Our Environment, Animal Tips and the Great Outdoors
Our Environment
Nature on Repeat
“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Seuss
When I first moved back to New York after almost 20 years in Oregon, I felt like the outdoor scene in New York City was never good enough. The rock […]
Decay, the Good Way
There is something poetic, almost lyrical about compost, I’ve decided. True, most of the compost-conscious world focuses on prosaic matters like the ratio of nitrogen to carbon, feedstocks, and NYS DEC 360 permits. It elevates creatures that I’m guessing are voracious, called detritivores, and their taste for rotting food to […]
Taking the Waste out of Food Waste
It is a dilemma that everyone has most likely experienced. You lean back from the table as your food baby protrudes in front of you. Your plate still features the remaining forkfuls of food. Despite your best efforts you can’t bring yourself to finish the meal in an attempt to […]
Southern New England by Contrast
This is a beautiful part of the country, it really is. At least once a week, a certain slant of light or the fleeting glimpse of a fox reminds me how lucky we are to live amidst such natural wonders.
But March?
This year, that fifth month of winter nudged me toward […]
Animals Tips
Shelter in Place: How Animal Services are Coping with Crisis
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many Federal and State mandates to order the closures of many businesses in U.S. towns and cities nationwide. In our area, nearly every school, gym, bar and restaurant have temporarily shuddered in compliance with State mandated ‘social distancing’ guidelines. Over the past few weeks, even […]
Fear Free Cat Transport Part 2
With some prior success getting Kitty used to the carrier, as discussed in Part 1, it is now time to take a ride to the Veterinarian! Be sure to apply pheromones in the carrier 15 minutes prior to her entry. When it is time to transport, always allow enough time to […]
How do I make the trip to the vet Fear Free for my cat?
How do I make the trip to the vet Fear Free for my cat? (PART 1 of 2).
No matter how important the visit may be, making the trek to the vet can be stressful for most cats, not to mention their humans. In Part I, we will discuss helpful strategies […]
Nail Clipping Training for Cats with a Fear Free Approach
Most indoor cats need their nails clipped every 2-3 weeks and many of us avoid the task. The result of avoiding this important task can be shredded upholstery, nails caught in material while scratching, and long, brittle nails that split or possibly grow into the pad, usually requiring medical attention. […]
Great Outdoors
Getting Grounded
As the summer season heats up, we’re all yearning to spend time in the great outdoors. Our leisure time is gleefully filled with a host of fun activities – from kayaking to swimming, camping, biking, and hiking.
By now, the trees are covered in verdant green leaves and the flowers have […]
Forest Bathing, Seriously? Yes!
by Melanie McGinn, RN, MBA, CHC, Founder of Health Through Time Nurse Consulting and Coaching
Had you asked me a month ago if I would ever write a blog post on forest bathing, that would have been a definitive no. I am very open to Eastern, Western, and alternative modalities to […]
GREAT MOUNTAIN FOREST BECOMES IUCN MEMBER
Membership Gives GMF Access to International Natural Conservation Union
On February 10, 2021, Great Mountain Forest (GMF) in Falls Village, CT, was granted membership into the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a global organization dedicated to assessing the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard […]
A Call for Help: Birders Watch Declining Populations
By, John Torsiello
Millerton, NY, resident Jane Rossman grew up watching birds at the feeders her family set out near their house. Thus was born, at an early age, a love and passion for the beauty wild birds bring to our lives. “Later, I became more active by going on walks […]
