Farmer Flood Relief Fund opens second application round

Flood relief funding is currently available for Catskill region farmers through the Raise the Roof Donation Fund. Hundreds of community members and a dozen local organizations have contributed over $28,000 since September. These are small grants available to farms that suffered flood damage or product loss during Hurricane Irene and/or Tropical Storm Lee. A first round of $15,000 in funding has been completed. The second round of funding is open between December 15, 2011 and January 15, 2012. Applications may be obtained from the Scholarships & Grants section of the Pure Catskills webpage online at www.buypurecatskills.com or by contacting Challey Comer at ccomer@nycwatershed.org or (607) 865-7090.

The Raise the Roof Donation Fund is managed by a committee of local farmers and community members with administrative support from the Watershed Agricultural Council. Distribution of funding is the decision of the fund committee. Donations toward the fund will be accepted through the remained of 2011. One-hundred percent of donations will be awarded through the fund. Those wishing to contribute are encouraged to mail a tax-deductible donation, made out to the 'Watershed Agricultural Council,' to WAC, 44 West Street, Walton, NY 13856. General inquiries about the fundraising effort may be direct to Morgan George of Sherman Hill Farmstead at (607) 829-6886 or Target409@Hotmail.com.

Fall events - Columbus Day and beyond

The weather forecast for Columbus Day weekend is looking fantastic - get out for some leaf peeping and harvest celebrating! We've included a few of next weekend's events since it will be the weekend again before you know it!

Taste of the Catskills

October 8th & 9th

Starts at 10 am each day

Maple Shade Farm

County Route 18, Delhi

A huge fall celebration with live music, workshops, kids activities and lots of great local food.

Pumpkin Festival

October 8th

10 am to 5 pm

Springhouse Commons

Route 97, Barryville

Fireworks, bake off, pie eating, costumes and scarecrow decorating.

Pig Roast & Fundraiser

October 8th

Heather Ridge Farm

Broome Center Road, Preston Hollow

A special lunch at this farm cafe with funds raised going to the Farmer Flood Relief Fund.

Tastings Under the Tent

October 8th

1 to 4 pm

Main Street Farm

Main Street, Livingston Manor

Sample farm-made preserves and unique pairings from Blue Moon Farm in Delhi.

Rustic Craft Festival

October 9th

11 am to 4 pm

Bethel Woods Harvest Festival

Hurd Road, Bethel

Enjoy a unique array of local crafts at this weekly harvest event.

Lactofermentation Workshop

October 9th

Noon

Callicoon Farmers' Market

Callicoon Creek Park, Callicoon

Join Slow Food Upper Delaware River Valley for a demonstration of this traditional food-preservation technique.

Fall Festival
October 15th
11 am to 4 pm
Ashokan Center
477 Beaverkill Road, Olivebridge
Cider making, pumpkin painting, historic building tours and live music! The Ashokan Center has generously offered to donate proceeds from this event to the Farmer Flood Relief Fund.

RSK Farm Fundraiser
October 15th
11 am to 5 pm
Blue Mountain Bistro
948 State Route 28, Kingston
All proceeds from sales on Saturday, October 15th will go to assist RSK Farm in Prattville. Online donations are also welcome at help-the-farm.org

Pig Mountain

October 15th

1 to 6 pm

Bridle Hill Farm

Hemmer Road, Jeffersonville

Celebrity chefs will cook up Catskill hogs at this feast and benefit for Farmhearts.

Cider Making

October 15th

2 to 4 pm

1300 Crystal Lake Road, Narrowsburg

Join Slow Food Upper Delaware River valley for cider press and sampling!

Annual Harvest Party

October 15th

2 to 5 pm

Sherman Hill Farmstead

County Highway 21, Franklin

Sample fresh and aged cheese varieties, tour the farm, enjoy the bonfire and bring a dish to pass!

Farm to Table Brunch

October 16th

Hills Country Inn

Hill Resort Road, Callicoon Center

Enjoy a seasonal brunch with the Early Bird Cookery gang.

Catskills farmer flood relief fund

Two weeks. Two floods. It's left many communities in our region feeling helpless and looking for ways to help rebuild.

Many neighbors have contacted Pure Catskills looking for ways to help farmers directly. One of those neighbors was Morgan George, the herd manager at Sherman Hill Farmstead, who is organizing a fundraiser to do just that!

The big event, 'Raise the Roof!,' will take place Sunday, September 18th from 4:30 to 9:00 PM at the Hamden Inn, 35769 State Highway 10, Hamden, NY.

Admission to the event is offered by donation, large or small. Local musicians and writers will provide entertainment. Proceeds from the event's silent auction, featuring local artwork and products, will go toward the relief fund. Silent auction donations are still being accepted. Please contact Morgan at target409@hotmail.com or (607) 829-6886 for more information.

Every dollar gathered through the fund will be distributed to farmers in need. A diverse review panel of local farmers will oversee the distribution of need-based funding awards. The goal is to fill needs not met by funds available from Federal, State and non-profit sources. The Watershed Agricultural Council, of which Pure Catskills is an initiative, is serving as the fiscal sponsor for the fund.

Those unable to attend the fundraiser but interested in donating to the farmer relief fund may make a tax-deductible donation online at the Council's donation page. Please fill the "Designate your donation to a specific program or fund" field with "Catskills Farmer Relief." Mail checks made out to "WAC" to WAC, 33195 State Highway 10, Walton, NY 13856. Please write "Catskills Farmer Relief" in the memo line.

Mark your calendars! Spread the word! See you on the 18th!

Labor Day weekend events

Main Street Farm in Livingston Manor. Hey, nice mural!

We can hardly believe it as we type it but Labor Day is here!

September 3, 10 to 11 am
Latin for Gardeners
Catskill Native Nursery
607 Samsonville Road, Kerhonkson
Phone: (845) 626-2758
We all know that once you get started, Latin names offer a surefire, easy way to identify specific plants and quickly find related ones. But how do you get started? Writer, former Latin teacher, and nursery employee John Kuhner will give a brief introductory class on Latin pronunciation, the most useful botanical Latin terms, the fun botanists have at plants' expense, and the books you need to investigate further. Bring your Latin questions, your unpronounceable plant names, and general curiosity. Suggested contribution of $5 when we pass the basket. If it rains we will hold the session in our barn.

September 3, 12 to 3 pm
Farmstock Tour - final tour of the year!
Bridle Hill Farm
190 Hemmer Road, Jeffersonville
Phone: (845) 482-3993
Western trail ride, grooming, saddling demonstrations. Presented by the Sullivan County Farm Network. Admission fee: adults $6, kids $4.

September 4, 10 am to 5 p m
Bovina Farm Day
Weber Road, Bovina
Phone: (607) 832-4418
A day of ‘down on the farm’ fun for everyone. Come and meet your local farmers. Gathering for locally grown producers to display their products. $5 per car.

September 4, 11 am to 5 pm
Tunes 'n' Tomatoes 2011!
West Kortright Centre
49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith
Live music all day! Kids activities throughout from the Oneonta World of Learning and the Dirtmeister; Uncle Rock and the Playthings’ Dance Party; hear and join in with the Delaware County Complaints Choir; the Homegrown String Band will play their acoustic roots music with step-dancing demonstrations; Story Laurie & Ira McIntosh provide music and storytelling; Jesse's Backyard Orchestra will play a mash-up of blues, Brazilian, Americana & jazz,Rob Hunt Swing Band plays favorites. Fabulous baked goods! Scrumptious food — locally grown and prepared meats by NYFarm2Door & delicious vegetarian dishes. Jam-packed silent auctions of fine art, antiques, recycled treasures, and goods! Antique appraiser on-site. $15 adults/$5 under 19/free 5 and under. Rain or shine.

September 4, 11 am to 4 pm
Bethel Woods Harvest Festival: Alpaca Festival
200 Hurd Road, Bethel
Phone: (845) 295-2448
Email: farmfest@BethelWoodsCenter.org
La Mantequilla Alpaca Fashions and Friends bring live alpacas, exhibits, spinners and weavers to the festival. A boutique will offer diverse products. Complimented by music, food and wine this event is a festival favorite to kick off the harvest season. The Sullivan County SPCA will also be on site offering information and adoption opportunities. $2.00 Parking; Free Admission.

September 4, 1 pm
'When Cauliflower was King'
Morgan Outdoors
Main Street, Livingston Manor
Join Morgan Outdoors and Main Street Farm in the village of Livingston Manor for an author discussion with local writer Diane Galusha. Her book on the cauliflower-growing industry in the Catskills will be discussed followed by local food tastings across the street at Main Street Farm.

Fundraisers to benefit Catskill farms

Details are emerging about upcoming fundraisers aimed at supporting Catskill farms that have been impacted by this week's flooding. We will share more details as they become available.

Please visit the individual event and business links for additional details. This list is limited to events organized by or to benefit Pure Catskills business members. A list of general relief efforts is available at the Watershed Post.

Today!
Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room, Big Indian
The restaurant will donate 20% of the night's proceeds to the MARK Project's rebuilding efforts in the Margaretville-Arkville area. Opens at 5 pm.

September 10th
Charity Chili Cook off
Andes Hotel, Andes
Sign up now for next weekend's cook off at the Hotel. Every dollar taken in will be donated at the MARK Project to help get Margaretville back on track!

September 18th
Farm Fundraiser
Hamden Inn, Hamden
An event filled with local musicians, writers and artists coming together to raise funding for area farmers. Contact Morgan George of Sherman Hill Farmstead in Franklin at target409@hotmail.com or leave a message at (607) 829-6886.

October 9th & 10th
Taste of the Catskills
Maple Shade Farm, Delhi
This annual local food celebration will add fundraising for farms affects to the weekend's program. Contact Jonah Shaw for additional details at info@tasteofthecatskills.com.

November 6th
RSK Farm Fundraiser
Global Palate Restaurant, West Park
Global Palate's chef Jessica Winchell and Michael Bernardo of Cafe Mio will be holding a benefit dinner at Global Palate for Bob and Sandy Kiley of RSK farms. The farm is located along the Schoharie Creek in Prattsville and had lost most of its topsoil as a result of flooding.

Post Irene: How to help Catskill region farmers

The beautiful Schoharie Valley during better days.

We've been humbled by the huge interest from the regional community looking to help farmers who have been impacted by damage from this weekend's storm. What follows is a list of what we've heard from our regional business members on the assistance they need.

PLEASE share any updates you might have about farmer needs with us by contacting Challey Comer at ccomer@nycwatershed.org or (607) 865-7090. General community needs should be directed to the general resources listed below.


GENERAL RESOURCES - Where to go for general updates and relief efforts.

Watershed Post - Aggregated regional updates on road closures and donation/relief efforts.

River Reporter - Sullivan County updates on power outages and road access.

Irene in the Catskills - A Facebook group aimed at matching needs with supplies.

Catskills Irene Relief Resources - A clearing house for needs and resources to help our Catskills neighbors recover from Hurricane Irene.


HOW TO HELP IF YOU'RE IN...

• Cobleskill/Schoharie - Red Cross establishes emergency shelter at Golding

• Delaware/Otsego County - a list of suggestions from the Daily Star

• Liberty - Flood Relief Drive info from the Liberty Independent

• Margaretville - The Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce is sharing regular updates through their Facebook page

• New York City
• MANHATTAN: Drop-off point Food, clothes, supplies "Powell Communications 84 Wooster Street (between Spring and Broom)" CatskillMtnRelief@gmail.com Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM -6:00 PM
• Jon and Tiffany Kalupa are co-ordinating donations for anyone in NYC at 366 West 11th Street lobby of the building. (between Washington St and Westside Hwy) They will bring up donations from NYC Thursday night and each week thereafter. If you are down state, or have friends or family that are looking for a way to help....this is a good jumping off point.
• BROOKLYN drop-off point Food, clothes, supplies Brooklyn Collection Center- Red Shed Community Garden 266 Skillman Ave (at kingsland) CatskillMtnRelief@gmail.com Monday- Friday 6:00pm to 8:00pm

UPDATES FROM OUR BUSINESS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS

Cha Cha Hut in Andes:
While it important to be concerned about what has been lost - also important to consider what is still here. OPEN THIS WEEKEND: Roxbury: Public Lounge, Cassie's Cafe, The East Branch & T-Bar (guessing ), Country Store. ARKVILLE: Casey Joe's, Arkville Bread & Breakfast & Great Woods Farm (formerly the Market Basket). ANDES: Cha Cha Hut BBQ, Woody's, Andes Hotel, Tay Tea (guessing), the various Main Street Shops & Hogan's General Store. GRAND GORGE: Pizza Palace & the Country Store. STAMFORD: Kaaterskill House, TP's CAFE, Gabrielle's, john's Tavern, the Grand Union, Mac-a-doodles, Ming Moon & Peach Tree Cafe. As important as it is to help in the relief effort is is equally important to support those businesses still here... Follow live link at http://chachahut.com/opencatskills/

Greenmarket in NYC:
The city-based network of farmers' markets is gathering donations for their farm vendors affected by flooding. All who give before September 30th will receive a free Greenmarket poster.

Hillhaven Farms in Stamford:
If anyone is interested in helping us build a team of disaster relief for our good friends, BARBERS FARM we'd be more than appreciative. We'll be meeting at Jefferson Central School at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Please bring drinks/food/gloves/work clothes appropriate. Let us know beforehand because we are creating a list, and we'd only like serious initiatives only please. Call the farm at (607) 652-2274.

Lazy Crazy Acres in Arkville: REQUEST FULFILLED!
We have been bottling as much milk as we can as there is a shortage in the area. You can get some at the old Market Basket in Arkville and at Sams in Fleischmanns. Currently we are having a generator issue and working on a solution... anyone have a 24kw generator that we - along with our dairy farming friends - can use? Cows need milking. Please call Jake Fairbairn at 845.302.8016.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York:
Gathering information on farmers in need of assistance across the state and organizing crop mobs to clean up farms this weekend. Details in their latest email newsletter.

Oriole 9 in Woodstock:
If anyone would like to donate to Windham and/or Phoenicia, the people at Oriole 9 will be making a run up there at 3pm today. They'll be using the YumYum patio on Rock City Rd as a drop off center. Things they need: Non perishable food(peanut butter, canned goods etc..) Coffee, Tea, Blankets,Water, antibacterial soap, baby wipes, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, etc.

Sap Bush Hollow Farm in West Fulton:
Goodnight Irene - An essay from farmer Shannon Hayes on the impact in her Schoharie County community.

Sherman Hill Farmstead in Franklin:
Herd manager Morgan George is organizing a flood relief fundraiser to take place somewhere...hopefully in or around the Franklin area. Organizers, writers, musicians, artists, anyone willing to help out should contact her directly. Contact me her at target409@hotmail.com or leave a message at 607-829-6886.

Water Street Market in New Paltz:
Farms and Family Benefit at Water Street Market on Monday, September 26th from 5 to 9PM. Live Music, potluck, $20 suggested donation. Anyone interested in volunteering to help get sponsorships, work the event, etc, we are having a meeting at Water Street Market Tuesday at 6PM to coordinate. If you cannot attend the meeting and still want to help, contact KT Tobin at ktobinf@gmail.com.

Willow View Hill Farm in Stamford:
If your livestock have survived and your hay has not - I have some willing to donate..training@willowviewhillfarm.com

PRESS COVERAGE

As Water Recedes, Cleanup Of A Soupy Mess Begins - NPR

Upstate Farmers Find That a Fertile Flood Plain Is a Two-Edged Sword - New York Times

Irene: Delaware County Devastation - WBNG

NY farmers hit hard by Irene assessing damage - CNBC

Irene Recovery Underway in the Hudson Valley - WAMC

Upstate Farms in Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys Devastated by Irene - Village Voice

Catskills CRAFT group to visit Mountain Dell Farm

On Monday, September 12, the Catskills CRAFT group will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mountain Dell Farm in Hancock, NY. Catskills CRAFT, or Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, is an educational networking group for beginning farmers. Farm interns, employees and operators of recently established farm enterprises are welcome to attend the event.

For the past 20 years, Mark Dunau and Lisa Wujnovich have been supplying their customers with fresh products late into the harvest season using a floating row cover technique that extends their growing season and has increased their production by 50 percent. With just five acres in production, Mountain Dell Farm is growing 50 types of vegetables and supplying leafy greens to health food stores, local restaurants, community supported agriculture (CSA) customers and high-end restaurants in New York City.

Success with season extension through the use of row covers will be the focus of the CRAFT visit. Fabric tarps cover their fields to retain moisture and heat during the coldest parts of the growing season. The first hour of the farm visit will include a tour and discussion of these techniques. Following the discussion, the group will share a potluck meal.

Catskills CRAFT brings a national model aimed at developing beginning farmer networks across the country to the region. More details on the group and the monthly farm visits planned throughout 2011 can be found at www.catskillscraft.org. Contact Sonia Janiszewski at info@catskillscraft.org or 914-720-1020 for more information.