On a recent Saturday, kayaks were pushed onto the Bashakill for an insightful ride along the 7-mile stretch.
Though the trip lasted only two hours and covered a small portion of that stretch, it gave community members and visitors a chance to come together, learn about plant life and the importance of preserving the Bashakill, and take in views of the water and mountains.
Hosted by the Mamakating Environmental Education Center, Richard Mandelbaum guided the journey. The trip was not only an outing on the Bashakill, but also an opportunity to learn about local aquatic plant life, identify different species and better understand how to care for the environment.
Now Mandelbaum is not unfamiliar with the study of plantlife. Mandelbaum is a founder and former director of ArborVitae School of Traditional Herbalism and a faculty member at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. This allowed him to guide the journey and stop to show plants throughout the way.
With more than 10 people in kayaks, the journey began at the South Road Boat Launch in Wurtsboro, N.Y. Attendees who did not have kayaks could rent them from MECC, but arrive early because phone service can be spotty and renting them quickly can be difficult.
On the trip, the summer solstice and plant life took center stage. Participants asked Mandelbaum questions throughout the trip, and the final stop was a small island before turning around to identify two separate plants.
The Bashakill is unique in that it is all preserved land. It allows for natural wildlife, some human-planted wildlife and a diverse aquatic plant life.
One plant in particular that Mandelbaum had everyone in the group try had a flavor similar to cayenne pepper. The leaf’s spice lingered as the journey continued, with no pepper in sight, just a small green leaf.
Once the journey came to a close as the sun began to set, everyone returned to their cars to load their kayaks onto the roofs.
Programs like the one Mandelbaum hosted offer a fun way to learn about preserving the areas that surround the local community. They also give people a chance to explore the Bashakill with a guide while learning how to better care for the environment.
For more information about programs hosted by MECC, visit their calendar page for more information.