ARBOR DAY RECAP
Kevin Yoder
Project Biologist
National Wild Turkey Federation
With a shovel in one hand and tree seedling in the other, volunteers set out to improve water quality and wildlife habitat on Finger Lakes National Forest in Hector, New York. The tree planting was part of an Arbor Day event coordinated by the US Forest Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. The volunteers planted 20 American elm seedlings
along a small stream in Ballard Pasture on Finger Lakes National Forest. American elm trees are adapted to wet soils and are typically found growing along streams. American elms, and other streamside trees, improve water quality because their roots stabilize the streambank and reduce erosion. Many of the American elms in the northeast are dying from Dutch elm disease, which is caused by an exotic fungus that kills the tree. However, the seedlings planted by the volunteers were developed through the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station to be
resistant to Dutch elm disease. Planting disease- resistant seedlings will restore the
American elm one tree at a time.The morning began with presentations about the benefits of planting American elms and other trees. Tim Noon from the U.S. Forest Service, spoke about American elms and their ecological importance. Kevin Yoder, biologist with the National Wild Turkey Federation, discussed how wildlife benefits from riparian buffers and planting wildlife-friendly trees and shrubs. Erin Nyquist, from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County, demonstrated the importance of streamside buffers and how plant roots stabilize the soil. The group then
proceeded to the planting site to survey. Kevin
and Tim led a demonstration on how to plant the trees and install wire cages around them to protect the new seedlings from deer and
cattle. Caging supplies were donated from the NY State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The volunteers then worked in teams to dig holes, build cages, and water the new seedlings. The planting only took a couple
of hours to complete, but the new trees will improve water quality and wildlife habitat for decades to come.
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4-H MAPLE SCHOOL 2014
This March youth had the opportunity to participate in our “4-H Maple School” for kids and families. Here youth watch and listen raptly to Steve Gabriel, Cornell Cooperative Extension associate and co-founder of the Finger lakes Permaculture Institute, as he demonstrates how to tap a Sugar Maple using a hand drill. Youth then practiced tapping the trees themselves. This was a great opportunity for youth to be truly engaged in learning and to work toward mastery of a valuable life skill - making maple syrup! Through participating in dialogue and hearing stories about the history of sugaring as a group, families also gained a sense of belonging to a time-honored tradition unique to the Eastern Deciduous Woodlands. And the Maple School helps the tradition continue, as all families who did not already tap trees at home tried it for themselves when they went home! Special thanks again to Steve, and look for the Maple School again next year.