Unearthing the History of Catskills Trees with Dr. Michael Kudish

07/30/24 • 54 min

Michael Kudish is a Catskills legend and the authority on Catskills trees and forests. In 1971, Kudish earned his PhD with the thesis, "Vegetational History of the Catskill High Peaks." Five decades later, that research is ongoing.

In 2000, Purple Mountain Press published his landmark book, The Catskill Forest: A History. Now, an updated 6-volume set is in the works. I met up with Michael at his home/research library in Delaware County, to hear about his latest research sampling Catskills bogs and radio carbon dating peat and charcoal for even more insights into our Catskills forest past.

---

Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle.

Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast was just recognized for the third consecutive year as the "Best Regional Podcast" in the 2024 Chronogrammies! Thank you for your votes, and please take a moment to rate and review us on the app of your choice so even more listeners can find us!

---

00:00 Introduction to Michael Kudish and His Work

00:46 Meeting Michael Kudish: A Visit to His Research Library

01:09 Sponsors and Supporters of Kaatscast

02:09 Michael Kudish's Research Journey

04:50 Understanding the Catskills' Unique Vegetation

08:47 The Impact of Glaciation on Catskills Vegetation

12:41 Discovering History Through Bogs

19:03 Defining and Differentiating Bogs and Fens

28:41 Discovering Ancient Moss in the Catskills

29:08 Peat Sampling Techniques and Challenges

29:57 Radiocarbon Dating: Methods and Costs

31:01 Funding Research Through Retirement

32:09 Transitioning to Writing: The Next Chapter

32:54 Expanding Knowledge: From One Volume to Six

34:22 Consistent Vegetation Over Millennia

37:41 Climate Change Insights

38:39 Exploring the Extent of Catskill Bogs

39:52 Ancient Charcoal and Forest Fires

42:48 Uncovering Prehistoric Forests

47:04 The Six-Volume Catskill Forest History

50:16 The Joy and Work of Field Research

52:15 The Interconnected Lives of Trees

53:45 Conclusion and Future Work

---

Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, and The Mountain Eagle.

Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

---

00:00 Introduction to Michael Kudish and His Work

00:46 Meeting Michael Kudish: A Visit to His Research Library

01:09 Sponsors and Supporters of Kaatscast

02:09 Michael Kudish's Research Journey

04:50 Understanding the Catskills' Unique Vegetation

08:47 The Impact of Glaciation on Catskills Vegetation

12:41 Discovering History Through Bogs

19:03 Defining and Differentiating Bogs and Fens

28:41 Discovering Ancient Moss in the Catskills

29:08 Peat Sampling Techniques and Challenges

29:57 Radiocarbon Dating: Methods and Costs

31:01 Funding Research Through Retirement

32:09 Transitioning to Writing: The Next Chapter

32:54 Expanding Knowledge: From One Volume to Six

34:22 Consistent Vegetation Over Millennia

37:41 Climate Change Insights

38:39 Exploring the Extent of Catskill Bogs

39:52 Ancient Charcoal and Forest Fires

42:48 Uncovering Prehistoric Forests

47:04 The Six-Volume Catskill Forest History

50:16 The Joy and Work of Field Research

52:15 The Interconnected Lives of Trees

53:45 Conclusion and Future Work

Previous Episode

Catskill Mountain Shakespeare

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Hark! On this day's Kaatscast, we journey to the quaint village of Hunter in fair New York, whereupon Catskill Mountain Shakespeare doth present a stirring rendition of the noble tragedy, Julius Caesar. Attend thee this discourse with the esteemed founder and artistic director, Sarah Reny. And verily, seize thee a billet, for this performance doth breathe new life into a timeless saga.

---

Thanks to this week's sponsors: Briars & Brambles Books, Hanford Mills Museum, Ulster Savings Bank, and The Mountain Eagle.

Kaatscast is made possible through a grant from the Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation, and through the support of listeners like you!

Please rate and review on the podcast app of your choice. Thank you!

Poster design by Nicole Caputo; courtesy CMS.

Next Episode

Coffee ☕️ Food 🥪 and Fuel ⛽️ at Charlotteville General Store

Mark Hearon didn't always drink coffee, but when he got started, he was all in. Now, he's roasting fair trade organic coffee at an 1872 general store that also carries gourmet sandwiches and local essentials –– beer, bread, milk, fishing bait, even a fill-up for your car from a vintage gas pump, making it a unique one-stop-shop for both locals and travelers.

Joined by his daughter Ashley Hearon-Smith, the store’s part-time publicist and social media manager, Mark shares his journey from discovering coffee roasting in California to perfecting his craft in the Catskills. The episode covers the store’s rich history, the roasting process, and the community’s enthusiastic support, including local products such as meats, cheeses, and fresh baked goods.

https://www.charlottevillegeneralstore.com

00:00 Introduction

00:38 Meet Mark Hearon: The Man Behind the Coffee

01:54 History of the Charlotteville General Store

03:08 Mark's Journey into Coffee Roasting

06:13 Ethically Sourced Coffee Beans

07:18 Ashley Hearon-Smith: Publicist and Media Guru

09:38 Roasting Process and Local Products

14:57 Tasting the Coffee and a Sampling of Sandwiches

16:21 Local Products and Community Support

17:47 Conclusion and How to Visit

---