When I was young, what fascinated me most about the outdoors was discovery. The unveiling of a whole teeming world right outside always kept me coming back. One moment I remember fondly was my father showing me a Crayfish for the first time on the shore of Lake Ontario. I couldn't believe that such a strange and fascinating creature with huge pincers and strange long antennae was dwelling in the same place I would go swimming with my family.

Gardening in the North Country presents unique challenges and opportunities. With its distinct climate, soil conditions, and ecosystem, the North Country is the perfect place to embrace native plants in your garden. Native plants are species that have evolved to thrive in this specific region, making them an excellent choice for sustainable and low-maintenance gardening. Here’s why you should consider gardening with native plants in the North Country and how to get started. 

Reel in the summer fun with summer fishing!

Ah, summer, the days are brighter, the sun is sunnier, and the warm weather is just begging you to go outside. But so often we fail to meet this call, and frequently that begins with running out of ideas. You’ve taken a stroll around town, rode your bike on the trails, and even visited the park for some light hiking. Yet still after all that, you look at the calendar and realize summer has just begun, and you've already crossed every activity off the list. 

The flags have been picked up, the apples have been eaten, and photos have finally been rounded up, but we're still thrilled with the turnout and fun had at this year's 8th Annual Earth Day 7k! With almost 70 registrants and over $1500 raised, the North Country community demonstrated what generosity, grit, and passion look like this past Sunday, April 21st, 2024.

One of the defining characteristics of the North Country is its connection to the natural world. If it weren't, Nature Up North wouldn't exist, and that is a timeline truly too dark to imagine. The animals that inhabit the North Country play a huge role in defining the region's character. From the iconic white-tail deer, whose presence has earned them a place on the St. Lawrence County seal, to the mighty but rarely seen eastern black bear whose image is plastered across the region, wildlife is truly an inseparable part of our home.

Picture yourself wandering through a forest in early spring, the air crisp with the promise of warmer days ahead. Amidst the trees, something magical is happening – the sap is flowing, marking the beginning of the sweet journey from tree to topping. Join me to uncover the delightful process of making maple syrup, from forest to breakfast table.

As the soil warms up in April and May and green plants spring forth once again, a delicate aroma hangs in the air, apart from any floral scent wafting on the breeze. It’s earthy and fresh, and I find it almost intoxicating. It turns out that spring’s special perfume has some fun and quirky root causes.

After so many months of winter whiteness, it’s a relief to watch the snow recede at last. We’re always grateful for the spring melt, even though the loss of snow cover gives way to a mostly brown world:  brown grass, sand everywhere along the roads, and brown needles under the pines. Not to mention the brown leaves we missed last fall, and maybe the dog poop that had built up, mercifully hidden under the snow. The few sepia-toned weeks after the white stuff disappears, but before trees and grass wake up, can be visually bleak.

Did you know that the beaver is New York’s official state mammal? It’s a warranted distinction due to their critical importance in the ecosystem. Beavers are a keystone species, meaning that their presence is essential for biodiversity and a sustained, healthy ecosystem. Beavers accomplish this promotion of biodiversity by altering the habitat of an area by way of building dams and changing water flows. The majority of people, scientists, and governmental actions now support and protect beavers and the critical role they play in the environment.

The 6th Annual Cardboard Sled Race, planned originally for Saturday, February 10th, then moved to Saturday, Feb 24th due to weather, fell victim this year to the warm weather of El Niña. What was otherwise a delightfully warm and sunny week leading up to Saturday, melted much of the snow that had dropped the weekend prior. That, coupled with a wind chill in the negatives on Saturday morning, created conditions that would have been unfriendly to sled and racer alike.