Blog
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Forest Health Incentive Programs in New York
With federal climate programs facing unprecedented rollbacks, we must focus our attention on state and local programs to continue making progress toward carbon neutrality and a more ecologically-balanced world. The following is a list of programs, incentives, and funding sources designed to help New York landowners invest in
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Forests Key to Climate Goals in New York (And Beyond)
Investing in forest conservation, stewardship, and reforestation is key to fighting climate change and reversing ecological loss. The benefits of these investments more than justify the costs (read our blog on “The Power of Forests to Slow Climate Change”). As climate and environmental programs face unprecedented assault at the federal
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The Power of Forests to Slow Climate Change
Forests slow climate change, build natural resilience, and create a more abundant world. Forests cover almost one-third of the Earth’s land and they absorb about one-fifth of the greenhouse gasses we emit from burning fossil fuels (7.6 out of 37.8 billion metric tonnes in 2023). Halting deforestation, conserving
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Restoring Chestnut Culture & Cuisine in America
The infamous chestnut blight of the early 20th Century not only wiped out the majestic American chestnut tree, but also the cultural and economic values it bestowed on countless generations. We have mostly forgotten how versatile and nutritious chestnuts are, not to mention how to eat them. Fortunately,
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The Revival of Chestnuts in AmericaÂ
The historic loss of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) tree is well-documented, here and elsewhere. A quick summary of what happened: at the start of the 20th Century, a fungus accidentally brought over from Asia caused a blight that wiped out over four billion American chestnut trees over
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The Historic Loss of the American Chestnut
In the early 20th century the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) dominated the forests of the eastern U.S. It was a tree so magnificent, honorable, and invaluable that it was considered an ecological keystone up and down the Appalachian range. American chestnuts were magnets of life, “fundamental to the livelihood
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Planting Native Perennials in Late Summer to Early Fall
Should You Plant in Late Summer or Early Fall? Spring is often considered the ideal planting season for native perennials, as it provides the plants with the longest period to establish, root, and grow within a single season. But, it’s also possible to plant successfully throughout the summer
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Combatting Invasive Plants With Native Perennials
How to Remove Invasives Naturally Eliminating invasive plants without the use of harmful herbicides is a perpetual challenge for gardeners and landscapers. Invasive species are defined as “not native to a particular ecosystem and whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm
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How To Grow Vigorous and Healthy Potted Plants
Orange Coneflower, Rudbeckia fulgida Spotted Bee Balm, Monarda puntata Anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum Did you ever wonder about all of the plastic pots we use to green the world around us? Not only are we creating a huge waste stream, but plastic nursery pots also harm the plants
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Our Favorite Elderberry Varieties for the Northeast
Shop for Elderberry Plants Nursery Shop
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Hedgerows – Letting Nature In
What’s a Hedgerow? Hedgerows are having a moment due to growing interest in sustainable farming and ecological stewardship. They simultaneously serve many different purposes and have existed in agricultural landscapes for millennia. The USDA defines a hedgerow as the “establishment of dense vegetation in a linear design to achieve a
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Beyond Pecan – Shagbark, Shellbark and Other Hickories
Most Americans are familiar with the delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-crack nut of the Northern Pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis). It’s an integral part of our diet and the most common commercial native nut tree in the U.S. Pecan nuts ripening on the tree Shelled pecan ready to eat But many people don’t
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What Trees Are Climate-Resilient in My Region?
Ecological shifts from climate change are occurring more rapidly and significantly than forests can adapt. The unnatural speed of change demands active, large-scale planting of a biodiverse selection of climate-resilient tree species capable of adapting to the changing environment. The U.S. Forest Service’s Climate Change Tree Atlas is a great
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Where’s Winter? Climate Zones Are Shifting
Climate change is shifting ecological plant hardiness zones. The USDA has updated its Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the first time since 2012. Most of New York’s Hudson Valley has shifted from Zone 5b to Zone 6a (see map below). This means the lowest winter temperature recorded over
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Spicebush – Wild Allspice for Your Woodland Garden
Every autumn, when we dig up our spicebush seedlings, we are struck by the strong pleasant aroma of the fibrous root systems (as well as all other parts of the plant). Spicebush has many favorable qualities which explain its growing popularity as a native ornamental shrub in cultivated gardens.
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How to Plant from Fabric Root-Prune Pouches
How to plant a tree or wildflower from a fabric root-prune pouch is different than planting from a plastic pot. The fabric pot allows for the roots to grow into the fabric where the fine roots are pruned rather than forced into unhealthy circling that occurs in an impermeable plastic
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Propagating Trees from Cuttings
Propagating trees from cuttings is an easy and economical way to grow lots of native trees. You can grow hundreds of trees from foot-long branches of willow, elderberry, dogwood, currants, and more. Pretty amazing, when you stop and think about it! We sell cuttings for spring planting if
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Grafting a Plum Tree (Alderman x Prunus americana)
Demonstrating how to graft a fruit tree with Alderman on Prunus Americana rootstock. Alderman plum is extremely cold hardy and produces big, dark red, sweet, juicy fruit that ripens in July. Visit Our Nursery Store Shop Trees
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Harnessing Nature to Stabilize the Climate and Adapt to Change
Whatever you think of climate change projections, the impacts of extreme weather are evident: tropical cyclones in Alaska, arctic blasts, killer heat waves, extreme droughts, 500-year floods, mega wildfires, and life-threatening blizzards. The number of natural disasters has increased fivefold over the last 50 years, with economic losses increasing sevenfold. The costs to our health and safety,
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A Conversation about Agroforestry and Biochar for Ecological Restoration and Resilience
We sat down recently with our friends at the Nature Calls podcast at Cornell Cooperative Extension to talk about the use of agroforestry and biochar for ecological restoration and climate resilience. Have a listen and check out more than four dozen other timely conversations below: Agroforestry Agroforestry integrates trees and other perennial plants