2016 Recap: News from the Woods

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

2016 in Review

Past articles and issues at: news.wellspringforestfarm.com

Rather than offer brand new content this month, we thought we would revisit the range stories we shared with you this year, in case you missed a resource we shared or want to revisit a topic that interested you.

In 2016, we offered articles on a number of topics including harvesting wild leeks, navigating the complex world of medicinal fungi, mushroom foraging tips, and the amazing ability of dried mushrooms to accumulate vitamin D from sunlight. Find links to these, and more, below.

Our goal with this newsletter, which just started this past May, is to provide useful and relevant information in the areas of farming, forestry, and agroforesry, along with updates on the offerings of Wellspring Forest Farm & School. Let us know how we are doing!

We offer this monthly through email, though you can view the newsletter at our website anytime, with a bit more flair (pretty pictures) at: news.wellspringforestfarm.com

In the coming year, we are excited to share stories on small scale logging, maple syrup (and sap) production, and of course, much more on mushrooms, as well as an exciting round of workshops and events we are currently planning.

We want to wish you and yours a safe and happy year ahead, and hope that together we can work to improve the health of the environment, the dignity of all people, and the viability of farming and homesteading for all. 

For the trees,
Steve & Elizabeth



2016 Recap


In MAY…

We talked about the properties of Ephemeral plants in the woods, including Wild Leeks, or Ramps (Allium tricoccum).  We have an article on the Farming the Woods blog about the dangers in overharvesting these amazing plants: https://farmingthewoods.com/2015/04/11/wild-leeks-welcome-us-to-spring-but-need-careful-harvesting/

Our 14-week Mushroom CSA was launched, where local residents to the Ithaca/Trumansburg/Watkins Glen areas of the finger lakes in New York can access fresh shiitake, oyster, and other mushrooms from our farm and forage from the newby woods. We are taking orders for our 2017 season, now!
csa.wellspringforestfarm.com





In JUNE…

We shared some basic tips on Wild Foraging Mushrooms in a post, which is now a free downloadable PDF article available at media.wellspringforestfarm.com

We announced our series of 3-day short courses, which will return in 2017. We cover topics such as forestry, fungi, and agroforestry, and plan to announce dates and themes for this year in late January 2017, so stay tuned!

For now, we are accepting applications for our 2017 apprenticeship training program and have also posted the dates for our Maple Weekend, March 18 & 19 
SEE: http://events.wellspringforestfarm.com/





In JULY…

Our newsletter explored the popular questions around invasive species:
http://wellspringforestfarm.blogspot.com/2016/07/july-news-from-woods-invasive-species.html








In AUGUST… SEPTEMBER… OCTOBER…

We shared about our experience with the historic drought, in an article called: “40% of New York is in Drought, What do the trees have to say?”






We released an article to help explain the complicated world of medicinal mushrooms, to help others navigate the decision making process.

And we explored the benefits of dehydrating mushrooms in the sun in an article titled, “Storing Sunlight for Winter: The Amazing Ability of Mushrooms to Accumulate Vitamin D

Get these articles FREE at http://media.wellspringforestfarm.com

Also in OCTOBER…

We announced the writing of Steve’s new book, Silvopasture, which explores the beneficial ways animals and trees can work together.

Read more at: http://silvopasturebook.com/




And in NOVEMBER…

We reflected on the common values and beliefs that our country must agree on to move forward; recommitting to the work we do as one part of the solution.  

Our ONLINE STORE opened for the season, with offerings of our products including dried shiitake, shiitake seasoning, elderberry extract, maple syrup, books, and sheep hides. Still some items left from our 2016 harvest!

store.wellspringforestfarm.com





---------------------------------------
Quote of the Month:
---------------------------------------

To cherish what remains of the Earth and
 to foster its renewal is our only legitimate
 hope of survival.

― Wendell Berry

---------------------------------------
“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@wellspringforestfarm.com


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