By now, most of us have heard the call to “Go Green.” While I’m sad to say that there are still some folks out there who treat the world as if it were their own personal trash heap, I’m happy that there are many people who are making conscious choices to limit the impact they have on this planet for generations to come.

While I don’t claim to always make the wisest choices about limiting my carbon footprint (the hours that my computer remains on, sucking up energy, just to get these pages out to you, dear readers, would shock and appall you), I do try my best. The past few years have been a big awakening for me, and more than ever my lifestyle choices are guided by a desire to keep the planet clean and healthy, and to avoid a “Soylent Green” future for my children and grandchildren.

This issue of the Guide is dedicated to Your Home, Inside & Out, and we have included quite a few articles about living a green life, to get you thinking about your own choices.

Karin Edmondson has contributed “Catskill Dark Skies,” in which she addresses the issue of light pollution and what we can do to curb its impact. When I first moved up to the Catskill Mountains after spending years in New Jersey and New York City, I remember spending hours outside my tiny home in Fleischmanns, gazing up at the stars with a wonder that I hadn’t experienced since I was a child. The Catskill Mountains have some of the darkest skies for stargazing on the east coast: we all want to do our part to keep it that way.

This issue is also the inaugural appearance of a new column, entitled “Living Green.” In this monthly article, Jay Blotcher will teach you ways in which you can curb your environmental impact. We also hope to profile some forward-thinking individuals who have made major changes in their lifestyles and have gone completely “off the grid.” If you’re one of those people, or if you have gone green in creative ways, please e-mail me: I’d love to hear from you!

This month’s “Living Green” column, however, begins at the beginning—with New York’s Energy Smart program. Going green, after all, starts with just some small changes around the home; and in reducing your energy usage, you’ll save money as well. It’s a win-win, really.

Part of going green is also making sure that your home is properly maintained. Spring is the perfect time to check the house from top to bottom and make sure everything is in working order after a long winter: read Jonathan Ment’s “De-Winter Your Castle…” for a complete rundown of your chore list for the next couple of months.

Of course, your home must also be a place of peace and respite for you: if you’re not happy there, chances are pretty good you won’t be motivated to make it environmentally sound. “Your Dream Home” profiles one of the top real estate agencies in the Region, Giandana-Loftus Real Estate. Owner/broker David Schlowsky and his staff will help you find your dream home. Artist Steve Morris will help you decorate your home with his striking metal and glass constructions, and Michael Boyajian has some recommendations for your garden so that you can enjoy it year-round.

On a final note, I’m sorry to announce that we have had to suspend our annual Photo Contest for 2009. We do plan to hold it again in 2010, but in the meantime I encourage all photographers to submit work for consideration. Part of what makes our magazine so special are the contributions of the many photographers who share their work with us. Please e-mail me if you’d like to receive a Photo Submission form with all of the.

See you in the mountains!

Yours sincerely,


Sarah Taft
Managing Editor
tafts@catskillmtn.org