Buying On the Hoof Off the Farm

If you're like me - I almost never by meat in the grocery store and even then only natural no growth hormones. But my favorite way to buy is right from the farmer. Since I travel from NYC to the Catskills often, I go in on a half a pig and a quarter cow with friends. None of our freezers are big enough to store it all, and we do this 2-3 times a year. I found them on the website www.farmtotable.org. What's really cool is getting to talk to the farmers directly (just don't go on a Saturday during farmers market season - they won't be there). I've gotten in to buying the occassional rabbit or goat stew meat. It makes you learn how to cook all the different cuts of the animal (and not only the porter house my grill master friends). They're ready to help with cooking tips - and I always take them up on it.

NYC Marathon Prep

If you are running in the NYC marathon in November and want to get used to the weather - a trip to the Catskills now will help tremendously. About a month behind the city weather wise - there are some great flat roads - mostly along the rivers you can use to train on. The further west you go the less crowded the roads are. My favorite is along the Pepacton Reservoir along Route 30. The views make the time just fly by. Of course, I'm on my racing bike - but I've always though how cool it would be for runners. Drive just west of Margaretville (mapquest zip code 12455), park and set out at the bridge that crosses the east branch of the Delaware River.

Catskill Mountain Hikes ...definitely the coolest

The fall foliage is popping first in the western Catskills this week and on through mid October. You make a few trips and catch the leaves over and over again as the change makes its way down from the colder high peaks into the Hudson Valley. My preference is to head west for the early foliage and get my jones in the cold crisp air of the Catskill Park and all those mountain trails over 2000 feet.


The Catskill Muntain Club is an all volunteer club like the Adirondack Club. The host ten day s of hikes, workshops, kayak trips and more in and around the Catskill Park. You can see their events (almost all are free except for rental fees if involved) on their website at catskillmountainclub.org. The most affordable places to stay are in Delaware County on the western side of the Park. No bed tax too.