DINNER CLUBS

A light snow has been falling since morning, the wood stove reads 500°, and the sun just slipped behind the ridge. Deep fall has arrived. I hope you enjoy this edition and I’ll see ya out there my friends.

I’ve got a new idea… a way to get us all together to meet new folks and explore new restaurants. A type of Catskill Crew Dinner Club where we get matched up with a few strangers, enjoy a meal together, and have some fun. Maybe even throw in an afterparty as well.

Let me know your thoughts — if this gets approved, I’ll get to work.

Big thanks to everyone that signed up for the Quarterly. All of the envelopes have been packed up, shipped out, and are en route to your mailbox. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can still get your FALL EDITION right here.

Catskill Crew and Keep Good Company Records are giving away some tickets & goodies for the Lost Leaders and Ginger Winn concert at Park Theater on Nov 21st.

Enter to win: 2 tickets to the show, 2 drinks, great merch to take home, and an artist meet-and-greet. Winner announced in the next edition. No hoops to jump through just ENTER HERE.

CONTRIBUTED BY: SANDY

Hi crew folk! I’ve been getting some great feedback and questions; thanks so much to those who’ve written in. This month, I wanted to focus on Brianna’s question below: 

How I identified with this tale! Ever since I was a kid watching The Secret Garden I had aspired to possess an overgrown garden all of my own … and yet when I first moved here, I faced this same paradox: Somehow eradicate all the weeds first, or start plants of my own? This could feel daunting given the height and power of the grasses and goldenrods on my sites, and also hops someone had planted that had completely taken over in parts.

The hops were aggressive and annoying — their roots deep, their tendrils wandering, their barbs sharp. Hops seemed charming, even cool, to have around … but my main issue was they were everywhere. Even if I labored to pull them, new hops might appear even right in the middle of just-built raised beds. As a then newly alcohol-sober person (who’d sure adored hoppy IPAs), this often felt a little on the nose, me battling with these particular plants. Now I know that in pulling but not fully getting the roots out I was probably encouraging the plants to grow. 

Resources advised me against tilling because tilling can stir up weed seeds. One thought for you next spring is you’ll want to use another method to knock back your own weeds, including any germinating seeds. You might try getting plastics from a gardening supplier — clear or black — for processes called solarization or occultation. 

Weeds-wise these days, I keep timing in mind. I clear everything in early spring, when the ground has thawed but before the plants are growing again. I use a pitchfork to remove weeds entirely, roots included. And for sure: Clear some space, or build raised beds, and get planting! I recommend you surround your young plantings with straw mulch, which helps with weed prevention (amongst other things). 

Prevention and periodic maintenance weeding (when the ground’s soft) will be your best bets, going forward. Because, as you’ve now experienced, the weeds will take back over — if you clear some soil and then blink during our verdant Catskills summers. 

I will write in future columns about what to plant and when. Good luck. Feel free to write back and tell me how it goes. Happy weeding, Sandy

Want to spread the good to over 40,000+ Crew Members?

Catskill Crew teamed up with Keep Good Company Records to present two incredible nights of live music featuring Lost Leaders (Byron Isaacs of Lumineers + Peter Cole of Lava Baby) and rising Hudson Valley songwriter Ginger Winn. November 15th at The Falcon (sold out) and November 21st at Park Theater.

Bury My Bones Pocket Tees Good for the trail, by the fire, or six feet under a sugar maple. Get one.

Crew Quarterly Four envelopes mailed to your door, stuffed to the brim with Catskill Goodness. I’ll plant a tree for each letter I send. Join today.

Catskill-opoly Embark on an unforgettable journey through the Catskills Have fun.

PROPERTY: Original stained-glass windows

PETS: Tino the Teeth, Giorgio the cat, and Snowball the bunny.

SKY: Northern Taurids peak on the night of November 11th - 12th. By 11 PM expect to spot 4 meteors per hour.

RARE SIGHTINGS: Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea Ibis)

Catskill Crew is a free local independent newsletter. Your contributions go toward keeping the Crew going so we can have more fun and build more community. I appreciate any and all support my friends! - Michael

ADD AN EVENT

FARMERS MARKET SCHEDULE

Park Theatre, Hudson – Industry Night at 7pm details

Tubby’s, Kingston – swdyt 28 enjoy

Left Bank Ciders, Catskill – Northern Spy Reading Series at 6:30pm explore

Night School, Athens – Athens Community Farm Fall Fundraiser 5pm join here

The Willows, Catskill – Conservation Book Club 7pm read more books

Avalon Lounge, Catskill – Living Hour, Raybody, Evelyn 8pm more info

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Ulster County Trans and Gender Diverse Listening Session 5:30pm attend

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Kingston – Dried Flower Workshop at 6pm join in

Lost Book Shop, Delhi – Book Discussion at 6pm more books

Mustangs, Kingston – Climbing Charity Cancer Fundraiser at 5pm good stuff

Tenth House Health, Athens – Restorative Yoga at 7pm pigeon pose

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – Daddy Long Legs with Handsome Jack 8pm these fellas have good hair

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown – Trivia at 6pm

Van Dusens, Lexington – Trivia Night & Fundraiser for the Hunter Community Fridge 6pm fill the fridge

Roost Arts, New Paltz – Love is the Message Concert Series at 6pm enjoy

Time and Space Limited, Hudson – Community Square Dance at 7pm good times

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – Beach Fossils with Being Dead at 8pm tix

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock – Sonny Landreth & Cindy Cashdollar at 8pm get your tickets

Rough Draft, Kingston – 8th Birthday Party at 6pm happy bday

Two Farms Brewing, Bloomingburg – Ornament Paint & Sip at 6pm

Catskill Water Discovery Center, Arkville - Film Screening of Our Blue World at 3pm info

Ravenwood, Kerhonkson – End of Season Party 2pm take a look

Urban Cowboy, Big Indian – County Line Bluegrass at 7:30pm details

Bethel Woods, Bethel – The Weight Band at 8pm get tickets

Assembly, Kingston – Photay with Eucademix at 8pm tix

Return Brewing, Hudson – Hollywood Herb Live 7pm check out

Headwaters Arts Center, Stamford – Performance by 2023 Bluebird Golden Pick Winner at 7pm tickets

Duggan Community Center, White Lake – Cat Rescue at 12:30pm details

Mamakating Environmental Education Center, Wurtsboro – Fern Spore Sowing Workshop at 10am join

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Queer Honky Tonk 8pm

Wylder, Windham – Harvest Market at 11am come by

White Feather, Saugerties – Little Seedlings at 11am for kiddos

Emerson, Mt. Temper – Nature Walk with Wild Hudson Valley at 10am go learn stuff

Willows, Athens – Catskill Indians at 2pm more info

Phoenicia Fish and Game, Mt. Tremper – Flea Market at 10am details

Six Bells Inn, Rosendale – That Cheese Plate at 1pm see more

Wayside Cider, Andes – Preserving Apples at 3pm sweet

Cherry Valley Old School, Cherry Valley – Rebirthing the Ancient Rituals & Songs at 12pm register 

Assembly, Kingston – The Levin Brothers at 8pm tix

Skate Time, Accord – Tot Time 10am details

Rose Hill Farm, Red Hook – Hudson Valley Nut Fest at 1:30pm enjoy