News from the Woods
a monthly digest of resources, events, and people in forestry & agroforestry from Wellspring Forest Farm www.WellspringForestFarm.com

Spring 2018

Greetings:

We are eager for Spring as I am sure many of you are, yet this slow transition is a good thing for many of the trees and wildlife in the woods. We’ve been working to cultivate patience and enjoy the downtown before what is sure to be another abundant season.

We’ve been sharing lots of photos from the farm and are now doing a weekly video update from the farm on our Instagram page; check it out and follow to keep up with our activities! https://www.instagram.com/wellspringforestfarmschool/

 This e-news update, we share more about upcoming events with Steve in several locations around the Northeast, celebrate and give thanks for support of our SILVOPASTURE book Kickstarter campaign, and link to our free foraging articles to get you ready to search for the hidden treasures of the forest

Enjoy and Happy Spring!
Steve & Elizabeth

Upcoming Events in NY and VT

Enjoy a weekend retreat with lodging, great food, and activities at a beautiful center nestled in the hills of the Hudson Valley….

​GIFTS FROM THE FOREST

May 11 – 13 at the OMEGA Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck NY

The workshop includes several guided walks in the forest, tree ID, and inoculated mushroom logs, medicines, and plants to take home!

LEARN MORE:

https://www.eomega.org/workshops/gifts-from-the-forest-0

Join us at Sterling College in Vermont for an in depth look at mushroom cultivation, tree syrups, and silvopasture systems for the farm and homestead…

PROFITABLE AGROFORESTRY FOR HOMESTEADS & FARMS

June 4 - 6 at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT

This workshop includes the basic production needs, economics, and forest management skills for agroforestry systems with the best potential in the Northeast.

LEARN MORE:

https://sterlingcollege.edu/course/farming-woods-profitable-agroforestry-homesteads-farms

Visit Wellspring Forest Farm and Edible Acres and learn practical skills in plant propagation, mushroom inoculation, and more…

 

GROWING A WOODLAND FARM & HOMESTEAD

June 22 - 24 at Wellspring Forest Farm & Edible Acres, Ithaca NY

Join Steve Gabriel and Sean Dembrosky for in-depth tours and hands-on practice and gain a ton of experience and ideas for your own productive land projects.

LEARN MORE:

http://events.wellspringforestfarm.com

THANK YOU!

Our recent Kickstater campaign was an overwhelming success thanks to the generous support of our backers who pledged $10,600 to help us support contributors to the book, publish an easy-to-access resource library, and develop an online course for practitioners. Our deepest thanks to those who pledged support!

During the project, we offered a series of FREE webinars about several aspects of Silvopasture, the combination of trees, livestock, and forages that offers one of the most promising solutions to climate change. The recordings of these presentations are available at http://silvopasturebook.com/ under “Video and Audio”

The book will be out June 21 -- Copies can be pre-ordered though our farm website:

https://tinyurl.com/OrderSilvopastureBook

Free Articles Prep You for the Foraging Season

Check out the “Media” page on our farm website for a number of free articles that have relevance as we head into the season of life in the forest. More articles and video can be found on this page: http://media.wellspringforestfarm.com

Wild Leeks Welcome us to Spring, But Need Careful Harvesting

LINK TO ARTICLE  

Getting Stared in Wild Foraging Mushrooms

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LINK TO ARTICLE     

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Quote of the Month:
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Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.


A tree says: My strength is trust. I know nothing about my fathers, I know nothing about the thousand children that every year spring out of me. I live out the secret of my seed to the very end, and I care for nothing else. I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live.

- Herman Hesse 

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“News from the Woods” is brought to you by:

Wellspring Forest Farm & School
leaving forests in our footsteps

Steve & Elizabeth Gabriel
Mecklenburg, NY
www.WellspringForestFarm.com
farmers@wellspringforestfarmcom


Let us know what you think!

To subscribe, please visit news.wellspringforestfarm.com and simply enter your email. Or you can email stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com with “SUBSCRIBE” as the subject line, and we will add you to the list!

To unsubscribe, please send an email with the subject “UNSUBSCRIBE ME” to stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com

Winter 2018 "News from the Woods" - New year, new classes, new book!

News from the Woods
a monthly digest of resources, events, and people in forestry & agroforestry
Winter 2018


 www.WellspringForestFarm.com


Greetings:

Welcoming to Maple Season! Each year, we renew our commitment to stewarding the forest-based ecosystems and farming practices that we see as so critical to a healthy planet. The sap from the trees (and the forthcoming syrup) reminds us of the gifts of the forest that we call home. 

We have lots of exciting things to announce in this issue, including our 2018 list of classes and workshops, the release of our second book in June, and a new free article for download about the wonders of the Black Locust tree.

Among all the class offerings, we are excited to offer our first ONLINE COURSE accessible anywhere in the world. The class is called “Foundations of Forest Stewardship” and runs from April 2 through May 7 with weekly live webinars. Read on for more information. 

We also continue to develop our understanding of the cultural narrative and the elements of social justice that are an essential part of this work. To this end, we’ve adopted new policies to support participation in our programs. Please see http:/policy.wellspringforestfarm.com for more.
As the trees start to thaw and the sap begins to flow, we begin another cycle and wish for each of you a healthy and abundant growing season.


For the trees,
Steve & Elizabeth

ON THE FARM

2018 CLASSES AND EVENTS

Learn more and register at http://events.wellspringforestfarm.com/

2018 New York MAPLE WEEKEND, March 17 & 18, 10am - 4pm at the farm

Join us for tours of the farm and sugarshack, taste sap and syrup. On Sunday we will do a hands-on mushroom inoculation workshop. Visit our Facebook event page for updated vendors and activities: https://www.facebook.com/events/143534439650034/

Foundations of Forest Stewardship (Online Course), April 2 – May 7

This course explores the ecology of woodlands and exposes participants to the wide range of opportunities to engage in both responsible management and productive use including mushroom cultivation, tapping trees for saps, and raising livestock amongst the trees.

Gifts From the Forest, May 11 - May 13 at the OMEGA Center in Rhinebeck, NY

We learn to observe the forest and find natural patterns to replicate in our own farms, gardens, or yards. Walk the woods to explore trees, plants, and mushrooms and learn proper planting techniques, how to inoculate logs that can easily grow shitake mushrooms at home, and how to make medicinal tinctures. Access to above online course FREE with registration.

Profitable Agroforestry for Homesteads & Farms, June 4 – 6 Sterling College, VT

This course will offer you skills to sustainably care for your woodlot and focus on log-grown mushrooms, tree saps and syrups, and silvopasture (grazing animals in the forest) as three of the best options for both the homestead and farm scale. Access to above online course FREE with registration.

Growing a Woodland Farm & Homestead, June 22 - 24 in Ithaca, NY

Explore growing edible mushrooms, perennial vegetables, berries, and nuts in temperate woodlands on both a homestead and farm scale. This course is facilitated by Steve Gabriel of Wellspring Forest Farm, along with Sean Dembrosky of Edible Acres Nursery. Access to above online course FREE with registration.

Fungi Foraging and Cultivation, September 22 – 24 in Mecklenburg, NY

Explore the wondrous world of fungi and learn how to grow and forage mushrooms with Farming the Woods co-author Steve Gabriel and Olga Tzogas Smugtown Mushrooms. Access to above online course FREE with registration.

Silvopasture in Practice, October 6 – 8 in Mecklenburg, NY

During this course we will work closely with active silvopasture farms including Wellspring Forest Farm (sheep) and Angus Glen Farm (cows) and teach both the planning and practice of silvopasture. We will focus primarily on systems for ruminants but touch on options and considerations for pigs and poultry. Access to above online course FREE with registration.

IN THE WOODS

SILVOPASTURE BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN JUNE, 2017

Our newest book, titled “Silvopasture: A Guide to Managing Pasture Animals, Forage Crops, and Trees in a Temperate Farm Ecosystem” is scheduled for release this coming June.

There is good evidence that Silvopasture systems are among the best in addressing a rapidly changing climate. The recent New York Times Best Seller book DRAWDOWN rated Silvopasture #9 among ALL solutions to climate change.

We have launched a KICKSTARTER campaign to help provide stipends to writers, researchers, and farmers who contributed to the book. The funds also help us continue the work and develop much needed tools and resources for those interested in implementing Silvopasture on landscapes.
SUPPORT the campaign and get great perks like signed copies of the book, access to our workshops, and more! 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/291195731/silvopasture-a-book-on-livestock-for-climate-smart

NEW FREE ARTICLE POSTED AT OUR WEBSITE

We have a new article for download at the farm website. We write about one of the best multi-use trees in agroforestry: Black Locust. Learn about its history, use, and methods for best care and propagation. 

You can download the article at http://media.wellspringforestfarm.com

There are many other free articles there for you to enjoy, so check out the whole collection! One relevant to the coming season is “Tapping Maple for Sap”.

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Quote of the Month:
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We must keep these waters for wild rice,

these trees for maple syrup,

our lakes for fish,

and our land and aquifers for all of our relatives - whether they have fins, roots, wings, or paws.

- Winona LaDuke
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“News from the Woods” is brought to you by:

Wellspring Forest Farm & School
leaving forests in our footsteps

Steve & Elizabeth Gabriel
Mecklenburg, NY
www.WellspringForestFarm.com
farmers@wellspringforestfarmcom


Let us know what you think!
To subscribe, please visit news.wellspringforestfarm.com and simply enter your email. Or you can email stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com with “SUBSCRIBE” as the subject line, and we will add you to the list!

To unsubscribe, please send an email with the subject “UNSUBSCRIBE ME” to stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com

News from the Woods: November 2017

News from the Woods

A seasonal digest of resources and events in forestry and agroforestry from Wellspring Forest Farm & School

Fall/Winter 2017

Greetings:

Sending our greetings and thanks to each of you, for your support and interest in our work to pursue more ecological and just ways to farm the land, and teach others about it.  2017 was a remarkable year in many respects. We give thanks for everything this season brought us.

It’s been a few months since we’ve shared a newsletter (August), and we wanted to catch you up on the latest news from our farm and beyond. Moving forward, we are going to feature two items in each newsletter:

ON THE FARM will give you insight into what is happening at Wellspring, and upcoming events and opportunities.

IN THE WOODS is where we will share a “big picture” idea and some educational material related to forest and tree stewardship.

Enjoy! May everyone find time this season to give thanks for all the gifts we harvested this season, and to rest and regenerate during this darkest time of year.

Next update: early Jan with 2018 classes and info on a new book!

For the trees,

Steve & Elizabeth

ON THE FARM

November and December are the months of rest for us and the land, where we tuck our systems to bed and slow down the rigorous summer work. We savor this time, using it to reflect on the season, plan for next year, and sleep in a bit before the maple season starts.

While the woods and fields are quiet and dormant this time of year, we have savored the harvest and have many products for sale in our farm store, which make great gifts!

Maple Syrup: We have small containers, 4oz ($6) and 8oz ($10), left from the 2017 harvest from our small batch, wood fired system.

Dried Mushrooms: 2017 was an abundant year for mushrooms, we have dried shiitake available in 1oz ($6) and 4 oz ($20) quantities. Great in soups, baked dishes, and stir fry. Incredible smell and flavor!

Shiitake Seasoning: We powder a selection of our shiitake harvest into a flavorful spice that works well in soups, sauces, pasta, and on pizza. This one is quickly becoming a customer favorite! ($5 for 4oz)

Lamb Skins: It is important for us to honor our sheep in life, and in death. We value all parts of the animal and have a beautiful selection of colorful hides that are great for babies or decorative uses. ($55- $95)

Books: Order a copy of our book, Farming the Woods, which describes how you can fill your forests with food ($35.00)

CSA Shares: For local folks, join our 2018 Mushroom CSA and enjoy fresh mushrooms each week from June – September.

You can learn more and order online at our farm store: store.wellspringforestfarm.com

or if you are local, visit us at the Press Bay Holiday Market in Ithaca

December 21 from 4:30 to 7:00pm. Here is the event page:

Thanks for your support!

IN THE WOODS

One of our big focuses this year was to more deeply explore our land and the relationship we have to it’s past, present, and future. One aspect we’ve been digging in deep on is learning more about the indigenous people and stories that are embedded in the history of our land and the wider region. We farm on Cayuga Nation land, one of the nations in the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois’ confederacy.

Some of our relation to this work comes from our relationship to Mike DeMunn, who is our forest mentor and part Senca-Haudenosaunee. His perspective on forestry is literally the foundation of our school.

Watch a video of Mike in the woods: http://www.woodlanders.com/blog/2017/1/19/ep-1-ecological-forestry

The accounts of history are not easy to read, as so many tales are about the exploitation of so many people and places we all live on today. Yet coupled with the tragedy of history are incredible stories of many incredible indigenous people and communities. They are still here, and this fact is a testament to resilience.

While it may not be clear to so how this topic links to forest and land stewardship, allow me to explain the connections we see. When we look at the landscape we have today, so much can be traced back to the perspective and attitude of colonist settlers, who saw it as their right to extract as much value from land for their own personal gains.

The concept of ownership was not present on these lands until settlers came. Native people, of many tribes and communities, had very different concepts of property and ownership, which the outsiders viewed only through their own cultural constructs. One example – forests were feared, and seen as “wastelands” – in many cases in order to claim land rights, settlers had to “improve” the land, which meant clearing it of all its forests.

In very much the same way, colonizer settlers viewed native communities as “sinful” and out of line with their concepts of god and nation. They systematically and unapologetically destroyed communities during the time the United States was being developed as a country. This is the legacy of the birth of this country.

While this painful history may not be our fault, it is our responsibility to

recognize these truths and seek to understand how the past narratives of forest use, farming, and culture intersect. The settler-colonizer attitude still infects the way we see and view the world, and it’s critical for us, that we examine this, if we are to be good stewards of the land.

In this thanksgiving time, it’s legitimate to gather and share food with family, to give thanks for all we have, to celebrate the harvest. But we need to recognize that the narrative of this holiday is not one based in the fairytale version of a peaceful meal between pilgrims and Native Americans. It is based on a history where many settler communities celebrated the conquest of native people with thanksgiving feasts.

We encourage you to spend some time listening to native voices on this topic, to learn more. Here are two recent podcasts that tell these stories, in their own words:

https://thetableunderground.com/the-table-underground/2017/11/14/th-true-story-of-thanksgiving-t3lpw

http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/wednesday-november-22-2017-no-thanks-thanksgiving/

We also encourage you to learn about the specific people who traditionally lived on the land you are on now. See this great map to learn more:

http://native-land.ca/

Some reading that we’ve found to help shed light on these narratives:

The Indigenous Peoples History of the United States

by Roxanne Dunbar- Ortiz

http://www.beacon.org/An-Indigenous-Peoples-History-of-the-United-States-P1164.aspx

Changes in the Land

by William Cronon

https://changesinland.wordpress.com/

And in addition to exploring these aspects of history, it’s important to plug into current work that supports sovereignty and to see the work and struggles of native people today.

Rowan White, who is Akewsasne-Mohawk and founded Sierra Seeds, works with seed saving and sovereignty and has a number of resources and an online mentorship program:

http://sierraseeds.org/

She and others appear in a wonderful film that tells the story of see dds, and how communities can rally around seed saving as an important action:

SEEDS: THE UNTOLD STORY
https://www.seedthemovie.com/

We have also found many lessons in the writings and work of Robin Wall Kimmerer, who is Potawatomi and teaches at SUNY-ESF in New York.

BOOK:

Braiding Sweet Grass

https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass

A great article by her on how language can affect our work:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/together-with-earth/alternative-grammar-a-new-language-of-kinship

Thanks for reading these words, and we welcome dialog and conversation. We can begin with building our awareness, and then determine when and how to take action.

Wishing each of you a restful and restorative time in this quieter time of the year.

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Quote of the Month:

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“In indigenous ways of knowing, other species are recognized not only as persons, but also as teachers who can inspire how we might live.

We can learn a new solar economy from plants, medicines from mycelia, and architecture from the ants. By learning from other species, we might even learn humility.”

Robin Wall Kimmerer

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“News from the Woods” is brought to you by:

Wellspring Forest Farm & School

leaving forests in our footsteps

Steve & Elizabeth Gabriel

Mecklenburg, NY

www.WellspringForestFarm.com

farmers@wellspringforestfarmcom

Let us know what you think!

To subscribe, please visit news.wellspringforestfarm.com and simply enter your email. Or you can email stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com with “SUBSCRIBE” as the subject line, and we will add you to the list!

To unsubscribe, please send an email with the subject “UNSUBSCRIBE ME” to stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com