New York Forest Owners Association Southern Tier Chapter News Volume 27, Issue 2 Treelines Spring 2017

Upcoming Events

Details on pages 6 – 7

Saturday, May 20 SOT Deer Browsing and Timber Growing Contest Woods Demonstrations Port Crane, NY

Saturday, May 27 Forest Bathing Is Good For You [Editor’s Note: "Forest bathing" is a trending environment’s wisdom has long been evident SOT/CFA Deer Exclosure health topic on the internet. There is now to the culture: Japan’s Zen masters asked: If a Demonstration Woodswalk scientific proof of what we woodlot owners tree falls in the forest and no one hears, does Margaretville, NY innately know from personal experience.] it make a sound? The tonic of the wilderness was Henry David To discover the answer, masters do nothing, Saturday, June 17 Thoreau’s classic prescription for civilization and gain illumination. Forest bathing works and its discontents, offered in the 1854 essay similarly: Just be with trees. No hiking, no CFA Forestry for Wildlife Walden: Or, Life in the Woods. Now there’s counting steps on a Fitbit. You can sit or Margaretville, NY scientific evidence supporting eco-therapy. meander, but the point is to relax rather than The Japanese practice of forest bathing is accomplish anything. Thursday, July 27– proven to lower heart rate and blood Forest air doesn’t just feel fresher and better pressure, reduce stress hormone production, —inhaling phytoncide seems to actually Saturday, July 29 boost the immune system, and improve improve immune system function. “Don’t Windsor Chair Camp overall feelings of wellbeing. effort,” says Gregg Berman, a registered Sidney, NY Forest bathing—basically just being in the nurse, wilderness expert, and certified forest presence of trees—became part of a national bathing guide in California. He’s leading a public health program in Japan in 1982 when small group on the Big Trees Trail in Oakland the forestry ministry coined the phrase one cool October afternoon, barefoot among shinrin-yoku and promoted topiary as the redwoods. Berman tells the group— therapy. Nature appreciation—picnicking en wearing shoes—that the human nervous masse under the cherry blossoms, for system is both of nature and attuned to it. example—is a national pastime in Japan, so Planes roar overhead as the forest bathers forest bathing quickly took. The Continued on page 5 ... We're Growing! Welcome, New Members! Robert Bond, Margaretville, NY; Lance & Heidi Gregg, Lisle, NY; Josh Williams, Oxford, NY Treelines NYFOA Southern Tier News Spring 2017

out birds. It seems like a reasonable Steve Speaks precaution. As a positive note, West Nile doesn’t A Message From Our apply annual and steady pressure on Chapter Chair bird populations. West Nile peaked from 2001-2004 and again from 2012-2014. Between these peaks bird Josh Vanbrakle, from Sidney, NY populations have a chance to recover. recently released a book called Birds recover better in areas that have Backyard Woodland. It was reviewed good habitat. According to the by Charles Stackhouse in the Pennsylvania Game Commission, November/December 2016 issue of regions with diverse native food The New York Forest Owner magazine. Western Hemisphere before 1999. sources and thick protective cover may The subtitle is, “How to Maintain and The New York Outdoor News recently be producing more birds that survive Sustain Your Trees, Water, and published an article called, “West Nile West Nile virus. Wildlife.” The book is focused on the a factor in Northeast grouse decline.” types of woodland owned by According to their article a members of NYFOA. This book is Pennsylvania Game Commission enjoyable to read because it’s written study asked hunters to send blood in a manner that is like a conversation samples in from harvested grouse. between forester and landowner. I They found that 13 percent of the recommend it. samples tested positive for West Nile virus. The NYS DEC tested 460 ruffed grouse from 1999 thru 2006 at their Delmar lab. They found that 7 percent of the birds tested had West Nile virus. These birds were brought to the lab because they died for other reasons, like flying into someone’s garage. You may have heard of crows being found dead from West Nile. Wild birds are harder to diagnose just because of where they are found as A good place to plant wildlife trees is compared to crows which can often be on your border. A mix of white pine and found in cities. white spruce defines the property line The most likely reason that people and and provides a change in plant density One of the joys of being in the woods is animals get West Nile virus is from or “edge” that is so important for small the opportunity to study birds. I have mosquito bites. The Centers for game. The New York State Tree noticed that the number of songbirds Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Nursery offers a variety of individual and game birds like woodcock and recommends that you use insect plants and packets that include a mix grouse are declining. According to the repellent, wear long sleeves, long of trees that will encourage wildlife. United States Geological Survey, West pants, and socks when outdoors. Internet users can find them at: http:// Nile virus has been found in 48 species According to the CDC West Nile is not www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7127.html or of mosquitoes, over 250 species of transmitted through person-to-person call them at (518) 581-1439, Monday birds and at least 18 mammalian or animal-to-person casual contact. through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 species, including humans. West Nile However, they do recommend using P.M. You can do your part by is an insect-borne virus commonly gloves when handling dead or alive dedicating specific areas of your found in Africa, western Asia and the animals. I have some plastic gloves in property for wildlife habitat. Middle East. It was not found in the my hunting vest for use when cleaning Steve 2 Treelines NYFOA Southern Tier News Spring 2017

2016 Northeast Timber Team Springwater Julie Faklis, Brice June (Forester), Dean Faklis; Growing Contest Results Springwater, Livingston, NY Stackhouse Family Forest – Sarah by Dean Faklis and Peter Smallidge that are not growing well. Repurpose and Charles Stackhouse; Bluff Point, Congratulations to All Teams! that wood to a good use! It helps your Yates, NY The results are in and you've probably score immensely and gets you useful Williams Family Forest – Todd, Karen, seen the standings already as products or...cash! The forestry word Oscar, Finn and Sophie Williams; published in the current issue of the for 2017 is Thinning! Barton, Tioga, NY Forest Owner Magazine. Great Thanks to All! Top 5 Results teamwork all around! Contest Participants in 2016 Dewey Family Forest 0.0362 We added a bunch of new teams this Del Allen – Del Allen, Jim Bagley, Blough Family Forest 0.0314 year. We're well over 30 teams now. Forester); Milo, Yates, NY Williams Family Forest 0.0302 Peter and I have had some calls with Blough Family Forest – Christy, Bailey, Spreutels Family Forest 0.0251 Pennsylvania and we hope to sign up Billie Sue and Gary Blough; Ontario, Schlafer Family Forest 0.0136 some PA teams in 2017. We also plan Wayne, NY Let's work together to grow to reach out to VT in 2017. Dewey Family Forest – John and participation in the Northeast Timber Please remember,.it only takes about Jason Dewey, Unadilla; Otsego, NY Growing Contest to help spotlight the 2-4 hours per year for a team to gather Edwards Family Forest – Kurt and importance of growing quality timber. contest measurements. Please Kristie Edwards, Mayfield, Fulton, NY There is plenty of time remaining to encourage your forest friends and Gerry Palmer – Gerry Palmer; Guilford, enter your forest for 2017! neighbors to enter the contest! Let's Chenango, NY It takes only four (4) hours per year to really try to beef up our participation Piestrak Forest Lands – Josh, Jeff, and begin to grow high quality timber and numbers in 2017. Ed Piestrak, Bruce Robinson (Forester); lots of help is available. On that note, please consider adding a Lindley, Steuben, NY If your forestry organization is second category. If you are currently Dale Schaefer – Dale and Eileen interested in holding a contest managing hardwoods, add conifers or Schaefer, Canadice; Ontario, NY workshop, there are free workshop some regen plots. If you are currently Schlafer Family Forest – Don Schlafer materials available. The workshop will managing basal area plots, call your & Judy Appleton, Hector; Schuyler, NY teach tips and tricks to get you started. forester and get him/her on your team Team Smallidge – Kelly, Nathalie, Any questions or if anyone needs help in the board foot volume category. It Adelaide, and Peter Smallidge; Crown measuring trees, email: only takes 20 trees to enter and you Point, Essex, NY [email protected]. Also, check out can use trees already being measured Spreutels Family Forest the timber contest website at: in your plots. In that case, you'll just Gordon and Marie Spreutels; Guilford, www.TimberContest.com. Thanks and need your forester to measure wood Chenango, NY Congratulations to All! volume. Getting a forester on board has several benefits and will enhance your forest as a result of the relationship. Check out the rules at http://www.timbercontest.com./ Please plan to take your contest measurements before the growing season begins (or on/around your anniversary date) and send them in when you are done. Thanks and please check back often to the timber contest website for new news. Any question, please write any time. And finally...grab some warm clothes and a saw and thin your plots of trees

3 Treelines NYFOA Southern Tier News Spring 2017 As Weather Warms, Our SOT Ten Tick Prevention Tips Chapter Is

3) Wear long pants Seeking A and a long-sleeved shirt, and tuck your Newsletter shirt into your pants with a belt. Editor 4) Tuck your pants by Kathleen Hayek into your socks. Your newsletter editor, Kathleen Dorky? Yes. But it makes a big difference Hayek, is leaving her post soon and by helping keep ticks we will need someone to take on the outside your clothes duties of collecting, editing and rather than crawling sharing news of relevance to our onto your skin. members. Kathleen will help with the MyWoodlot News: March 2017, 5) As you walk, periodically check your transition by providing templates, files reprint clothes for ticks. and technical support to the new 70 degrees in central New York in 6) Consider using a commercial insect volunteer. It's a great way to get to February...wow! Suddenly it seems like repellent like DEET or Permethrin. Do not know people in this fine organization! winter is over, and spring is charging hard apply these repellents to your hands, If you have writing and editing skills, for the door. Here at MyWoodlot, that has eyes, or mouth. If using DEET, use a this is a hands on and fun way to us rushing out to enjoy the weather, hear formulation of at least 20%. contribute to the good of all. the first birds of spring, and snap some 7) As soon as you return from the field, photos. Here's hoping you're doing the do a full-body tick check. Check all those "I've had a wonderful time creating same! creases like your armpits; ticks love to Treelines and find leaving a bit hard to But while you're out enjoying the early hide. do, but I need more time to devote to warmth, keep in mind that you aren't the 8) Bathe or shower within two hours of my artist studio and am withdrawing only creature doing that. Ticks are active returning inside to wash off and more from much of my community work for any time of year when the temperature easily find ticks on you. a time. I remain a devoted member of gets above freezing. It might seem early NYFOA SOT and hope to see you all at in the year, but you can still get a tick 9) Check your gear and pets as well, as our meetings and activities! bite-and potentially the nasty diseases ticks may have hitched a ride. that can come with it. 10) Toss your field clothes in the dryer on If you're interested in being our Ticks are serious trouble. They can high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks that newsletter editor, please contact our transmit a bunch of different diseases may still be on them. Do this right away Chairperson, Steve Kutney at: including Lyme disease, which infects after coming indoors even if you plan to 607-862-9152 or 300,000 Americans every year. wash those clothes as part of your regular [email protected]. laundry later. Don't let ticks keep you inside during this or any month. Follow these ten tips to If you do get a tick on you, don't panic. reduce your chances of getting a tick bite Check out the video on how to remove a or an illness because of one: tick safely. And for even more advice on keeping ticks off you, or what to do if one 1) Walk in the center of trails, avoiding does bite you, check out the tick areas with high brush or grass. prevention activities on MyWoodlot. 2) Keep the lawn right around your house [Editors Note: Thanks to Jerry Michael trimmed short to reduce tick habitat near for sharing this article. your home. Most people don't pick up I highly recommend visiting ticks in the deep woods; they pick them MyWoodlot.com regularly to learn up right around the house doing normal about and plan your woodlot activities. tasks like playing with their kids or You can also join their email list and gardening. get monthly newsletters.]

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In other words, being in nature made subjects, Forest Bathing physiologically, less amped. The Is Good For You parasympathetic nerve continued from page 1 system controls the body’s rest-and-digest wander slowly, quietly, under the green system while the cathedral of trees. sympathetic nerve From 2004 to 2012, Japanese officials spent system governs fight-or- about $4 million dollars studying the flight responses. Subjects physiological and psychological effects of were more rested and forest bathing, designating 48 therapy trails less inclined to stress based on the results. Qing Li, a professor at better—inhaling phytoncide seems to actually after a forest bath. Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, measured improve immune system function. Trees soothe the spirit too. A study on forest the activity of human natural killer (NK) cells in Experiments on forest bathing conducted by bathing’s psychological effects surveyed 498 the immune system before and after the Center for Environment, Health and Field healthy volunteers, twice in a forest and twice exposure to the woods. These cells provide Sciences in Japan’s Chiba University in control environments. The subjects showed rapid responses to viral-infected cells and measured its physiological effects on 280 significantly reduced hostility and depression respond to tumor formation, and are assoc- subjects in their early 20s. The team scores, coupled with increased liveliness, iated with immune system health and cancer measured the subjects’ salivary cortisol after exposure to trees. “Accordingly,” the prevention. In a 2009 study Li’s subjects (which increases with stress), blood pressure, researchers wrote, “forest environments can showed significant increases in NK cell pulse rate, and heart rate variability during a be viewed as therapeutic landscapes.” activity in the week after a forest visit, and day in the city and compared those to the Berman advised the forest bathers to pick up positive effects lasted a month following each same biometrics taken during a day with a a rock, put a problem in and drop it. “You can weekend in the woods. 30-minute forest visit. “Forest environments pick up your troubles again when you leave,” This is due to various essential oils, generally promote lower concentrations of cortisol, he said with a straight face. … called phytoncide, found in wood, plants, and lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, Copied from World Economic Forum at: some fruit and vegetables, which trees emit greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and www.weforum.org. Image: REUTERS/Denis to protect themselves from germs and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city Balibouse. insects. Forest air doesn’t just feel fresher and environments,” the study concluded. Awards for Jerry, Ken & Sharon Announced At NYFOA Annual Meeting Jerry Michael received the prestigious Heiberg Memorial Award. It is named after SUNY ESF Professor Sven Heiberg who promoted the founding of NYFOA 53 years ago. It is by Dave Williams presented each year and recognizes outstanding Sharon and Ken Semanovich received SOT’s 2016 contributions to forestry and conservation in New York Chapter Service Award for their dedication and State. Stacey Kazacos made the presentation on behalf of contributions to the organization. Well deserved! Steering the Board of Directors, citing many reasons for his Committee Member, Dave Williams presented the award selection. The announcement stirred a standing ovation. on behalf of our SOT Chapter. Jerry, in his normal humble way said, "But I'm not a professional...." 5 Treelines NYFOA Southern Tier News Spring 2017 Mark Your Calendar Now for Our Summer 2017 Events We will learn about the various categories of the contest and will lay out a plot, identify, measure and tag trees. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves to help and you will go home with the confidence, understanding and know-how to enter the Contest and watch your trees grow. We’ll be serving burgers after the program so you don’t go home on an empty stomach. There is no fee for this event, but please call Kevin at (607) 584-5013 or email him at: [email protected] to register and for directions and carpooling info. For GPS users Steve’s property is located at 460 Hunt Hill Road, Port Crane, NY Deer Browsing and Timber Growing Contest 13833. For non-GPS users go east on I-88 from Binghamton, NY. Take Sanitaria Woods Demonstrations Springs Exit 4. Turn left and go under I-88. Saturday, May 20, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm Travel a short distance until the road comes to a T. Make a right onto Hunt Hill Port Crane, NY Road. Go 2.1 miles. The property will be on your right. There will be a sign to mark the This field program will give landowners an tree seedlings and wildflowers in their spot. If you have a car with low clearance opportunity to learn how they can get woodlands. you may want to park on Hunt Hill Road. involved in two hands-on projects that will The Northeast Timber Growing Contest is Travel up the driveway to the picnic area. help them understand and improve the designed the help landowners improve conditions in their woodlands. It will be their woodlots and have fun at the same held at NYFOA SOT Chair Steve Kutney’s time. The contest woodlot near Port Crane, NY. Peter is family friendly Smallidge, Cornell University State and a great way to Extension Forester, will lead the program get your kids and/ that features both the AVID (Assessing or grandchildren Vegetation Impact from Deer) project and to take an interest the Northeast Timber Growing Contest. in your woodlot. White-tailed deer pose a serious threat to Participating in the the health of our forests. To help contest will help document deer damage to tree seedlings answer questions and understory plants like wildflowers and like, Are my help guide deer management decisions, woods too thick or the Cornell University Department of too thin? How do I Natural Resources developed the AVID select cull from method. This citizen science project gives timber trees? landowners and opportunity to measure How fast are my and report the impact deer are having on trees growing?

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Windsor Chair Camp Returns Thursday, July 27 – Saturday, July 29 Sidney, NY The SOT Chapter will once again sponsor a Windsor chair workshop with Dave Abeel July 27-29 at the home of Dave and Kathy Williams near Sidney, NY. Attendees will choose from an array of stools, chairs or a settee that they will shape and assemble in three days or less going Deer Exclosure Walk home with a piece of future heirloom furniture ready for final sanding and Saturday, May 27, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm finish. 541 Cemetery Road, Margaretville, NY Workshop cost varies The Deer Exclosure walk is co-sponsored Register for this event online at: http:// with the with NYFOA. On this walk you’ll see a very catskillforest.org/events/list or by phone furniture telling demonstration exhibiting deer at: 845-586-3054 or by email at: item chosen impacts in the Catskills forest. See what [email protected]. To learn more about the and includes grows on the forest floor when deer are Catskill Forest Association visit their a kit of excluded via a fence. CFA & NYFOA website at: www.catskillforest.org. materials, members free; $10/non-members. use of specialized chair tools Forestry for Wildlife Walk and instruction. Dave also extends a ten Saturday, June 17, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm percent discount for NYFOA members 70 Quarry Road , Margaretville, NY through the NYFOA Member Rewards Program. Want to work as a team with your spouse, child or grandchild to On this walk you learn some build a chair? There is no extra cost. methods and practices on how to Concerned that you might not have create better wildlife habitat in the necessary skills? Kids as young as the forest. CFA members attend eight years of age have been free. There’s a $10 fee for non- successful and you too can be. members. Come on out this summer to learn Register for this event online at: something new while making new http://catskillforest.org/events/ friends. list or by phone at: 845-586-3054 Check out David Nelson Abeel on or by email at: [email protected] Facebook to see photos. Have To learn more about the Catskill questions? Call or email Dave Williams Forest Association visit their at 607-563-3156 or website at: www.catskillforest.org [email protected].

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NY, 14485 or at 1-800-836-3566. Annual membership is About Us $45 and includes: subscriptions to Treelines: to the bimonthly NYFOA state wide publication, The New York Treelines, Southern Tier Forest Owner, attendance at chapter meetings and Chapter News is published for statewide meetings. its chapter members of NYFOA, three times a year in early spring, fall, and winter. News Southern Tier Chapter Steering Committee concerning managing woodlots Chair Program Co Chairs in the Southern Tier is always Steve Kutney Kevin Mathers welcomed! Send articles for 607-862-9152 [email protected] inclusion to Kathleen Hayek, [email protected] [email protected], with Jerry Michael subject line: Treelines Article. Co-Vice Chairs 607-648-2941 Attach photos in jpeg format to Ken & Sharon Semanovich [email protected] the email. News stories with a word count of 500 words 607-204-0101 [email protected] Delegate to State Board or less work best. Dave Williams NYFOA was founded in 1963 and is organized to Treasurer 607-563-3156 encourage the wise management of private woodland Larry Lepak [email protected] resources in New York State by promoting, representing 607-786-5892 and serving the interests of woodland owners. The [email protected] Members At Large Southern Tier Chapter was founded in 1985 and Gerry Kachmor Newsletter Editor encompasses Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware Les Lovelass & Kathleen Hayek and Otsego counties. For information on becoming a Gary Sergio 607-865-7201 NYFOA member visit www.nyfoa.org, or contact Liana [email protected] Gooding, NYFOA Secretary, NYFOA, PO Box 541, Lima,

NY Forest Owners Association Southern Tier Chapter Steve Kutney, Chair 1031 King Hill Road Endicott, NY 13760-8014