Penns Valley Conservation Association www.pennsvalley.net Summer 2017 Local Exploration Crickfest 2017 By Jim Flanagan In the past few months there has been a growth HereOur grandest are ways event you can is ready help make to go! Crickfest But don’t a sucfret,- of literature on the topic: “getting outside is cess:there are still opportunities for you to pitch in! good for you”. Much of the discussions follow along the lines of Rachel Carson’s Sense of Won- Music Sponsors - Crickfest wouldn’t be Crick- der and Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, fest without all of the awesome music coming which highlight the importance of experiencing from the mainstage. We are looking at a fantastic - lineup for 2017, including Eric Ian Farmer, The ic documentaries are great, but engaging with Hot Mamas, Spider Kelly and the Susquehanna yournature own first environment hand. PBS providesand National a fuller Geograph sensory Jamcrackers. Would you or your business like to experience that calms your nerves, lessens the burden on your shoulders, and helps heal the sponsor our musicians? Please contact info@ ills that you have. This sentiment makes a lot of pennsvalley.netDonations to help out! Sweet Creek Cafe, The Ducky Races and the si- lent/bag auction. - PVCA If you is seeking or your donations business have for the an aboutsense tothe many folks of who us who are enjoy not inclined “Getting to Out” grab and a item you would like to donate, please contact one “Getting Lost” in our natural world. But what many of us who just don’t get outside as much asbackpack we like andbecause hit the“it’s trails?too hot in Plus, the theresummer,” are yahoo.comof the folks below! “my work schedule does not allow the time,” or DuckySweet CreekRaces -Cafe Susan - Rebecca Haney -Lloyd 814-349-5683 - bertarocks@ - ier than you think and this article will provide some“I am justlocal too options. tired.” Getting outside can be eas SilentVolunteers Auction - Kat Alden - [email protected] the day of the celebration. We need help launch- Fall is right around the corner. Fall is a great ing the zucchini - PVCA boat is lookingraces, running for volunteers the rocket for - bottle launch station, sorting compostables and tures drop, birds start to migrate, trees begin setting up/tearing down. If any of these items totime change to “Get colors, Out” and since the thefall garden average is tempera ready to - harvest. All of these events stimulate the senses. tion, please contact Martha Hoffman at hoffman. Let’s start with your backyard. Bird feeders, sounds like a good fit for you or your organiza your backyard garden, and the basic natural sur- [email protected] proceeds from Crickfest go to funding the en- rounding provide great opportunities to take a - break. Even if you can only commit 15 minutes there are plenty of experiences you can have in vironmental education program that PVCA pro that short time. Take a walk through your yard videsEvent toinformation local Penns on Valley pages students! 10-11. Continued on page 18 View from the Chair

By Jim Pierce How big are we? Ask a toddler this question and they will invariably The Little Red Henhouse? or The Village That Raises the Children?

thoughtspread their just maybearms wide things and would squeal slow Sooooo down BIG!a bit butAsk absolutely the Chair didn’t,of the www.pennsvalley.net PO Box 165 lessPVCA than Board a month this, in before the dog Crickfest, days of after August, successful after a fewbut intenseweeks where Centered we Aaronsburg, PA 16820

[email protected] be.Outdoors gatherings, Ice Cream fundraising at FarmFest and the best Board of Directors home garden ever(!) and he would reply; We are as big as WE want to Chair: like “swinging above our league” and “playing with the big dogs” know- ingWe thatknow our PVCA appearance is good, and reputationcan be bigger. in the We community toss around are metaphors solid and Vice Chair: Jim Pierce, Haines Twp. getting better, knowing also however how thin we are spread some- times (we also toss around cliches like “throttle and rudder” and “one Treasurer: Greg Williams, Gregg Twp. Secretary: thing at a time”). Like a kid in a candy store or a gardener in mid-May Ray Girouard, Penn Twp. the PVCA Board can look in any direction and see projects worthy of our attention: Our financials are as well organized as ever (as recently as MarthaKat Alden, Hoffman, Gregg Millheim Twp. years,six months the newly ago I couldn’tconjoined even Committee spell acrual Del-Membo accounting), is ready revealing to launch that Businessthe goal of Memberships a balanced budget as part is ofwithin their reach well plannedfor the first Annual time Drive, in several any Tommy Frank, Millheim - Borough/Rochester,Borough NY tionminute Director now ourwho valley have becomewill hear networking “WSOV is mavens,ON THE knowingAIR!”, membership where the projectis at an andall time funding high, opportunities and we have are. an Operations Director and Educa - - Kurt Grotz,ough Haines Twp. Lexie Orr, Centre Hall Bor Eli Ward, Millheim Borough All great news, but it is begging the question; Are we feeling the ceil- Tess Weigand, Hartley Twp. waysing? As relied Chair on of a this core fine group organization of “usual Isuspects” am seeing to Staff, carry Board the lion’s Members, share Director of Operations: ofCommittee the load. MembersAs the load and increases Volunteers so doesclose the to saturation.need for more PVCA lions… has alor Becky Bragg suspects, leading to this call to action. Environmental Education The hub of the wheel, the chakra of our karma, the jelly of our donut so Coordinator: to speak, is Community, the community that raises the children. The Jim Flanagan solution is community involvement, a phenomenon that has enjoyed a Newsletter Editors: welcome uptick since the inauguration of the “Drain the Swamp” admin- Becky Bragg, Martha Hoff- istration. We need to spread the love, and the load. As you peruse this newsletter, and prepare for CrickFest, think about this beautiful valley, and community, and how you can give back to it. man, Jim Pierce, Greta Webmaster: Start with Crickfest. Come and help, come and enjoy, come and see how Haney,Charlie Elaine Boyer Gustus - vilion where I plan to spend most of the day scooping ice cream and Database: collectingyou can become ideas. a usual suspect. Come and talk to me in the PVCA Pa Bill Torretti Together we are smarter, stronger and far more sustainable than any of

2 us are on our own, and together we can be Sooooo BIG! A Word from the Director By Becky Bragg - watershed group. The summer is a busy time with communitysummer celebration events, garden and what chores, it signifies creek sits, for andour opportunitiesOne of the coolest that things present about themselves being an expandto your house projects. It will be refreshing to take a deep ing non-profit in this area is all of the wonderful unique fundraising opportunities throughout the breath and reflect on all the good that has come to year.group. PVCA has had the good fortune of several I would like to take this opportunity to mention PVCA throughout the year. - the outstanding dedication and commitment Elk

It started back in January when Appalachian Out- Creek Café + Aleworks has shown to PVCA and the somedoors local offered businesses to feature (Elk PVCA Creek for Café their + Aleworks, February Pint Night. Basically, the North Face, several awe watershed. They have been there from Pint Night to Riversongs to Centre Gives to FREQ Force for - share the watershed with them and thank them Good to Crickfest. We are abundantly blessed to edWebster’s to serve Bookstore up delicious Café food and and Big brewsSpring all Spirits), in the nameand of ofcourse philanthropy. Appalachian This Ski was & Outdoorsa great success want for their continued support of our organization! and helped our organization close some budget gaps. PVCA’s Mission and Vision were standard fundraisers for us, we had excel- lentThen turnouts came Riversongs and amazing and Centresupport Gives. from Theselocal businesses and community members. Centre CreekPVCA servesWatershed. as a steward We seek for to the preserve natural and cultural communities in the Upper Penns by protecting and conserving its waters, farm- Gives was especially fun with the introduction lands,honor forests, the agricultural and rural rootsheritage. of Penns Valley couldof a physical you want? event at Elk Creek! A free beer for donating to your favorite non-profit…what more - growth is balanced with support for healthy ly this summer and told us about a new program naturalPVCA envisions systems an that engaged foster community,the local economy. where THEJason FREQ Crane is from running. 98.7 reachedThis philanthropic out to PVCA effort, ear healthy forests, prosperous farms, and local and they wanted to feature US as their non-prof- jobs.Our Valley has dark night skies, clear streams, titled FREQ Force for Good, was kicking off in July it of interest! They thought of us...first! What an honor! The awesome publicity and air time is - sure to pay off for PVCA. Upcoming Events tunity which was the selling of ice cream at Farm- You may have seen us at our latest unique oppor Crickfest - Sunday, September 3rd sweet treats all in the name of raising money for The Big Sit! environmentalFest. PVCA hosted education. the ice Thankscream boothto our anddedicat sold- - - Birding Activity - October 7th or Annual Meeting rience with money to put towards our programs 8th - Muddy Paws Wetland Education Center - December anded volunteers, bellies full PVCA of delicious walked Tricklingaway from Springs the expe Ice Christmas Bird Count - November Cream. Check our website for updates. www.pennsvalley.net event of 2017. I am looking forward to this end of Now we move on to Crickfest, our biggest and best 3 Care for a Glass of Staghorn Sumac-ade? By Tommy Frank see the year’s new clusters grow and turn from light pinkish to a more robust maroon. This is Interested in learning Wild Edibles? A plant usually sometime in early July, and the “season” runs until about the end of August, or even into right now is Staghorn Sumac. common to Penns Valley that you can find easily to see if they are right. The colorful fuzz on the can remember. Maybe you’ve learned that it has September.. You can taste test them at any time aYou’ve poison seen that this creates plant, a maybereaction for of as the long skin, as youlike or two from a colony of staghorn sumac, or rub poison ivy. Well, I have some good news for you: seeds is where the tart flavor is. I just lick one this might be the very moment, after all of these taste like anything, your drink most likely won’t years of being so close in proximity to this plant, either.them on The my reason fingers for and this lick might them. be an If unripenedthey don’t that your relationship with it changes. It is not seed cluster, a recent rain that washed away the - ble in certain ways. would presumably be because once the seeds only not poisonous to the skin; it’s actually edi stoppedflavor, or growing, that it isthe too plant far ceased into the production year. This of that acidic-tasting substance. So keep searching until you taste that tartness. Staghorn Sumac is not Poison Sumac. There is glossya Poison leaves, Sumac and that in growsmy experience in , tends to but be Another thing I look out for is grubs in the inte- foundthis is onlynot it. around Poison wet Sumac areas has in Centrewhite flowers,County. rior of the clusters. Sometimes I see the worms Staghorn Sumac, on the other hand, is the one themselves, while more often I see their small we see roadside all over the place, with the ma- black or brown droppings when I inspect the in- roon-to-dark-brown elongated seed clusters side of a cluster. The grubs may not pose any about half the size of an ear of corn. like the thought of dissolving poop of any type And now: on to the deliciousness. First off, for intoharm a todrink. your July health is my for favorite all I know; time Ito just harvest, don’t anyone with allergies, I should mention that because usually I can beat the grubs to it. I tend young shoots and branch tips of Staghorn Su- August, but it seems to vary widely from year sumac is in the cashew family. You can eat the mac, but I have not yet tried them. It’s the seed to year,find moreso it’s of best the tolittle check guys instead in the ofmonth assum of- clusters I think about, rather than the admitted- ing the clusters will be tainted. Lastly, I do often ly edible greens. And those seed clusters-- boy pick them from plants that are sort of roadside, meaning I stay away from any right up against a don’t eat them directly. I make a drink called su- road where roadside crews might spray chemi- do they contain some good flavor! Actually, I mac-ade, which I learned about Samuel Thaye’s cals from time to time. If you are unfamiliar with book, The Forager’s Harvest. It tastes very much roadside spray patterns, I recommend staying - away from roadside sumac and all other road- ible plants I have eaten locally, this is one of my like lemonade. It’s delicious! Of all the wild ed of staghorn sumac in our area that is not along of like it. I actually crave it. If it was a drink op- aside state edibles, road. justJust tolook be forsafe. those You seedcan findclusters plenty as most prized flavor experiences. I don’t just sort tion at a restaurant, I would order it often. Come you’re out and about...you can spot them from to think of it, sumac-ade sort of reminds me of a mixed alcoholic drink, thanks to that perfectly watered-down balance of oh, say 80% tart, 20% quiteTo make a distance! sumac-ade, collect 5 to 10 staghorn sweet. sumac seed clusters. I soak them in a pitcher of room temperature or cold water, rubbing the When picking seed clusters, I wait until I start to 4 by adding more water. Sometimes this means becauseseed clusters this withwill alsoclean extract fingers bitterness to get the mostfrom flavor is good but too strong, I simply dilute it of them. Do not use hot water to extract flavor,- how long it “holds” or what would happen to changea whole it,extra because pitcher my or growler!family always I don’t drinks know the plant, leading to a much less desirable fla pitchers within two or three days, since we all isvor usually experience. ready. OnceSome you like have to sweeten done this it, tobut all I like it. So please practice your own judgment seriouslythe seed-heads prefer floating it unsweetened. in the water, Rarely the drinkdoes there. a drink from a single ingredient work without adding another ingredient to it, either for tart- - ness or sweetness. I think this one does carry it- You can also pick the seed pods when they are in self though. After removing the clusters and de- prettypeak flavor well whenand dry dried. them for use in the off-sea tached seeds, I strain the drink through cheese son. The flavor, if there to begin with, holds cloth or something similar, just to get the hairs Staghorn Sumac-ade is to me the taste of sum- out of it (actually having some hairs in my bev- mer. I hope you too can enjoy this delightful drink and create associations like this of your fridge. Before I do, I taste the beverage. If the erage has never bothered me). I chill it in the own!

5 A Small Tribute to Bobby Brownlee, Consummate Outdoorsman By Charlie Boyer necessary. About a month ago, my step brother passed away If you care to read a bit more, visit http://www. after battling cancer for several years. Robert harmanfuneral.com/notices/Robert-Brownlee Scot Brownlee – my mother’s late-husband’s son – was only 57 years old. Between hunt- woods each spring for his favor- ing and fishing and foraging the truly be remembered as a great ite mushroom (morels!), he will- erman. Did not dabble much at outdoorsman. He was a bait fish he was a purist. I do not recall all into the trend of fly fishing; couple of decades that he arrived ata First-Day-Of-Troutthe Boyer house without in the lasthis limit of brown trout. Scoffed at the rainbows, he did. “The stock- ies don’t taste as good”. True, passion. All his spare-time was devotedthat. Gardening to this endeavor. was his other I remember once he asked if

And what to my wondering eyes shouldI’d like appear? to see something. A pickup-truck Sure! - noload exaggeration of morels! Tool-box: to say the full. truck Nu merous 5-gallon buckets: full! It’s abed category was full. of Now his own.there’s So people many werewho findtaken ‘em, that but many Bobby had was to bein given away, sold, or dehydrated. It was his sister Lisa’s idea to mention in his obituary that, in - - leylieu ofConservation flowers, memorial Association. contri There’sbutions no be doubt made in to my Penns mind Val – his entire Boyer family too – that he would approve. If the vast ex- panses of zinnias on his property in Luzerne County are any indi-

6 cation, additional flowers aren’t Facts and History of Poe Paddy and the Surrounding Area Compiled by Will Jackson -

Poe Paddy History from the DCNR State Park and which is bordered by Poe Moun Website: tain to the east and Paddy Mountain to the west, - thus giving the park the name Poe Paddy ous, but short-lived, lumbering town of the 1880s famouslyPoe Paddy exclaimed is nestled that in Penns he “discovered Valley which an wasem- Poe Paddy lies on the site of Poe Mills, a prosper first “discovered” by General James Potter who three hundred in 1890. Built in 1879, the main and 1890s. Poe Mills had a population of over pire” at the first glance of Penns Valley - - tershed and contains the oldest town in Centre poraryrailroad timber line ran railroads very near were Poe built Mills through and a mostspur County,Penns Valley Aaronsburg is a part of the Chesapeake Bay wa track ran to the Poe Paddy area. Many small, tem to provide water to the steam-powered sawmill. of the mountain valleys. Poe Creek was dammed historic lumber town In the early 1900s, a scenic excursion train ran a Poe Paddy was built on the ground of Poe Mills, a thrived on the back of the lumber movement mid-1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built Poe Mills was built in the 1880’s and 1890’s and loop from Milroy to Poe Paddy and back. In the dammed up to aid the mills that took off all over the area. Big Poe Creek was manycamp S-63-PAof the roads in the in valley.the area. The men of the camp built Poe Paddy and Poe Valley state parks and railroads connected it to the main line to export Other Interesting Information: goods,Poe Mills eventually population the grew railroad to a little became over a300 scenic and surrounded by the is 23 acres in size and is routeDecades and later, the townin 1933, of Poe the Mills Civilian declined Conservation

Poe Paddy is at the confluence of Big Poe Creek Corps (CCC) set up barracks and headquarters Franklinin Poe Valley Roosevelt through the New Deal and president The CCC was responsible -

for constructing Poe Val- agement,ley and Poe the Paddy construc State- tionParks of through roads forestand trails,man the building of a dam, and much more

swimming,Today Poe Paddyhiking, Statepic- nicPark areas, offers snowmobiling, camping, skiing, access to the mid-

kayaking. state trail, fishing, and

7 “Planting” Trout By Lysle Sherwin purchasing seedlings in volume and/or recycling plastic shelters from completed projects. Land- owners willing and able to provide planting and troutThis is waters NOT about are self-sustaining stocking or “planting” wild trout hatchery streams maintenance labor make a huge difference. withtrout. excellent (Fortunately, natural many reproduction. of Penns Valley’s This main best- Site preparation by mechanical, chemical, or so- tains an exceptional watershed resource and im- larization methods is critical to successful estab- lishment of new plantings. The methods used and focus on the costs and methods of establishing costs depend on the type of competing vegetation nativeportant riparian asset to trees the local and economy.)shrubs for Rather,shade cover,I will on-site, particularly the severity of infestation by which will in turn maintain cold water-tempera- exotic invasive species. Mowing grassy, herba-

- shrubs, followed by a single application of low con- secttures life and and prevent trout eggs-thefine sediment foundation from streambankof a healthy centrationceous (eg goldenrod) glyphosphate sites herbicide with few smallhas produced invasive trouterosion stream. and overland flow from smothering in good results and high seedling survival (greater

cases, preparation costs run about $250/acre, so a than 95%) at several project locations. In these plantingOver the of past thousands 5 years, of through 14 species the of Young high Forestvalue, high density wildlife habitat planting of 450 seed- Initiative, PVCA has sponsored and facilitated the- lings per acre would cost $0.56 each. In contrast, a itat-- at no small expense. The cost of successful mature heavy brush site dominated by autumn ol- plantingsnative trees varies and considerably, shrubs as fish depending and wildlife on habsite ive/honeysuckle/barberry typically costs at least preparation needs, planting materials and sourc- twice as much and can require followup herbicide es, volunteer or hired labor, and several years of applications to stump/root sprouts and seed bank maintenance. Bareroot seedlings may be the least expensive part (which has germination viability for many years). April is a good example of a low cost shrub habi- - The “Plant a Stake” activity at Muddy Creek in- of the equation. The PA Game Commission How cause stream restoration work and the excavation $0.25 each. Commercial nurseries offer larger ard Nursery sells one year old seedlings for about oftat streambanks planting. No lastsite summerpreparation to construct was needed habitat be seedlings, graded by size, at a premium price. Fast- structures had suppressed competing vegetation, er growth and better survival make the graded particularly the invasive reed canary grass. This opened a suitable planting bed for live willow and seedlings well worth the nominal higher cost. Gray dogwood stakes installed by youth and adult vol- have reached 6-8 feet in height after 2 growing dogwood graded seedlings (2-3 ft @ $0.77 each) unteers. Eleven hundred stakes purchased from seasons and are producing seed, nesting habitat Ernst Conservation Seeds cost $1,400 ($1.27 for songbirds, and naturally shading out compet- ing vegetation including the pervasive reed canary sinceeach, fundedwe do not by knowa Growing what Greener the survival grant rates to PVCA and is planning to raise Howard seedlings for an addi- grass which previously dominated the site. PVCA deerin 2015). browsing No plastic pressure shelters might havebe. been installed transplanting to buffer habitats. Money saved by contributed volunteer hours (90 tional growing season at the Learning Garden for for live stakes, refreshments, and indirect costs for $3.75 each plus $1.00 each to plant and install Plastic tube shelters at volume discounts cost staff@ $25/hour= time to organize $2,250) the exceeded activity. Also, the cashall costs outlay are shelters. As a general policy, shelters installed at eligible in-kind match toward future grant oppor- high deer population areas are removed as soon as tunities to leverage additional funds. practical to minimize the negative effects of shel- ters on tree form and vigor. The most expensive scenario, a high density aspen planting of graded- 8 PVCA also seeks to contain costs when possible by by-size commercial source seedlings with shelters in an invasive shrub site would have a $3,200 cost per acre, or nearly $8 per tree. Those expenses are - vation Service reimbursement rates for the Con- in-line with the USDA Natural Resource Conser enrollments available to eligible landowners in- terestedservation in Reserve planting Enhancement riparian buffers Program with (CREP)annual rental payments. Yes! I would like to help PVCA preserve and protect our beautiful ! encompass a wide range of implementation sce- Enclosed are my annual, PVCA’s Young Forest wildlife habitat plantings narios on 19 participating land ownerships. In tax deductible 2017 membership dues. partnership with the watershed landowners, US About You - Name er,Fish Chesapeake and Wildlife Bay Service, Foundation, PA Game Centre Commission, County Conservationand funding sources District viaand PA others, DEP Growingthe initiative Green is Address meeting objectives to establish and improve eco- City State Zip+4 logically diverse fish and wildlife habitat. Home Phone Work Phone Email

2017 Membership Dues q $25 - $99 q $100 - $249 q $250 - $499 q $500 + q Send me information about Business Memberships

PVCA is a 501(c3) tax exempt organization All memberships and contributions are tax deductible. Pay with PayPal on our website: www.pennsvalley.net Or please make your check payable to “PVCA” and send to: Penns Valley Conservation Association PO Box 165 Aaronsburg, PA 16820

Questions? Email us at: [email protected] Footnote: Advice From a Trout Get more involved! Join our active members! (Check your areas of special interest) Cherish Clean Water q Stream Improvement q Publicity q Crickfest q Education

Scale Back Show You True Colors -

Don’t be Lured by Shiny Objects (but feath 9 ered flies are ok) CrickFest 2017

Enjoy music, kids’ activities, workshops, a silent auction, and delicious local food Celebrate our region’s beauty at this FREE, fun-filled and family-friendly festival. Sunday, Sept 3rd, 11am - 6pm. Coburn Park. Come rain or shine! while supporting PVCA’s Educational Programs. Music Workshops 11am - Eric Ian Farmer Get Out! Sharing the Natural World with 1pm - Spider Kelly Children. Looking for new ways to engage your children in outdoor activities. We will 2:30pm - The Hot Mamas explore a variety of ways to get your children 4pm - Susquehanna Jamcrackers - dening, games and guided experiences. (Jim (and family) outside and active including gar Local Food Vendors Flanagan)Scaredy Kitchen: Processing Food that Can LeRoy’s Infamous UpTexas BBQ: Burritos Hurt You (Reboot). Learn the art of process- and BBQ ing precarious plants such as horseradish, net- El Gringo Taco Truck: Tacos and Tamales tles, hot peppers and other culinary delights that are a little dangerous to handle. (Josh Mc- Nomad Kitchen Food Truck: Tofu Bahn Mi

Cracken)Hooks, Lines and Streamers: Fly-fishing and Nomad Rice Bowl (Both Vegan) Tips for the Angler in You. Experienced anglers will share their tips for catching the elusive trout, the pride of

the Penns Valley Watershed, knotsincluding to know, fly-fishing and where basics, to go.fly tying, matching the hatch,

Well-behaved dogs on short

10 leashes only, please! Activities Children’s Creativity Tent Rubber Duck Races Build and Race Zucchini Boats

andVisit Reptile with Shaver’s Survey Creek and the Pennsylvania Amphibian See farm animals from Moun- tainside Homesteading Silent Auction Sweet Creek Bake Sale Water Bottle Rockets

Crickfest would not be successful without the generous donations of the following businesses and individuals:

Bald Eagle ($1000+) Re/Max Centre Realty Bobbie’s Kitchen Bryant & Cantorna Law Offices

Goshawk ($500+) Sammis Greenhouse Murray’s Chickens Pennsylvania Certified Organic Blackwalnut Body Works Additional support from: Elk Creek Cafe

Penns Valley Veterinary Clinic Best Event Rentals Pileated Woodpecker ($300+) The Valley Newspaper Jeff Mathison Woodbine Farms Northwest Savings Bank - Elody Gyekis culture Hall Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agri BelovedBrother’s Sunlily Pizza andDesigns Italian Restaurant - Centre Tufted Titmouse ($100+) Stanley C. Bierly Millheim Small Engine Creative Design & Printing Mountainside Homesteading The FREQ Sierra Club - Black Moshannon Happy Valley Hopyard 11 Harvest By Sarah Depasquale - - Rose hips are high in carotenoids, bioflavonoids vania, distinct from the intensity of high summer’s and Vitamin C (50% more by weight than orang Late summer is its own season in Central Pennsyl - manyes) as haswell demonstratedas essential fatty usefulness acids, and reducing the seeds in- emerges now as we surrender the garden, tally provide vitamin E. Research in Denmark and Ger summerheat and activitiesthe crisp finalityaccomplished, of autumn. and A enjoy gentleness earli- cancer treatment. More simply, they offer a dose er evenings to just relax and be. Wild animals and offlammation, sunshine andand wellness rose hips through are being the researched doldrums inof plants are winding down too, this year’s babies are winter. raised up, seeds are set, and it’s time to store for winter and nourish the roots. With hand pruners, collect the entire clusters into a cloth bag. These clusters can be dried or frozen This season rewards the lazy groundskeeper. whole and used alone or in combination with oth- Spots that escaped frequent mowing offer plenty er herbs for a nice winter tea. With a little more ef- of opportunities to forage and put by medicine for fort, they can be made into an oxymel, a tradition- al combination of herbs, apple cider vinegar, and andwinter. biennial Plants’ plants seasonal store the efforts product manifest of a season’s now in with fresh rose hips removed from the stem. Mix growthnuts, seeds, in the and roots, some pulling persistent the energy fruits. of Perennial a sunny equalhoney. parts To make organic a rose apple hip cideroxymel: vinegar fill a jarand half honey full summer below ground to rest and nourish growth the following spring. With a little knowledge and with a layer of wax paper (to prevent the vine- effort, we can harvest the fruits and roots of their and fill the jar to a half inch from the top. Cover- labors to sustain us through winter. ly. Store in a dark cupboard and shake whenever I love to teach about harvesting invasive plant spe- yougar fromthink reacting of it. This with oxymel a metal is ready lid) and in 4-6 cap weeks tight cies. Many of our native species that are medici- and can be taken by the spoonful, stirred into hot nally valuable are at-risk from over-harvesting. water for tea, or used as a base for seltzer drinks, Collecting exotics, on the other hand,limits their Great Burdock (Arctium lapa) whose habitat is threatened by these hearty new sauces, or salad dressing (my favorite). kids.spread In and addition, can benefit it can neighboringgive naturalists native and plants out- I think everyone should dig a burdock root at least doorsy types a nuanced appreciation of these once in their life. A giant biennial plant that inhab- green invaders that we might otherwise be tempt- its neglected human-impacted areas, burdock is ed to label wholly ungenerously. It serves us as an experience. It’s biennial nature means that it well to see a little good in everything, after all. germinates from seed one year, grows in a leafy rosette similar to fuzzy grey-green rhubarb, then Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) Hikers, boaters, berry pickers, farmers, and native of photosynthesis and mineral uptake in a long root.dies back The followingits first winter, year, thisstoring substantial a season’s energy worth is Introduced intentionally as wildlife food and living fencing,plant enthusiasts it has escaped love cultivationto hate the and multiflora become rose. one produces the seed pods. It’s the seed pods that of our most recognizable exotic invasives. Easily givepulled the up plant to leaves its common and a name:tall flower they’re stalk about which the - size of a cherry tomato but covered in stiff brown gated red fruit and serious thorns (break one off hooks that attach to everything. Every part of the identified in late summer by its clusters of elon plant can be used for food or medicine. literally and painfully grabs an innocent hiker’s at- the stem, you’ll see a perfect oval scar), this plant Burdock root is a nourishing liver tonic, perfect for moving and eliminating toxins and stagnation we can grab back, prevent the spread of more seed, through the doldrums of winter. Its root mines andtention. enjoy From a wonderful now until and after healthful the first winter few treat.frosts 12 deep into the soil, bringing up and storing a wide range of minerals in bioavailable form. Additional- ly, it is high in inulin, a group of naturally occurring weground harvest for smaller,for their large-leaved root, next firstyear’s year potential. plants. polysaccharides considered “prebiotic”, fostering ClearIt’s these away young the grassplants and without leaves a flowerfrom the shoot base that of the plant and using a long forked weeder or hefty important food source in much of Asia, and it’s im- stick, start to clear soil from around the root. The possiblethe growth to ofingest beneficial too much bacteria (especially in the gut. if harvest It is an- top of the root starts several inches below the sur- face of the soil and usually goes straight down sev- Harvesting burdock root is a labor of love that ing it oneself). the songs in your head (sing them to the burdock feels to me primal, intentional, and immense- eral feet or more. Enjoy the soil on your fingers, ly satisfying. Any time late summer through the around you as birds and insects forget you’re there with your thanks) and the chirping and buzzing first snowfall, identify a flowering or gone-to-seed burdock in Alaska, I was surprised by a small black and resume their normal activities. (Once, digging burdock (second year) and look around on the bear meandering down a nearby path. Burdock is bear medicine in native tradition, so this felt aus-

will tire, or be hungry, or realize you are late for something,picious as well and as you a little can scary.)break the At someroot offpoint as lowyou as possible.

and stir fried, sliced and added to vegetable fer- ments,Be proud or ofmade your into harvest. tea or One tincture root can to last be blanched the win- ter. To store for tea, chop the root into pieces about

or racks in a dehydrator or oven with a pilot until clearlythe size brittle of your and pinky dry, fingernaila day or so. and To placetincture, on clothchop

with a neutral 100 proof alcohol, wax paper, and a tightit small lid. and Shake half occasionally fill a jar with for thea month root thenor so, cover then enjoy 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon daily to encourage liver and digestive function. Foraging for wild medicinals like rose hips and

preventsburdock rootspread brings of a sonew many generation benefits. of Harvesting seed. Me- anderingthese common, through easily fencerows identifiable for roseexotic or invasives settling in for a burdock dig can get us off the beaten path

enjoying another facet of this area’s natural beau- ty.(never And harvestpulling medicinewithin a fromstone’s our throw cupboard of a road),to en- liven and nourish the body on a dull winter day is a healthful and heartening return to the fresh com- fort of late summer.

Happy Harvesting! 13 ChicoryLane eBird Explorer By John B. Smith - It’s going to be a great Fall day. The sun is just plorer is ease of use, the capability to insert data obtainedGyekis and in Ione have type added of search in the into ChicoryLane another, and Ex of those crystalline, clear days when everything localization. That is, the option of centering a coming up over Penns Valley. It’s going to be one search at a precise location, like your house or a spot known to be frequented by birders. I wonder what birds are around? Have the War- seems to shimmer. A great morning for birding! blers started through yet? How about hawks? I The program can be accessed through the Inter- wonder if the birders have seen them over Jack’s net at the address, www.chicorylane.com/ebird. Mountain this past week? Three tabs or windows are available from the dropdown menu, each devoted to different infor- mation and different function. We suggest open- somewhere I haven’t visited lately? ing all three: the Map. Sightings, and Taxa options. Where should I go? Maybe a new place or two? Or If these questions have occurred to you (or if they There is also Help available from the menu. The core function is provided by the Sightings tab, eBird Explorer a try. It’s a Web-based set of tools an example of which is shown in Figure 1. It lets resonate with you now), give the ChicoryLane- you submit a search request to the eBird database tion. That means it is best used with your laptop orfor desktop fast, flexible machine, exploration rather than of birding your phone informa or reported near a particular location. “Location” is tablet, although it can be used with them, too, so providedto find all through of the species latitude that and have longitude been recently values, “recent” through the number of days back from the Most of the information comes from the Cornell long as you have Internet access and tiny fingers. of kilometers from the designated location (maxi- of recent sightings of birds world-wide, which they present (maximum 30), and “near” by the number makeLab of availableOrnithology, to the especially public. theirThe extraeBird valuedatabase Joe

Figure 1

Figure 2

14 - The third tool is the Taxa tab. Species are names of pen to know the latitude and longitude of the loca- birds arranged into a hierarchical taxonomy that tionmum you 50: are a kilometer interested is in,0.6 don’t miles). worry, If you that’s don’t easily hap gotten using the Map tool, which we will explain in a moment. ofincludes ways, butOrder, one Family, particularly Genus, helpful and, finally, function species is to enablewithin Genus.searches This for toolall ofcan the be different used in aWarblers number can search for nearby sightings simply by pressing theOnce “Search” the lat/lng button. values (Both have days been back filledand distance in, you Woodpeckers . . . that have been seen, or the different Owls, or the Most taxonomic searches will begin with a species searchhave default returns values both -the namely, common 14 andname 25, and so scienfilling- them in is optional.) As can be seen in Figure 1, the name – usually the Scientific Name. A frequent observed for each, the date of the observation, the command is to get the “Path to Root.” This will lattific and name lng for of eacheach species,sighting thelocation numbers as well of birds as a show the Genus for the species, the Family for the name for that location. These data can be sorted Genus, and the Order of the Family. You can type on the contents of any column by clicking on a col- ofit inany to of the the “Scientific sightings Name”shown fieldin the or, sortable. going back Click to- umn heading. Thus, you can view the sightings in the Sightings tab, just click on the Scientific Name alphabetic sequence by name or grouped by loca- form will insert the name there. tion, by the most or least numerous species, etc. ing on the label, “Scientific Name,” in the Search If you click on the common name of a particular - species, the system will take you to Cornell’s Al- dants”Once you button, have a thelist path, of all by the designating species under a level, that lAboutBirds guidebook-like entry for that species. nodesuch of as the Family hierarchy or Genus, will be and produced. click the These “Descen spe- It includes general information, images, and even cies can be explored in a sortable, similar to sight- audio songs and calls. ings, but they can also be exported to the Sightings A very different view of the sightings data is pro- vided by the Map tool. If the user clicks the “Map In the Sightings tab, you can “Import Species” and Results” button and then goes to the Map tool, he tab as a group (click the “Port Species” button). then “Search Species” to get sightings data for all or she can see the geographic area searched as well as each location where sightings were report- but only those species. These taxonomic-related of the different species identified in the Taxa tab, popup window that lists all the species reported – can then be exported to the Map tab for viewing ed (See Figure 2). Clicking on a marker opens a geographically.sightings –e.g., Warblers, Owls, Woodpeckers, etc. there, making it easy to find spots that might be Stepping back, the three tabs provide access to Remember how we said earlier not to worry if you good for birding this fine morning!. very different information: Map for geographic don’t know the lat/lngs for your location of inter- data, Sightings for species by location and date, est? At any point in your exploration, if you click and Taxa for taxonomic structure of species. But on the map or if the map has opened showing a the three are linked as a chain: Map to Sightings by marked location, the lat/lng for that point will be the address or name of a location in the box in the database,shared lat/lng such values;as AllAboutBirds, Sightings to through Taxa by common species’ available to the Sightings tool. You can even enter names.scientific The names. result Species is an environment are also related in which to other one location and its lat/lng will be available. Just re- can follow an evolving train of thought. For learn- turnupper to left the corner.Sightings The window Google and map click will on pan the to Lati that- tude and Longitude labels in the search form. The pleasure on a laid back snowy evening. lat/lng for the last selected location in the Map will ing, for finding promising places to bird, or for

15 appear (Figure 1). Adult Learning Series: Composting Basics and Soap Making at Mountainside Homestead By Amanda Becker My husband, Brian, and I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at Mountainside Homestead with Dan and Kathy Shimp. I participated in the soap mak- ing part of the day. It was ex- tremely informative and help- ful to someone like me, who wanted to learn, but had no previous knowledge or experi- ence with soap making. It was knowledgeable,on my New Year’s and down learning to earth.‘to do’ list.And Kathy she helped was patient, me to overcome my fear of working with lye, something to be cau- participatetious with but in thenot petrifiedentire pro of- like I was! We got to see and homecess of our ‘cold own processed’ bars of soap soap to curefrom andstart enjoy. to finish and bring I can honestly say, because of the workshop, I know I will be making soap as gifts for fam- ily and friends as well as our a basic layered compost works together to achieve own home. The atmosphere was laid back and the a more nutritious compost for your beds. Learn- know new people while there was downtime in - other participants were so easy going. Getting to ciallying about neat, worm since compostingI know that Brianand that is going ‘worm to tea’try were able to walk around Mountainside Home- compost is very beneficial to gardens was espe steadthe soap and process ask questions was a highlightand see the of thegardens day! andWe out-buildings, which added to the entire experi- his hand at worm composting! We had talked a lot- ence. denceabout compostingand information and tryingto get started.to utilize ‘scraps’ at our own house, the workshop gave us the confi My Husband, Brian, was involved in the compost- We are both looking forward to future Adult ing basics part of the afternoon, which happened at the same time as the soap making. Dan shared sense of energy and knowledge for two skills that his extensive knowledge on the fundamentals of weLearning had been series! wanting We left to pursue. this one Since with we a renewed both are composting and how utilize a 3x3x3 space prop- erly. Dan took the time to explain how each step of ‘hands-on’ learners this was a great opportunity 16 and wonderful way to spend an afternoon! Thank You PVCA Community! Environmental Education Summer Events Centred Outdoor Event Dan and Kathy Shimp (summer groups and ClearWater Conservancy

Dick Leah workshop) Penns Creek Trout Unlimited and friends Tess Weigand Mary Kay and Greg Williams (summer group) Jen Tucker workshop Eli Ward Sarah DePasquale workshop Tommy Frank workshop Becky Bragg

Summer Field Trip Volunteers Will Jackson Jim Pierce Dan Shimp Joe Chandler Cathy pierce -- bird and plant hike leader Joan Karp -- fitness hike leader Mary Kay Williams Will Jackson Chelsea Vecchiarelli FarmFest Ice Cream Booth PVEI RAM Garden Volunteers Jessie Aller and family andThank a lot you of for work. to our It would volunteers not have at the been PVCA pos ice- cream booth at FarmFest! It was a big success Dan Shimp sible without the helping hands of our volun- Valerie Recendez and Family -

toteers! the Allcommunity. funds raised will help pay for the envi ronmental education programs PVCA provides

17 Local Exploration, cont’d from Page 1 and observe the little changes you see each day: plants grow, sun hits differently throughout the day, and bird activities vary. Take some time in the garden to pull weeds, water, and take pictures a garden, consider starting some potted plants to(mentally care for, or ask with a neighbor a camera). if you If youcan doweed not theirs have

- (the answer is likely yes), or go the Millheim alwaysFarmers glad Market to share where their the gardening Penns Valley experiences. Commu Ifnity you Learning are able Garden to do hasthese plots consistently and members you are may start wanting more. Black Moshannon are a few hiking areas that are likely to feel the benefits of taking the time and - Ready to venture further? Local and state parks ley and State College. Most of these recreational provide great options for all levels of exploration. areaswithin have a 30 mapsminute that drive mark (or trails less) fromand areas Penns of Val in- State parks often have guided activities from plant terest for their particular neck of the woods. If you are looking for a more comprehensive view of these areas including topography, roads, trails, identification to kayaking and you are bound to trails that can lead you to a variety of biological- special spots, and waterways, local mapmaker find something that you enjoy! Most have simple - signedly diverse using settings a Centre or Foundation overlooks. grant Over andthis coor past- Purple Lizard Maps has a series of easy to read dinatedsummer bythe ClearWater new Centred Conservancy, Outdoors Program, highlighted de maps of the common hiking areas. Grab one, several parks and recreational areas by provid- pick a spot, and go. You will not be disappointed. ing guided hikes, online challenges, directions, climbs.Trails in Bring Central a journal Pennsylvania to jot down run the some gamut notes, of - carrydifficulty binoculars from easy to spot rails-to-trails migrating andto steep year roundrocky birds, use a camera to capture the natural beauty, and descriptions for you to ‘choose your own ad and invite some friends/family/dogs. Remember venture’. PVCA sponsored 2 programs at the Poe to take some water and let others know where nativePaddy Tunnelplant walks in Poe with Paddy avid State birder Park and including native fitness hikes with instructor Joan Karp, birding/ - wonderful natural area we call home. you are going. Now get out there and explore this plant specialist Cathy Pierce, and a family friend Local Maps: www.purplelizard.com also on locally exploration anglers were with on PVCA site Educator teaching Jimvisitors Flanagan. some Facebook Also, the Penns Creek Trout Unlimited and other Locations: www.trail2creek.com also on Face- will grow and continue into the future. Many of book thefly fishing sites will basics. have The permanent Centred Outdoors signage and program Cen- so you can learn about local Centre County out- Facebook doortred Outdoorsactivities andwill events.maintain an online presence State Parks: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us also on Activities: www.centredoutdoors.org also on Facebook rolling hills, mountain foothills, creeks, lakes, and valleysNow it isprovide time to us hit with the atrails. variety Centre of habitats County’s to explore. Rothrock, Bald Eagle State Forest, and 18 Crossword Puzzle Across Down - 1. Local homestead Dan Shimp always brings a cation at this event held in the covered pavilion. few furry friends along for the ______. 4. Help PVCA raise money for environmental edu 9. A major feature of Crickfest is the live ______that takes place all day. 3. Learn a new skill or brush up on an old one at 2. Get a bite to eat of some delicious ______. one of the featured ______held throughout and ______. the day. 10. Crickfest is held at the confluence of Pine, Elk 5. This is the location of Crickfest. 6. Face painting, arts, crafts and fun can all be found in the ______. ______. 7. Crickfest is always held on the Sunday of this annual holiday. 8. Try your luck and race a ______.

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