Farmscape Ecology Program

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Ghent, NY
Farmscape Ecology Program

Multidisciplinary research and outreach program looking at ecology and cultural relationships to land in Columbia County New York.

Website: http://hvfarmscape.org

Blog: http://hvfarmscape.wordpress.com/

05/29/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 29 May 2026

More Impressions from the Black Forest in Germany
by Claudia

I have just returned from an unplanned second visit to Germany this year and thought you might enjoy a sequel to the Wonder Wander I shared on January 21, 2026 (https://progressoftheseasons.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/farmscape-wonder-wander-21-january-2026/). Today’s post shows images taken during May in the Black Forest of south-western Germany and compares some of its spring-time nature with that in Columbia County, NY.

05/22/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 22 May 2026

By Kyle Bradford

I took a walk at Beebe Hill State Forest to a Beaver pond, and explored the pine, oak woods on the way.

05/15/2026

Wonder Wander: 15 May 2026
By Josie

This week, I spent a morning documenting and photographing as many bird species as I could at my family’s farm in Hillsdale. This was somewhat inspired by a documentary I recently watched about extreme birding called “Listers” on youtube. I ended up with a total of 42 species and managed to get some decent photos. Follow along for an amateur birder’s account of a morning foray!

05/09/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 8 May 2026

Spring Migration at Hawthorne Valley

By Kendrick Fowler

This morning, I tagged along on a bird walk around Hawthorne Valley Farm led by Laura Stark and Spencer Crawford. Early May is among the best times of year for birdwatching in our area because it is when songbirds are returning for their breeding season and are wearing their brightest colors and singing their melodic songs. What's more, Hawthorne Valley is a great place to find birds thanks to its large variety of habitats, including expansive hay fields; dry, shrubby meadows; ponds and wetlands; riparian corridors; and mixed forests. In just two hours this morning, we encountered 40 species! Read on for a small glimpse at what we found.

04/30/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 30 April 2026
By Laura

This week I visited Ferncliff Forest Game Refuge and Forest Preserve in Rhinebeck. This 200 acre preserve has 12 miles of trails and a fire tower that provides excellent views of the Catskills. I've been here many times, and while I could tell that much of the forest is what we would define as "ancient" and likely never fully cleared for agriculture, I didn't realize that it's actually considered true old-growth. The Ferncliff website refers to the preserve as the "second best old-growth in the Hudson Valley." I'm not sure which one is considered best or who decides, but this one is certainly a treasure!

04/24/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 23 April 2026
By Anna

This week’s Wonder Wander explores the rapid transitions and weather swings of spring. View the photos and read the captions to follow along.

04/17/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 16 April 2026
By Claudia (with some photos by Conrad)

Early Spring in the Native Plant Garden and on Harvey Mountain

Last week, we had the first native plants break into bloom in the Creekhouse Native Plant Garden. Click on the images to learn more.

04/09/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 9 April 2026

By Kyle Bradford

It's the third week of official spring, and you might be looking forward to a Wonder Wander full of green sprouts and flowers. However, on my Tuesday walk, it felt a bit more wintry, and a proper dusting of snow coated the woods at Hand Hollow State Forest in New Lebanon. The snow didn't stick around long, so it was a special opportunity to photograph the (subtle) progression of spring in a wintry landscape.

04/02/2026

2 April 2026 Wonder Wander: Of Porcupines and the Sanctity of Life.

by Conrad.

This is, I’m afraid, what the NY Times likes to call, a “Long Read”; it’s what happens as you get older – you start suffering from the delusion that you have something to say! But, heck, maybe it’s raining and coolish out, and so tea and a ‘long read’ isn’t the worst fate…

03/30/2026

Farmscape Wonder Wander: 29 March 2026

By Kendrick Fowler

At Claudia’s suggestion, this week I took a stroll around High Falls Conservation Area in Philmont. Every time I visit that place, I find myself contemplating how it challenges the way I think about our landscape and what I perceive “nature” to be. My thoughts on these topics are murky and disorganized, but nonetheless I want to share a few of my reflections here. If you’d like to hear them, read on!

Address

1075 Harlemville Road
Ghent, NY
12075

Telephone

+15186727994

Website

http://hvfarmscape.org/

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