×

Field and Forest, by Richard Gast

Buying, selecting and caring for the perfect Christmas tree

I can still remember how exciting it was for my younger sister and me when, as kids, my dad announced, “We’re going to get the Christmas tree tomorrow.” The following morning we’d put on our hats and gloves and head out to the Christmas tree lot in front of Dad’s favorite hardware ...

Snowmobiling this winter? Ride safely, have fun

Snowmobiling provides great opportunities for recreation with family and friends during the winter months. It’s a healthy activity that combines sightseeing with adventure. Northern New York offers some of the best snowmobiling you’re likely to find anywhere. Almost all snowsledders ...

Canada geese: Big honkin’ birds

Canada geese, often referred to as Canadian geese, are the second largest waterfowl in North America. (The largest is the swan.) They’re also the most widely distributed, with a range that encompasses arctic, sub-arctic and temperate regions in Alaska, Canada, all of the lower 48 states, and ...

Building a better apple

Apples are the most-consumed fruit in the United States. The annual estimated total value of the American apple industry is $23 billion, with just five cultivars — Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Red Delicious — making up two-thirds of production. Of these, Honeycrisp is easily the ...

It’s pumpkin season

“There are three things that I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” — Linus (from “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”) I can’t think of any horticultural crop that signals the arrival of autumn more than pumpkins. ...

Heating with wood this winter

I need to preface this article by assuring readers that, contrary to what many people are saying, New York state is not considering passing legislation that would prohibit burning wood or woody biomass products (pellets, scrap wood, sawmill and forest residues) at this time. There is a ...