Photo: NY Harbor Shipping blog

Ever wonder if there was a better, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly way of moving New York State products to New York City? The Lower Hudson-Long Island Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D) is curious too and is proposing a Foodway Corridor Barge Project via the Hudson River, connecting food and wood products via local ports from river dock to City wharf. If you're a NY food or wood products producer interested in getting your products to one of the biggest consumer markets in the world,lend your voice to the discussion by filling out this survey.

The LH-LI RC&D and NYSERDA are funding the feasibility project. Sustainable Ports and New West Technologies, consultants on the project, are developing the barge transport logistics and conducting a mode comparison analysis between trucks and barge. Karp Resources, a NYC-based food and agriculture consulting company, is conducting the portion of the research to develop the survey and gather information about New York State farm production and agricultural product transportation. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.  

Photo: NY Harbor Shipping blog

The LH-LI RC&D covers 8 counties (Westchester, Ulster, Suffolk, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Nassau, Dutchess) and the 5 boroughs of New York City (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island) working cooperatively to implement action orientated plans that focus on social, economic and environmental resources. The counties in the LH-LI RC&D are very diverse but work together to provide projects that encompass both the rural and urban areas. EoH Program Agricultural Coordinator Carrie Davis represents the Council on the RC&D board and Foodway Corridor Committee.

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Water, Consciousness & Intent: Dr. Masaru Emoto

We know water is a pretty miraculous natural resource. But it's a whole other thing to see it captured on the Big Screen. In "Messages from Water," Dr. Masaru Emoto takes a photographic look at water crystals to determine the mysterious effects that music and words have on water's molecular structure. Under normal conditions, distilled water can only produce simple hexagonal crystals, but not once it has"listened" to Mozart. Come see for yourself! The Roxbury Arts Group (RAG) and the Council have teamed up for the9-week IMPACT Film Series at Stamford's 76 Main! every Thursday at 7 p.m. Movie admission is free; donations benefit future RAG programming and the Council's Conservation Easement Stewardship Fund. 

Photo: JoshDickPhoto.com

Non-motorized boating enthusiasts who've long yearned to dip their oars and paddles into the waters of New York City's huge reservoirs get their wish this weekend. On Friday, May 25, the Pepacton, Schoharie, and Neversink Reservoirs are open to the public for the first time. The Cannonsville Reservoir, which has been available to canoes, kayaks, row boats and small sailboats for the past three years, is welcoming boaters as well. The successful Cannonsville pilot program to expand recreational use to other non-mechanized vessels prompted the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to open three more reservoirs to boaters this year. With support from the Catskill Watershed Corporation, tourism promotion officials and municipal leaders, this exciting new recreational resource is now available to boaters with DEP Access Permits (available online). The public can launch their boats at specified sites after having them steam cleaned at approved vendors. There they will receive boat tags allowing short term (up to one week) or season-long access (through Columbus Day). Access lots of information online like reservoir maps, a list of steam cleaning vendors, boat launch sites and rental locations, DEP regulations regarding boat size and usage, and a link to the required DEP Access Permit application form.   

The artwork of Pure Catskills members Temma Bell and Ulla Kjarval, the mother-daughter team at Spring Lake Farm, are now on display at the Erpf Gallery at the Catskill Center, Arkville through Friday, June 22. Woodcuts and photography by fellow artists Flavia Bacarella and Dan Nelken are also featured. Thanks to Pure Catskills member Fable at Stone and Thistle Farm for catering the local foods artists' reception last weekend where over 50 art enthusiasts celebrated the essence of "AgriCulture" in the Catskills. FMI: Catskill Center (845) 586-2611

     

Article: Forests for the People by Diane Galusha
Newsletter: Watershed News: May 2012 (US EPA)
Technical Bulletin: No-till Management for Sustainable & Organic Systems (Rodale Institute)
Newsletter: Watershed Currents March 2012 (CWC)
Newsletter: Empire E-Bytes Spring 2012 (USDA NRCS NY)
Annual Report: Open Space Institute 2011