The Catskill Chronicle

Photos and text provided by Catskill Mountainkeeper

CALLICOON CENTER, NY (August 11, 2011) – Last Saturday afternoon on August 6, more than 500 people gathered at the Hills Resort in Callicoon Center to celebratethe Catskills, discuss issues relative to the region’s environment, be entertained, enjoy deliciously prepared Catskills Food, listen to the wisdom of keynote speaker Dr. Fred Kirschenmann and more.

Fred, who is one of our nation’s most important voices on sustainability, spoke with great clarity about what has to happen with energy and food for our planet to sustain itself for future generations. The audience was quite moved and Fred, who speaks frequently, commented on the palpable energetic spirit in the room. Fred was introduced by Anna Lappé, bestselling author of “Diet for a Hot Planet" and social activist Bethany Yarrow sang a Native American ballad.

In only its third year, Barnfest has become the Catskill’s environmental event of the year and a powerful statement of support for the work of Catskill Mountainkeeper . If the rain or other circumstances kept you away, you missed a great time and an important gathering, but we look forward to seeing you next year.

Meanwhile, there is another important way we need your continuing support. As Mountainkeeper continuously takes on more issues to protect the Catskills and pursue sustainable growth our need for financial contributions is also increasing.  In the next six months alone our resources will be stretched as never before as our battle to prevent unsafe gas drilling in New York State and the massive health threat it represents escalates in the face of the current DEC plan to issue drilling permits in the spring of 2012.

So please click below and help us continue to fight for you and the Catskills. Give more if you can or less if you can’t. All contributions are tax deductible. And visit us at www.catskillmountainkeeper.org to learn more about our work.