hosting its annual Spring Tulip Festival from April 28 through May 9. Experience a kaleidoscope of color as Mohonk Mountain House’s garden springs to life with over 30,000 vibrant red, yellow, pink, and purple tulips.

Tulip passes are $35 per adult, $30 per […]

Energy efficient construction: Better for the Earth and better for your wallet

Above photo is the Orchard Modern project by CB Design / Build

Energy-efficient construction is a term that’s being used with more frequency in the construction world. With drastic changes in weather due to climate change, more builders and contractors are considering ways to make homes more resilient to extreme weather, while mitigating the effects on […]

By |2025-03-25T10:55:03-04:00March 27th, 2025|Great Outdoors, Our Environment|

Nuclear Power

Nooooo! A thousand times, no. Not here!

Yes, of course, the knee-jerk response to any mention of nuclear power is to scream with the fury of seven tornadoes during an early Sunday-morning earthquake. Everyone has a position, certainly, but how about we set politics to the side and start with a clean slate here, shall we? […]

By |2025-03-25T10:46:03-04:00March 27th, 2025|Great Outdoors, Our Environment|

Plastics: The future or a failure?

“I just want to say one word to you. Plastics.”

Remember that classic line from the 1967 movie “The Graduate”? 

Had Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) followed that advice, today he might be a wealthy, retired CEO. 

But he’d also have been part of what is a world-wide problem for waste and climate change. Plastic is everywhere, […]

By |2025-03-25T10:43:27-04:00March 27th, 2025|Great Outdoors, Our Environment|

Come fly away with me

By Ian Strever & Daniel Moran

Daniel Moran is a student at Housatonic Valley Region High School who has been learning about drones and sharing his expertise with peers and adults throughout the Region 1 School District in Connecticut.

Imagine yourself standing among the most perfect 100-acre field of soybeans, planted autonomously by a GPS tractor, with […]

By |2025-03-25T10:35:15-04:00March 27th, 2025|Great Outdoors, Our Environment|

What’s all the buzz about? The role of honey bees in our ecosystem, colony losses, and the challenges of keeping hives

Pollination is vital to our ecosystem. Bees and other pollinators work hard, ensuring food security and nutrition and maintaining biodiversity for plants, humans, and the pollinators themselves. 

Just how dependent is our food system on pollinators?

Pollinators are essential to the production of many fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. According to the Food and Agriculture […]

By |2025-03-25T10:30:40-04:00March 27th, 2025|Great Outdoors, Our Environment|
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