The Giving Trees Autumn Update
In mid July, Sage and I launched The Giving Trees project (www.givingtrees.org) with the mission to plant the next generations of food bearing nut and fruit trees in the Hudson Valley. Our goal is to watch food sustainability and habitat grow around us.
We were distraught by the increased forest clearing in our community resulting from the uptick in development. We believe that our neighborhoods are healthier with giant elder trees, middle aged parent trees, teenagers and young saplings all growing together.
So we decided to get to work. We developed friendships with a nursery source for exceptionally high quality saplings, including many varieties of blight resistant chestnut, and we set out to gather support, provide unique thank you gifts, plant, and grow.
Your support makes it all possible. In just six weeks we have orders for more than 40 trees that will be planted in Spring in your backyards and neighborhoods.
If you placed an order already, we are working on getting your gifts ready as soon as possible. We are producing acorn flour from last year’s fall harvest of red oak acorns (keep reading or skip down for our upcoming fall harvest dates) and we have sourced the highest quality chestnut flour from Breadtree Farms in Greenwich NY.
Sage and I are testing some delicious recipes using these flours. If you want to come over and help with the baking or sample some tasty treats - please let us know.
Sage is a prolific chef and I am racing to keep up. We are working on a mini cookbook that we can share with our gifts. It has over 20 recipes and includes works by local artists celebrating the trees!
We have some good news - we have been given the opportunity to table and teach at several fall fairs that are free family friendly events.
Come hang with us at one of the events (listed below). We will have foods to sample and purchase made from our forest ingredients (baked goods, acorn ice cream popsicles, and a new Sage Approved roasted acorn chai hot beverage). At some events, we are also hosting some acorn themed games and presenting on “How to make your own acorn flour”.
at Stone Mountain Farm, 310 River Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561​​
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at Big River Chestnuts, 195 River Rd, Sunderland, MA 01375
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at Rose Hill Farm, 19 Rose Hill, Red Hook, NY 12571
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Sunday October 5 (2-5) show and performance of Mark's handmade drums and artwork
at Life Bridge Sanctuary, 333 Mountain Rd, Rosendale, NY 12472​
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Date TBD, tabling at Frozendale
up and down Main St., Rosendale, NY 12472​
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Lastly, save the dates. We are planning some baking & harvest days in the autumn. We would love to see you if you want to hangout, help, and learn. Some things we will be harvesting are acorns, walnuts, hickory, and apples.
Let us know if you want to join. It is always a blast!
​Locations TBD.
Baking Days with Acorn and Chestnut Flour @ 5 Madeline Lane, Rosendale​
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Monday 9/8, Saturday 9/13, Sunday 9/14, Monday 9/15, Friday 9/19, Monday 9/22,
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Helping with Powwow setup - Friday 9/26
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Harvest Days
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Tuesday 10/7, Wednesday 10/8, Thursday 10/9, Tuesday 10/14, Wednesday 10/15, Thursday 10/16, Tuesday 10/21, Wednesday 10/22, Friday 10/24​
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PS - Congrats if you read this far!
IDK if you knew, Mark makes drums. There will be an art show opening reception on October 5th at Life Bridge Sanctuary in Rosendale featuring a collection of drums Mark made from trees that were hollowed out by insects, weather, and fungi. Mark skins the drums with rawhide he prepares from white tail deer skins given to him by local hunters, and or picked up from roadkill he finds.
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You are invited to the opening reception that will include performances of the drums in collaboration with sound artist Darish. You are invited to come and play the drums too. All are welcome. The show will be up for a month or so, if you want to check it out.
