TATTOOS + TOMATOES

Welcome in my friends. Late April in the Catskills is here and it’s glorious. There’s a whole lot in this edition for you to explore — so hope you enjoy it and I’ll see ya out there.

The third annual Oyster Days Festival at West Kill Brewing is right around the warm and sunny corner.

This year, get ready for the release of Oyster Days Oyster Stout, a pop-up shop from our friends at Jetty, flash tats we designed with the talented gals at Thorn Tattoo, fresh shucked oysters from Oyster Party (want to learn to shuck? we got you covered), specialty pies from Forno Rosso, and custom chain stitching.

We’ll see ya there… and if someone decides to get a prominent Catskill Crew eagle tattoo, I’ll buy you a keg of Brookie lager.

PROPERTY: Good views and a pond

PETS: Piper the pup, Tulip the very brave cat, and a baby Mexican black king snake.

SKY: Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) made its closest approach to Earth this week, ~45 million miles away. Conditions make it nearly impossible to spot the icy wanderer. Easier to spot will be spring’s first full moon — The Flower Moon — on May 1st, named for the wildflowers that pop up this time of year.

SIGHTINGS: American Redstart Etophaga ruticilla

CONTRIBUTED BY SANDY

Hey crew folks — My day-to-day is involving more and more gardening activity, which predictably lifts my spirits. I resume my routines, watering seedlings under their lights, stepping outside to check on transplanted kales, refilling catfood cans of beer. (Read back to my first column for more on my bartending for slugs.) 

I’ve wanted to share specifics about my tomato cultivation strategy. Why tomatoes? In general, they’re probably the trickiest plant I grow, and therefore the crop I put the most attention into. Why do I care? I just think there is nothing quite like late-summer tomato season, the pleasure of a homegrown tomato sandwich…

And, honestly, lest you get any other impression: I too mess things up. Like, one flat of tomatoes hasn’t germinated this year. Fortunately the second flat did. I’d guess both just got too soggy. My sprayer malfunctioning, I’d watered them instead from a pitcher. This was the wrong move; lesson learned. And why nowadays I always sow too much of everything, hence, at least I had that second flat.

As I was chatting with someone at the Catskill Crew Seed Swap, gardening is about accepting failures, and moving onward. I’m naturally bad at this. First teaching myself gardening, I’d be devastated if I’d lost all my peas to mold or cucumbers to beetles, etc.

Nowadays, I admit I rarely get that activated by such ups and downs. I do sometimes feel annoyed — mostly at myself when applicable. But this I try to let go of. I’ll try to adust my behavior and try again. Gardening is a conversation with nature, ultimately. 

I start tomatoes as I do everything else indoors. I transplant to 3” peat pots when they’ve got two sets of leaves (non-true). Then I’ll harden off and transplant out after last frost. I ensure they’ve got nutritious soil, also support (especially for vining “indeterminate” varieties). 

I’ll write in future columns about pruning and about watering and pest control. 

P.S. Do you want to ask me a question? Or share any other gardening-related comments? Feel free to write in.

Turn the screens off, take a seat and enjoy some snail mail. The Spring Quarterly is shipping out — directly to your mailbox. You can order yours here.

P.S. one tree planted for every letter mailed

CONTRIBUTED BY SIR MICHAEL LAWRENCE

MARBLE POLISHING EXPERTS: From marble, bluestone, and travertine, to concrete, tile, and grout — Marble Polishing Experts can renew any stone. They are certified in Historic Stone Preservation (very cool), and have done work for everyone from local homeowners to the US Mint. If you've got natural stone that needs some TLC - GIVE BOB AND JULIA A CALL. And since they are Crew Members, they’re hooking everyone up with 20% off natural stone restoration (excluding terrazzo and concrete polishing) — Just mention Catskill Crew. 

CARPENTER’S ASSISTANT: Spring House Carpentry LLC is seeking a full time laborer to assist with all phases of construction, from framing to finish carpentry, in the northern Catskills. Experience is preferred, but not required. You must, however, have an interest in carpentry and/or the desire to learn the trade in pursuit of a career in it. Must have a driver’s license. Bonus if you like to fly fish. Pay is between $21-$25 per hour depending upon experience. Please email Bill

WARNING: White-tailed deer odocoileus virginianus are deep into their spring molt — worry not at their haggard appearance — they are merely shedding their winter coat.

SPRING EDITION OF THE CATSKILL CREW QUARTERLY: ORDER YOUR SNAIL MAIL

LIMITED EDITION BIG BUG ENERGY DAD CAPS: Designed by our Chief Bug Officer and featuring 6 arthropods → Planthopper, Milkweed Bug, Yellow Garden Orb Weaver, Caddis, Damselfly, and the much-loved Pillbug. GRAB YOUR BUGS

MOUNTAIN MEMORY GAMES: TEST YOUR SKILLS

CATSKILL PUZZLES: HAVE SOME FUN

OPEN CALL TO PRESENT AT SOCIAL STUDIES: APPLY HERE.

LAST WEEKS SCRAMBLE: SPARROW

Your contributions go directly toward keeping Catskill Crew alive and well so we can have more fun and build a stronger community. I appreciate any and all support my friends! - Michael

ADD AN EVENT

Tubby's, Kingston – Live tunes with Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart at 7PM cross genre

Rough Draft, Kingston – Policy and Politics Book Club at 6PM

Draw Studio, Kingston – Eco Arts Week 2026 with Paper/Swap/Collage at 6PM register here

Agroforestry Resource Center, Acra – Outdoor Mushroom Farming Series at 5PM fungi fun

Shandaken Inn – Tap Takeover with West Kill at 5PM brookies

Basilica Hudson – Ty Segall Live at 8PM with snowmen

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Benji Marx & Gem Jr. Band at 7PM join here

TEMPO Performing Arts Center, Kingston – A Benefit Concert for Clearwater at 7PM sloops

Common Good, Ellenville – Good Work Reading Series at 7:30PM works in progress

Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor – Luke Domozick Live at 5PM come join us

Avalon Lounge, Catskill – Greene County Pride Presents: Queer Community Night at 8PM everyone’s the dj

Unicorn Bar, Kingston – Queer Family Feud at 7:30PM

Colony, Woodstock – "Women in Music" Featuring: Jennifer Maidman & Marianne Osiel at 7PM let's go live

Half Moon, Hudson – Mayday Readathon at 6pm hi kate

Common Good, Ellenville - Free Open Mic for Wordsmiths and Poets at 7:30pm

Flying Trillium Gardens & Preserve, Liberty – Wings Of Spring Bird Watching at 9AM have fun

Opus 40, Saugerties – Lesser Mysteries at 6PM unseen

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock – Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate at 8PM tix

Phoenicia Playhouse – Songs Mostly of the Theatre: A Stroll Down a Dusty Musical Road see dates

Return Brewing, Hudson – Comedy Night at 8PM

Westwind Orchard, Accord – Salsa Night at 6:30PM

Origins, Cooperstown – Full Moon Party at 7PM flower moon

Rot & Fallow, Kingston – ‘Flowers. (for spring)' Art Soiree at 6PM enjoy

Cherry Valley Old School – Come Plant Some Trees at 10AM good stuff

Catskill Art Space, Livingston Manor – Russell Floersch, Elana Herzog, Ian Mcmahon: Artists Talk and Opening Reception at 3PM see you there

Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor – Pints, Paws, Derby and Dogs: Fundraiser Sullivan SPCA at 12PM niceee

Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, Livingston Manor – Saturday Fly Tying Series at 11AM tight lines

Tubby's, Kingston – Dromedary Records: Get Your Rond Out Release show at 3PM camels

Utopia Gallery, Kingston – Speakeasy Happy Hour Opening Reception at 4PM local artists

Morton Memorial Library, Pine Hill – The Art of... Landscape at 3PM details

SUNY Sullivan's Seelig Theater, Loch Sheldrake – Met Opera in HD – Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) at 1PM opera

Red Owl Flea, Kingston – Vintage and Handmade Market at 10AM more info

Basilica Hudson – Dry Cleaning Live at 8PM see you there

Keegan Ales, Kingston – Wilder Fest at 2PM cetacean sanctuaries

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock – John Doe & David Lowery at 8PM be in the moment

Wayside Cider, Andes – Open Music Jam In The Traditional Appalachian String Band Style at 3PM cider szn

Diamond Mills Resort, Saugerties – Our Fight Is Love: Tea Dance Fundraiser at 3PM details

Wax and Wild, Fleischmanns – Wild Sprouts: Paint & Plant at 12PM plant stuff

Rough Draft, Kingston – Upstate Reads Book Club at 6PM