Ecological Land Stewardship Academy

06/05/2025

It’s copperhead season, we found this beautiful little lady on one of our trails the other night. Please remember copperheads are a protected species in NYS, and it is illegal to kill or remove them from their habitat. Copperheads have a crucial role in our ecosystem as both predators and prey. Predator: Copperheads are carnivorous and primarily feed on rodents, including mice, chipmunks, and young squirrels. They also consume other prey like small birds, frogs, and insects. Their diet helps regulate populations of these smaller animals in their habitat. Prey: Copperheads are themselves prey for various predators, including other snakes, hawks, owls, raccoons, weasels, foxes, and skunks. This predation helps maintain a balance within the ecosystem by controlling copperhead populations and contributing to the food web

06/05/2025

It’s copperhead season, we found this beautiful little lady on one of our trails the other night. Please remember copperheads are a protected species in NYS, and it is illegal to kill or remove them from their habitat. # # # # # #. # # # # # #. # #. Copperheads have a crucial role in our ecosystem as both predators and prey. # # # # #. Predator: Copperheads are carnivorous and primarily feed on rodents, including mice, chipmunks, and young squirrels. They also consume other prey like small birds, frogs, and insects. Their diet helps regulate populations of these smaller animals in their habitat. Prey: Copperheads are themselves prey for various predators, including other snakes, hawks, owls, raccoons, weasels, foxes, and skunks. This predation helps maintain a balance within the ecosystem by controlling copperhead populations and contributing to the food web

11/08/2024

Here’s our trail manager Jake Shuchat working on cutting down the cover crop we grew over the garden bed this year to help regenerate the soil. We used a combination of peas, beans, barley, wheat, oats, and rye. With the material cut and mulched silage yarns will be layer down to kill remaining vegetation for spring planting

09/12/2024

Interested in learning troubleshooting small engines? Got a w**d whacker lawn mower hedge trimmer or other small engine that needs a tune up?

Join us this Friday at 5pm for our weekly Fix It Friday workshop led by our Trail manager Jake Shuchat

25$ per person if your bringing something to fix

10$ if your coming to observe the workshop

We will meet in parking lot A at the rail trail cafe at 5 pm

08/22/2024

Feeling like…dare I say?
FALL
But not quite yet! Shift in the seasons is always so bittersweet. We have pumpkins growing!!

08/16/2024

Here’s a friendly little copper head digesting her meal and reminding us While working in the wood piles remember to stay present and observe your surroundings

08/02/2024

08/01/2024

Good day and happy midsummer E.L.S.A. Volunteers!

Who’s up for a fun filled volunteer weekend?

This Saturday
Work on projects begins at 10, and ends by 4. with plenty of breaks and hydration in between.

It’s time to begin the Greenhouse project and help in the creation of an amazing space for volunteer camping and fun.

A few things on the list:
Saturday:
* We will be moving materials into the meadow to clear a trailer for the transport of more materials for the greenhouse build.
* Taking down the temporary sugar shack from syrup season and clearing that space.
* Prepping fire wood for our fires

After a day of service that we are so very grateful for, we will have a feast and fire.

If fun is also on your agenda we invite you to bring any instruments for a jam session around a fire, as well as any games that can be played as a group. Sharing stories and deep thoughts is also part of the fun so dig deep. You’re invited to share if that feels good.

Sunday
If you’re staying through to Sunday we will be going on a wild foraging walkabout. Searching for wild edibles like mushrooms, berries, and other yummy plants.
We invite you to bring your cameras to share cool pics with the community.
If you’re available we appreciate your help. We ask that you please arrive on time to ensure a better flow for the day. Thank you so very much, and we look forward to seeing you!

Note: If you’re planning to camp Friday as well please let us know.

07/26/2024

Lining the roadsides! Thriving in poor soil! She is everywhere right now and sometimes it’s the most common of plants that we overlook the most…this is just scratching the surface! You may have known some of this 😀

07/24/2024

Opportunities in the next few days! Feel free to message us for more information if you’re interested!

07/17/2024

We have a great talk lined up for this Sunday…come to the rail trail cafe!!