Nearly 200 people turned out Saturday for the Mountaintop Progressives’ seventh annual Earth Day celebration, the event’s largest crowd to date—a sign of growing community interest in climate action and local food systems.
The daylong event was co-hosted with Fromer Market Gardens (FMG), the Mountain Top Library, and supported by the Village of Tannersville. It featured gardening workshops, animal demonstrations, and speeches from elected officials, drawing residents across Greene County and beyond.
The celebration kicked off at 9 a.m. with a hands-on spring gardening workshop led by Suzi Novak, a master gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension. At first, Janiszewski was concerned by the slow start. “At FMG at 9 a.m., there were only four people,” he said. “I was nervous.” Attendance soon surged to 25 for the workshop alone.
After the workshop, FMG farm manager Samantha Metz gave a greenhouse tour. Metz, who holds a bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems from the University of New Hampshire and has worked at FMG for five years, said, “I learned a lot today from Novak. I had fun, and there was a great turnout, especially at 9 a.m.”
FMG is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will expand its hours at the end of June.
“We have kale, spinach, rainbow chard, microgreens, and some root crops like sweet potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash,” Metz said. “We’ll have beets, snap peas, scallions, onions, and in mid-summer, we’ll get cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers.” She also mentioned a ramp patch they started off-site a couple of years ago. “There’s only about 10 right now,” she said.
Following the FMG segment, the focus shifted to the Mountain Top Library, where elected officials offered remarks. Newly elected Village of Tannersville Trustee Gil Adler addressed the crowd.
“Today, we gather to celebrate Earth Day, a global moment to reflect on our planet’s beauty, fragility, and the actions we can take to protect it,” he said.
Library Director Jaki Elmo added, “Almost 200 people came out to enjoy this beautiful day. We can’t wait to do it again next year!”
Children and families flocked to the afternoon’s most popular event, an animal exposition hosted by Jim Robinson. Enthralled young attendees watched Robinson fly a hawk around the library and introduce owls, lizards, and even a baby alligator.
The day concluded with the planting of a small garden in front of the library. Free tomato plants were distributed by an FMG representative, along with a selection of saplings.
Adler continued, “Here in Tannersville, we’re surrounded by one of nature’s masterpieces: the Catskill Mountains, with the majestic Hunter Mountain as a crown jewel. Let’s honor this special place, its ecological significance, and our role in preserving it for future generations.”
Looking ahead, the MTPs are organizing a cleanup day Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to noon. The effort coincides with the Department of Environmental Conservation’s “I Love My Park Day,” held in partnership with Parks & Trails New York and New York State Parks. This year’s meeting spot is at the top of Laurel House Road in Haines Falls. While the event will proceed rain or shine, Janiszewski noted it may be canceled in heavy rain. About 30 volunteers have already signed up, and Janiszewski plans to email participants with updates.
He said this year’s celebration was the largest turnout to date — a sign that the word is spreading and people are increasingly concerned with protecting the environment.
The cleanup program rotates through four local trails: the Hunter Rail Trail off Ski Bowl Road, the Kaaterskill Rail Trail behind the Mountain Top Historical Society, and the Huckleberry Rail Trail. For more information or to get involved, contact Bobby Janiszewski at Bobbyj2008@hotmail.com.
Max Oppen is a contributing journalist. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com.
