Farmscape Ecology Program
a Hawthorne Valley Association Program
Our entomology team recently started a new initiative called the Hudson Valley Center for Insect Conservation. With worldwide alarm over insect declines, the Center aims to understand the status of insects in the Hudson Valley, inspire an appreciation for them among the public, and advocate for their conservation in our region. Insects play essential roles in […]
Join us as we set up our historical weather station display for an “historical weather day” at the Martin Van Buren NHS. The weather station display will feature antique and replica weather instruments, predominantly from the 19th century. The event will be an opportunity to learn about and interact with these early weather instruments, many of […]
As part of our Hudson Valley Center for Insect Conservation initiative, join FEP staff on Saturday, September 6, from 1-3pm, to explore a powerline accessed through private land near the village of Philmont. We will look for the regionally rare Leonard’s Skipper butterfly. *Fair Warning* - We cannot guarantee that we’ll see the butterfly because […]
As part of a small panel discussion, Claudia Knab-Vispo will be speaking at Arthur’s Point Farm in Ghent during their final Open Nursery Weekend of the season (Sept 12–14, 10am–4pm). Claudia will discuss the ecological role of native plants in gardens, including how diversity of flowering times, flower morphology, and genetics can support pollinators and […]
Interested in learning about ancient forests and their land use history in Columbia County? Join FEP staff on Saturday, September 13th, for an ecology walk hosted by Wally Farms, where we will define what ancient forests are, learn about the characteristics we use to distinguish them, and then discuss why they are at risk. For more […]
We will be co-facilitating a meadow-tending session at the Forge Project in Ancram, NY, a local organization centered around amplifying indigenous voices through art, education, and land revitalization. FEP has been involved in the transitioning of the former agricultural fields and traditionally landscaped areas around their buildings into native meadows and shrublands that will feature native and culturally significant species. […]
Are you a fan of spooky creatures? Have you ever wondered how to identify animals based on their skeletons? Are you curious about carnivorous plants? Have you heard of Dark Taxa? Did you know that insects wear costumes, too? Do you want to learn about the species pictured in the images above? Would you like […]
Where: 1075 Harlemville Rd, Ghent, NY 12075 Botanist and ecologist Jerry Jenkins, of the Northern Forest Atlas, will be visiting next week and sharing his new "Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Northern Forest." This new book is a richly illustrated guide with information on not only identification, but also the geography and […]
Where: West Taghkanic Firehouse, 631 Old Route 82, Taghkanic, NY The presentation “Not all Forests are Created Equal: A Closer Look at Our Forest Habitats and Their Biodiversity” by Claudia Knab-Vispo, Conrad Vispo, and Kyle Bradford will be the fourth in a series entitled "The Forest in Your Backyard," organized by the Conservation Advisory Councils […]
Join us for a winter walk at Schor Conservation Area (58 Shore View Drive, East Chatham, NY 12060) to learn about our Ancient Forest Project. We will walk through a variety of habitats, compare younger post-agricultural forests to those that have never been fully cleared for agriculture, and teach winter plant identification along the way. Participants should be prepared […]
The Austerlitz Housing Committee is launching a new community speaker series designed to help residents better understand the place we live through story, ecology, and history. The goal is to create programming that is engaging, accessible, and not boring, while giving residents shared context for future conversations about land use, preservation, and housing. The first […]
Where: Hudson Jr/Sr High School (215 Harry Howard Ave, Hudson, NY 12534) Come see us at the Spring Gardening Day, put on by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Hudson. There will be a full day of learning and workshops, and FEP staff will be among the local organizations with information tables. Our displays will be centered around the […]