Over the past week or so, I have awoken to a glorious sound that I haven’t heard in months: the delicate tweeting of the birds, gently reminding me that it’s time to get up and start the day.

It never fails that each year I feel a sense of wonder as these sounds seem to just appear one day. After the quiet stillness of winter, it’s a welcome back to warmer weather and lots of time spent outdoors. Spring really is a new beginning.

This feeling of rebirth is echoed in “Wakening Up Again,” (page 16) Sue Stovall’s interview with Kristina Lanuza, one of the founders of Kingston’s new Mudita Yoga Center. Faithful readers of the Guide already know that yoga is an essential part of my life; I am happy to welcome to the Region this new center that is dedicated not just to the physical aspects of the practice of yoga, but also to the complete way of life that is yoga.

The rebirth of spring also allows us all to get outside and tackle some home projects that have been neglected in the cold winter months. This issue of the Guide is dedicated to Your Home, Inside & Out, and we’ve included lots of articles to celebrate the rebirth of spring in your home.

April is a great time to start thinking about your garden. What better way to start a local garden than by using local seeds? The Hudson Valley Seed Library in Accord is a homestead-based farm and business devoted to developing a seed production network in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Region. There are no genetically-modified or hybrid seeds here: just seeds that have come from where they’re supposed to—from plants. See “The Art and Culture of Seeds” on page 46.

Art, for me, has always carried the spirit of rebirth. The Art Packs commissioned by the Hudson Valley Seed Library certainly carry on this tradition. This month’s “Living Green” column (“How Green is My Gallery,” page 58) also celebrates the spirit of rebirth in art in a more direct way, by profiling some “green” artists in the Region who use naturally-occurring objects, recycled goods or found items to create new works of art, while minimizing their impact on the planet.

The arts have always been an essential part of the history of the Catskill Mountains; thousands of artists have flocked here since the 19th century, drawn by the beauty and inspiring spirit of the Region. And artists tend to flock together, which is especially lucky for the rest of us who don’t create art ourselves, but who love to be surrounded by it. In Margaretville, a group of area artists have joined together to create a fine arts cooperative, the Longyear Gallery (“And Then There Was Longyear…, page 62). I encourage you to visit the Longyear, or one of the other galleries in the Region. Let’s face it, folks: we’re all grown up now, and the dorm room posters no longer cut it as home décor. Why not buy an original work of art to liven up your walls? It’s a lot more affordable than you think, and it’s especially gratifying to know that in choosing original works of art, you are not only making your home unique, but you’re also supporting local artists and the local economy.

Of course, all the art in the world won’t make your home beautiful unless it’s well-maintained. When the article about wood stoves and furnaces (“Think Now…, page 52) was initially pitched to me, I originally thought, “well, wouldn’t that be better for later in the year?” It turns out that I was mistaken: even though it’s getting warmer and the last thing you want to think about is another winter, spring is the best time to maintain your existing wood stove, fireplace or furnace, or to install a new one for later in the year.

Welcome Spring! See you in the Mountains!

Yours sincerely,


Sarah Taft
Managing Editor
tafts@catskillmtn.org