Journal

The forest grows its own poison ivy remedy — come make it with us

Here’s one of the forest’s better jokes: almost everywhere poison ivy grows in the Catskills, jewelweed grows within reach of it. The itch and the remedy, planted side by side. Nature keeps the antidote next to the trouble — you just have to know which plant to pick.

On Sunday, July 12, from 2 to 4 pm, we’re teaching exactly that.

As the DEC Stewards of the Vernooy Kill and Sundown Wild Forest, and in partnership with our friends at TravelSchooling, we’re hosting a salve-making class right here on the property. This isn’t a watch-someone-else- do-it demonstration. We start at the plant: you’ll learn to recognize jewelweed by its orange blooms and its water-beading leaves, cut it yourself, and carry it back to the table.

From there we make the salve the way we make everything from this land — with what the land gives us:

• Jewelweed, cut fresh that afternoon
• Local beeswax, from bees working these same woods
• Coconut or olive oil — your choice of base
• Frankincense or rosemary — your choice of finish

Two hours later you walk out with a container of salve you made yourself, from a plant you can now find on any Catskills trail — and the knowledge to make the next batch on your own.

The class is free. There’s a $5 supply fee if you’d like to make and take home your own jar (you will).

Kids are very welcome — they tend to be the best jewelweed spotters, and this is exactly the kind of learning TravelSchooling exists for: real skills, from the real world, with your own hands.

Space at the table is limited. Reserve a spot, or just message us — and if you’re staying at the cabin that weekend, you’re already here.