Time Outdoors

As I write this, I am reaching the end of the 8th week of isolation with my family due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am working mostly in the orchard and in my home office. Daily forays into the woods helps to balance the distance that we are feeling from others. I wanted to share some photos that I took as we entered the first week.

We are fortunate to have a nature preserve that borders our property. It is one of the features that drew us to live here. This is the Sweedler and Thayer Preserves of the Finger Lakes Land Trust whose mission is to conserve forever the lands and waters of the Finger Lakes region, ensuring scenic vistas, local foods, clean water, and wild places for everyone. My first college degree was in Natural Resource Conservation so this is near and dear to my heart.

The Finger Lakes Trail winds through the gorge and crosses our property on its way to Buttermilk Falls State Park.

Lick Brook is the river that flows through these preserves. This is one of the dozens of little waterfalls here.

Mother and Daughter

I love how the daughter tree is still hugging the mother tree. This shows what happens when a tree seed sprouts on part of an older tree which then dies and fades away.

Hemlock tree growing out of shale bedrock

Nutrient-rich bedrock was formed from marine sediments of an ancient ocean. Millions of years of mostly microscopic sea life and silt settled down and became this shale. It is the bedrock that is underneath our orchards just up hill from Lick Brook.

South Hill Cidery from the trail

The Finger Lakes Trail system crosses our property.

Sprouting Oak Tree

This is an acorn sprouting on the ground. It is amazing that this is how every magnificent oak tree has started its journey.

Sprouting Oak Tree

This is an acorn sprouting. It is amazing that this is how every magnificent oak tree has started its journey.