CATSKILL HARVEST NEWSLETTER April 2012

A note from the editor:We are glad to report that spring has arrived in earnest. With spring comes longer days and a sense of rebirth. Along these lines we will be making some changes to our newsletter starting with this issue. Going forward the newsletter we will be alternating featured articles. One month the feature will be on Catskill Harvest Market, Kitchen and Garden Center, while the next month will feature our Construction and Landscape Company Catskill Harvest Home. This month, we lead off with the projects that Catskill Harvest Home have been working on lately - projects that continue to transform our region and provide additional beauty along the way. Further down the newsletter you will find updates from the Market, the Kitchen, and the Garden Center. And, don't miss out on our preliminary planning for our 5th anniversary celebration - the closing article for this month. CATSKILL HARVEST HOME As many of you know we have been contributing to the rejuvenation of the Village of Liberty's Main Street. 9 to 13 South Main Street - a new double façade that we showed you last month now has two new tenants bringing additional foot traffic and shoppers to the village. This month, we wanted to show you what we've done for Charlie's Pizzeria at 77 North Main Street. Below you can see the before and after pictures. In the old, there were two large glassed in areas that used be used as a display for a shoe store many years ago. We removed these and replaced them with an outdoor dining deck that is under the roof of the second floor. Now, you can eat a slice outside even on a rainy day and not get wet. We also made the restaurant handicap accessible with a new wheelchair ramp that leads to the new dining deck. At the back of the new deck is a new storefront constructed of locally milled solid white oak. We believe the building looks great - we hope you agree. We also look forward to seeing many of our customers enjoying a slice whenever they are in the village.                    Another project that we've been working on this spring is an interesting addition to an old stone house in White Sulphur Springs. This is a true stone house - the walls are 100% stone - there is no framing to this house. The challenge was to frame an addition, attach it to the older section, break through the existing stone walls and make it all tie together. Below you can see our work in progress. When finished, this will be another of the many interesting projects that the Catskill Harvest Home team will have completed over the last 6 years.   It is not just construction that we're currently doing either. Because of the nice weather we've been able to get a jump on spring with our teams performing spring cleanups, cut backs and fresh mulching of beds for many of our long time clients. Meanwhile, many new clients have us constructing raised bed gardens, fencing of all kinds, field stone planting beds, foundation facades and blue stone patios and terraces. We are currently booked well into May with projects already lined up and are excited about others that we are still in the design/bid stage on. If you would like Catskill Harvest Home to do any landscaping or construction for you this year - please call our Home team at 845-292-3833 and setup a free at home consultation and written estimate as soon as you can. THE GARDEN CENTER  Catskill Harvest Garden Center is pleased to announce the arrival of spring - and it is a lot better than last year! Unlike last year there has been very little rain and it has been warm and quite windy for some time now. Please be aware that outdoor burning has been banned until 5/15 at the earliest and that your fields and woods are most vulnerable at this time of year. Now, back to spring - April 4th marked the first of many new plant deliveries at our garden center. We are well stocked with large caliper fruit trees including apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries - all priced at $34.99 each - and, nut trees as well starting at $14.99. Additionally, we've got hundreds of berry bushes including red and black raspberries, black berries, goose berries, currents, grapes and more. And, we also have a large selection of climbing plants including wisteria, Boston ivy, honeysuckle, American bittersweet and trumpet vine. We even have purple and white lilacs, as well as pussy willows. THE MARKET AND KITCHEN In the market, with spring in the air, we have been looking for more local products and have added several. In addition to working with Neversink Farms to keep us well stocked with all they grow, we have also discovered the following new local products that are now available in the market: Duck & Chicken Eggs from Root & Roost Farm (White Sulphur Springs) Dogs Lov'em Dog Treats made with locally-processed USDA Inspected Murray's Chicken (South Fallsburg) Jams, Jellies & Preserves from Monique Bossert of Monique's Book Boutique (White Sulphur Springs) Hand Lotion & Cream made with all natural lanolin from Will-O-Wool Farm (Callicoon) Marinara Sauce from Piccolo Paese Restaurant (Liberty) Luigi's Zeppole Mix (Kauneonga Lake) "Werewolves Among Us," a novel by local author and regular customer Martin Gonzales Tater Bark Dog Treats from our friends at Dog Mountain Lodge (Cochecton) Meanwhile, in the Kitchen Eric and Dayna have been coming up with new baked goods, dips, cookies, summer salad ideas, and dozens of new soups. They are excited to be participating in WJFF's FOODSTOCK in early May where you will get a first taste of our plans for summer. And, if you haven't tried the new macaroon - just wait - fresh coconut never tasted so good - mention this newsletter and receive a free one on us. CATSKILL HARVEST ONLINE You can now shop us online at: www.catskillharvest.com. In addition to ordering online for shipping, you can also place an order online for pickup at the market. Please tell all of your friends from away how they too can be enjoying the best that the Catskills have to offer. NEW FACES TO THE MARKET AND GARDEN CENTER If you haven't already met DeLois "Cookie" House, and Vinny Simkin, please say "hello" next time you are in the market. Cookie teaches at Sullivan County Boces just down the road and has enjoyed lunch at Catskill Harvest for years - she'll be helping us out mostly on the weekends. Vinny is on break from college and will mostly be helping in the store, but may assist the Catskill Harvest Home team as well. CATSKILL HARVEST - 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION  On June 15, Catskill Harvest will celebrate our 5th year in business. As the date approaches, watch for several special events that we will be planning for this coming summer - including our second annual customer appreciation burgers and beer event, as well as several tastings of the wonderful local foods that we keep discovering along our journey. We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you - our loyal customers, clients and friends. Without you, this celebration would not be happening. Thank you again for your patronage over the years and spreading the good word about Catskill Harvest Market & Garden Center, and talented Catskill Harvest Home team.