Wild Hudson Valley

05/30/2026

Our latest newsletter is out! Check it out for upcoming events, including our Northeastern Ethnobotany themed events next weekend!

05/26/2026

It’ssssss camping season! We just finished up our opening weekend, and the rain didn’t stop us from the fun!

Want to join us this summer? Head to our website to book your stay!

https://www.wildhudsonvalley.com/camping

05/21/2026

We may be booked up this holiday weekend, but we still have campsites available for our next two Eco Camp weekends! Details below…

The last weekend of May, we have one glamping site available (Turkey Site). And the events this weekend are sold out, so a weekend stay is the only way to join for our foraging and forest events!

The first weekend of June, we have two campsites available, one glamping site (Turkey Site), and one bring-your-own-tent site (Wolf Site). Explore the many uses for our Northeastern native trees and plants!

Book your Eco Camp stay here: https://www.wildhudsonvalley.com/site-reservations

05/16/2026

Not our typical programming, but we’re excited to participate in this 250th anniversary event of the American Revolution: the occupation of Johnstown and the confiscation of Johnson Hall by Revolutionary forces in May 1776.

Justin will be portraying a translator who was part of a conference between Mohawks and officers of the 3rd NJ regiment. A very fitting role for him!

The Rebels are coming…

“𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧” 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Anna Platner and Justin Wexler

As we approach our 250th commemoration May 16th and 17th, we are highlighting some of the groups and individuals helping bring this story to life. Today’s featured interpreters are Anna Platner and Justin Wexler, who will be portraying members of the Johnstown community in 1776. Justin will also be portraying a translator who was part of the conference between Mohawks from the Lower Castle (today part of the area around Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site ) and officers of the 3rd NJ regiment.

Anna and Justin run Wild Hudson Valley, a forest farm and educational organization based in the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley in New York State. They grow wild-simulated ginseng, shiitake mushrooms, and steward a wide variety of wild plants and mushrooms. Anna and Justin regularly host workshops and consultations focused on Hudson Valley history, wild foods, forest farming, and land stewardship practices.

Anna Plattner received her BS from Cornell University, where she majored in Natural Resources. Over the last two decades, she has overseen multiple large-scale agroforestry operations.

Justin Wexler holds a BA in History and Anthropology from Marlboro College and a Master of Arts in Teaching History from Bard College. An ethnoecologist, Justin has spent his career either outdoors or deep in archival and ethnographic research to understand the history, culture, and land management practices of the Native Peoples of the Hudson and Delaware Valleys.

We are excited that Justin and Anna will be joining us on Saturday, May 16th, to help interpret the experiences and concerns of the Johnstown community and their Mohawk neighbors as we commemorate 250 years since the full-scale occupation of Johnstown and the confiscation of Johnson Hall. To learn more about the event, check out our events page, give us a call at 518-762-8712, or visit our website: https://parks.ny.gov/visit/historic-sites/johnson-hall-state-historic-site

05/15/2026

Every time I spend time in the woods on our forest farm, I find new surprises. I am so grateful to be able to steward this land ❤️🌱🍄

05/14/2026

This Sunday! Join us for a forest bathing experience in the lush springtime forest!

Details & RSVP here: https://www.wildhudsonvalley.com/event-details/forest-bathing-walk-with-beth-rennig

Join us for a springtime Forest Bathing experience! Leader Beth Rennig will help us engage our senses and embrace the simple magic and wholeness we can find in nature. This is an intentional walk through the lush, green springtime forest for those looking for a slow, mindful outdoor activity. Each person will be welcomed into a quiet, contemplative space. We will meditate and focus our intentions on connection through the forest, and we will conclude with a short forest tea ceremony.

Those new to meditation and mindfulness are welcome. Register through the Events Calendar on our website ✨link in bio✨

About our Guide: Beth Rennig is a certified Forest Therapy Guide through The Forest Therapy School, a NYSDEC Licensed Hiking guide and a certified Usui Reiki Master Teacher and Practitioner. She is a gentle soul who is of service in helping people heal themselves as well as to find their own connection with nature. Beth lives with her husband, teen daughters and beloved rescue dog in Acra, NY.

05/08/2026

Join us for a springtime Forest Bathing experience! Leader Beth Rennig will help us engage our senses and embrace the simple magic and wholeness we can find in nature. This is an intentional walk through the lush, green springtime forest for those looking for a slow, mindful outdoor activity. Each person will be welcomed into a quiet, contemplative space. We will meditate and focus our intentions on connection through the forest, and we will conclude with a short forest tea ceremony.

Those new to meditation and mindfulness are welcome. Register through the Events Calendar on our website ✨link in bio✨

About our Guide: Beth Rennig is a certified Forest Therapy Guide through The Forest Therapy School, a NYSDEC Licensed Hiking guide and a certified Usui Reiki Master Teacher and Practitioner. She is a gentle soul who is of service in helping people heal themselves as well as to find their own connection with nature. Beth lives with her husband, teen daughters and beloved rescue dog in Acra, NY.

05/07/2026

Justin and I both grew up in the Hudson Valley, but neither of us had ever seen a toad migration before. I am awestruck that somehow thousands of toads all knew that tonight was the night to travel down to water, find a mate, and lay eggs. It was such a wonder to witness 🙏

04/21/2026

The abnormally warm weather last week triggered the ostrich fern fiddle heads to pop up over a week early, and a hard freeze last night may have killed them to the ground. Here's hoping that the many blooming fruit trees -- including our American plums -- don't lose this year's crop.
For those unfamiliar with fiddleheads, those of the magnificent ostrich fern are a traditional springtime cooked green for Native communities in far northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes. It's best not to eat the fiddleheads of the other fern species found in the Northeast -- many are toxic or carcinogenic. We briefly blanch ostrich fern fiddleheads, and then cook them like asparagus.