GARDEN REPORT

Hey there and welcome back. We have tales of adventure, gardening, happenings, and more ahead. Hope you enjoy and see ya out there (once I’m back of course).

We’ve arrived in Henry’s Fork, Idaho - nothing short of a miracle after the dreaded engine light turned on as we crossed the New York border. That’s how it goes, no use fighting it.

We explored Devils Tower while the gas gauge gave out. Caught the rodeo in Cody as every mechanic within 250 miles said “not a chance”. We gave the car motivational speeches through Yellowstone. But luck turned back in our favor when we found a bar where a shot, beer, burger and fries were only $25 — and, almost as importantly, a mechanic who could take us in.

I’m writing this from the garage while the car’s on life support. The Snake River’s just across the street, so hopefully they take their time.

All things considered, the trip’s going great. I added a few pictures from the camera to the Crew site below. I’ll share more as the adventure continues — hopefully from other places than the car dealership.

CONTRIBUTOR

Hi there Crew, I’m writing a first of what I’m hoping will be a monthly thing … I’m a writer and gardener who’s located in the Western Catskills. I often look up my hardiness zone number (which is how we organic permaculture types sometimes identify ourselves I find, upon first meeting); I’m a 5a or 5b, depending on which online map I click on. All to say, like all of us gardeners in these mountains: I contend with the late frosts and the early ones too. I deal with the winds and the storms — and the droughts. I have my cast of characters around here … like the chipmunks who’ve taken to my pea trellis this spring, or the hordes of tiny slugs who decimated my pepper plants.

In this series, I’m thinking I’ll share with you about my garden — as someone who’s both somewhat new to gardening here but nowadays not like totally new either. When I first moved here, in early 2017, I was pretty clueless, gardening-wise. Cut to nowadays: I tend to grow a lot of my own produce, especially times of year like this, both for my own household and to share with friends and neighbors. So in this column, I want to talk about what I’ve learned, so far, mostly through failing and trying again.  

Given all this introduction, my first real report will be brief, compared to ones to come: My tomatoes, squash, and sunflowers have all shot up since our recent rains and sunny days (hooray!). Moths or something have been eating my cabbages and other brassicas (I have to decide how, if at all, to respond…). I trimmed my garlic scapes and made delicious scape-walnut pesto with fried ravioli and the fresh peas the chipmunks didn’t take. 

My (perhaps awful but alas efficient) method for killing the tiny slugs, by the way: Cheap beer, set out in little catfood tins. This is ironic for me personally, given I’m someone who quit drinking over eight years ago and who long ago worked many service industry jobs … I don’t serve alcohol for people anymore but I do still bartend for slugs.

I’ll welcome your stories or feedback, especially from those locals and green thumbs more wise and experienced than myself. Looking forward to hearing your tales and tricks, and growing together.

More next month, 
Sandy Ernest Allen

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to 35,000 friends?

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and the Museum At Bethel Woods, celebrate the anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair from August 12-15th. Woodstock Anniversary Week 2025 features special guest Elliott Landy, who extensively photographed the festival and became a noted photographer of musicians and rock stars. The week includes gatherings, celebrations, films, and further exploration of the ongoing Peace Initiative at Bethel Woods. Learn more here.

Meadowlark Festival — A three-day music festival from September 12-14th at Stone Ridge Orchard that benefits Hudson Valley farmers — featuring Sunflower Bean, Haley Heynderickx, Cut Worms, River Whyless, Willi Carlisle, and more. The stage is a 1940s travel trailer situated under a centuries-old oak tree on a heritage apple orchard. For a limited time use discount code CATSKILLCREW for 15% off tickets. Click here to learn more or buy tickets.

Hospitality for Homes Managing a home, whether it’s a weekend home, a rental, or an estate, can feel like a stressful full-time job. Root & Ramble was founded by a local homeowner who wanted to create a better way. One trusted and reliable manager that offers full-service care from repairs and maintenance to pool care, landscaping, and more — so you can actually enjoy ownership. Learn more here.

Delaware Valley Opera presents Don Giovanni, Mozart’s unforgettable take on the Don Juan legend. This bold two-act opera blends comedy, drama, and seduction — following the infamous libertine on his path of pleasure, deception, and ultimate reckoning. Packed with some of Mozart’s most iconic music, Don Giovanni is a timeless masterpiece you won’t want to miss. Multiple showings through August.

Catskill Cryo offers whole body cryotherapy — a quick and effective way to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and speed up recovery. Just three minutes in the cold can leave you feeling clear-headed, energized, and refreshed. Catskill Cryo makes cutting-edge wellness simple, safe, and local. You can find them right on main street in Catskill (P.S. everyone I know who has tried it, swears by it). Discover the benefits and book a session here.

Adopt Pets: A few friends that can use a friend - Ryder the 2 year old hound, Cedar the young cat, and Penelope the rat.

Property of the Week: 5 acre plot of land in Hunter with views of Kaaterskill High Peak and Round Top.

The Sky Report: On the evening of August 5th, asteroid Vesta will appear through binoculars as a faint speck of light in a straight line with the stars Xi¹ and Xi² Librae. Discovered in 1807, Vesta was once considered a planet, until astronomers found so many similar bodies between Mars and Jupiter they had to invent a new category: asteroids. At 300 miles wide and nearly 9% of the asteroid belt’s total mass, Vesta is a relic of the early Solar System. When NASA’s Dawn spacecraft arrived in 2011, it revealed a scarred protoplanet shaped by billion-year-old impacts and frozen in time.

Sunrise 5:57 AM
Sunset 8:07 PM
Fire Danger [moderate]
Air Quality [moderate]
Moon Phase [waxing gibbous]

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Tubby's, Kingston - Live tunes with Pearl, Sunbloc, Dauber at 7pm info

Salt Box, Kingston - Queer Kingston at 6pm

Catskill Center, Mt. Tremper - Catskills Nature Explorers: Full Sturgeon Moon Art & Storytelling at 10:30am for the kids

Mountain Top Arboretum, Tannersville - Yoga for Gardening at 3:15pm down dog

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Karaoke with Cowboy Casey at 8:30pm

The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Music Night with Soren Song at 7pm

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Queer Trivia at 7:30pm

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - Bluegrass Open House 2025 sweet

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel - Concert with Ishay Ribo at 8pm tix

Crimson Catskills, Maverick Arts, Woodstock - Summer SoundWaves, a weekly Catskills Sound Bath and Relaxation Experience at 5:30pm chill out

Catskill Center, Mt. Tremper - Hike for the Catskills: Guided Hike to Mount Tremper Fire Tower at 10am get outside

Rough Draft, Kingston - Trivia Night at 6pm

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - The Phoenician Scheme at 7pm wes anderson

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Queer Line Dancing at 7:30pm

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel - Comedy show with John Mulaney, Fred Armisen, Mike Birbiglia, and Nick Kroll at 7:30pm heck of a lineup

Night School, Athens - Very Vinyl Bash at 8pm dig it

Orpheum Theatre, Saugerties - Woodstock Film Festival Presents, The Librarians, with post-screening conversation at 7:30pm tix

Catskill Mountain Railroad, Kingston - Dinosaur Express at 10am all aboard

Upper Depot Brewing Co, Hudson - Farmer to Table Shabbat at 7pm deets

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Performance by Nicole Atkins at 7pm tickets

Catskill Center, Mt. Tremper - iSPY Invasive Species Paddle with CRISP & OCCA at 10am get outdoors

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock - Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets (Night 1) at 8pm (until Aug 9) tix

Lost Book Shop, Delhi - Cat Cafe with Heart of the Catskills at 3pm kitties

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown - Fire Pit Fridays featuring Big Empty at 6pm cheers

The Half Moon, Hudson - Hudson Film Festival official After Party at 9pm eat more pizza

Putt Putt Van Winkle, Bovina - Nightshining: A reading and conversation with Jennifer Kabat, Lucy Sante and G Lucas Crane at 5pm bummed to miss this

Dette Flies, Livingston Manor - Summer Pig Roast at 11am tight lines

Howland House, Mt. Tremper - Phoenicia Flea at Howland House at 11am have a good time

Andes Garden Club, Andes - Andes Garden Tour at 11am lovely

NEST, Woodstock - Woodstock Awakening Festival at 9pm info

Star Route Farm, Charlottesville - Farm Dinner with the Catskill Agrarian Alliance at 4pm dig it

Catskill Center, Mt. Tremper - Full Moon Hike to Overlook Mountain at 6:30pm nice

Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, Livingston Manor - Saturday Fly Tyers Series at 11am

Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury - Opening Reception: Return: Birds, Beasts and Other Beings from 4-6pm make more things

The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Field Market at 12pm

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Underground System: Disco Fusion Afrobeat at 7pm have fun

Widow Jane Mine, Rosendale - The Sauce Boss Concert at 4pm tix

Big Indian Park, Shandaken - Shandaken Summer Concert Series at 1pm

Night School, Athens - Open Mic at 6pm

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Live music with Minor Moon, Lea Thomas, John Thayer, Harrison Basch at 8pm take a gander

Mountain Top Arboretum, Tannersville - Music in the Meadow with Laura Leigh Band at 3pm info

Unicorn Bar, Kingston - Tu B’av Jewish Valentine's Day at 7pm info

Catskill Center, Mt. Tremper - Hike for the Catskills: Guided Hike to Hunter Mountain Fire Tower at 10am more time outside

Matagiri, Mt. Tremper - Silent Meditation at 6pm zen

Scribner’s, Hunter - Fitness Retreat at 4pm details

WORD SCRAMBLE: WOODPECKER