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This is my presentation on tree crops & agroforestry at Young Farmers Conference 2009.
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Tree Crops and AgroforestryWhole-systems Regeneration Through Perennial Agriculture
Connor Stedman – Gaia Northeast
Thanks to: M. Kat Anderson, Dave Jacke, Ethan Roland, Jon Young
What is Agroforestry?Agroforestry (AF) is land use integrating trees
and/or tree crops with other types of agriculture.
The three I’s:– Intentional– Intensive– Interconnected
The “Rule of 3”: An AF system must have at least 3 “layers” or managed functional elements.
The Roots – Indigenous AF Worldwide
Tropical Agroforestry
Tropical Agroforestry
• Read 1491 by Charles Mann. Current Amazonian rainforest diversity is a result of thousands of years of native agroforestry.
Tropical Agroforestry
• Read 1491 by Charles Mann. Current Amazonian rainforest diversity is a result of thousands of years of native agroforestry.
• Hawai’ian Ahupua’a – whole-watershed management from mountain to sea, cared for by extended family networks.
Temperate & Mediterranean Agroforestry
(Wherever acorns are found.)
Balanoculture
Cork Oak Savanna
Tending the Wild Across North America
Tending the Wild Across North America
• M. Kat Anderson spent 17 years interviewing native elders from around California.
Tending the Wild Across North America
• M. Kat Anderson spent 17 years interviewing native elders from around California.
• Their stories illustrate whole-ecosystem caretaking based on agroforestry and managing wild plant and animal populations for harvest.
Tending the Wild Across North America
• M. Kat Anderson spent 17 years interviewing native elders from around California.
• Their stories illustrate whole-ecosystem caretaking based on agroforestry and managing wild plant and animal populations for harvest.
• Analogous patterns are found in the history (and sometimes present day) of every inhabited ecosystem in North America.
Soaproot – Chlorogalum spp.• A “wild” plant physiologically adapted to human harvestingand use.
Some Paradigm Shifts
• Don’t just plant and harvest crops – manage and participate in the ecosystems that support staple crops in abundance.
Some Paradigm Shifts
• Don’t just plant and harvest crops – manage and participate in the ecosystems that support staple crops in abundance.
• Traditional land use patterns have resulted in heritage ecosystems, with humans as keystone species within those ecosystems.
Some Paradigm Shifts
• Don’t just plant and harvest crops – manage and participate in the ecosystems that support staple crops in abundance.
• Traditional land use patterns have resulted in heritage ecosystems, with humans as keystone species within those ecosystems.
• With regenerative land use practices, human economic activities increase ecosystem health.
References on Indigenous Agroforestry
• Tending the Wild – M. Kat Anderson• Enduring Seeds – Gary Paul Nabhan• The Voice of the Dawn – Frederick Matthew
Wiseman• It Will Live Forever – Julia Parker & Beverly
Ortiz• 1491 – Charles Mann• Changes in the Land – William Cronon
Coppice: Traditional European Agroforestry
The Coppice Cycle
Billhook
Coppice Products: Unlimited Potential
• Baskets – Furniture – Buildings – Tools – FUEL• …..and more!
Coppice and Standard
• Understory: coppice• Overstory: mast trees.• Other yields: wild plant & fungus food & medicine, wild game, silvopasture…
Whole Ecosystem Management
So….
What does all this mean in the Northeast US?
Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
• Rainfall exceeding evaporation + heavy winter snowfalls = high levels of spring mineral leaching from topsoil.
Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
• Rainfall exceeding evaporation + heavy winter snowfalls = high levels of spring mineral leaching from topsoil.
• Most forests are under 100 years old. Old-growth very rare and extremely fragmented.
Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
• Rainfall exceeding evaporation + heavy winter snowfalls = high levels of spring mineral leaching from topsoil.
• Most forests are under 100 years old. Old-growth very rare and extremely fragmented.
• Coastal & intervale prairies and savannas almost completely gone – huge loss of diverse early-succession habitats.
Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
• Rainfall exceeding evaporation + heavy winter snowfalls = high levels of spring mineral leaching from topsoil.
• Most forests are under 100 years old. Old-growth very rare and extremely fragmented.
• Coastal & intervale prairies and savannas almost completely gone – huge loss of diverse early-succession habitats.
• 200+ years of near-complete fire suppression.
Northeast US Forest Characteristics
• Temperate forest ecosystem; 40+ inches of rain distributed evenly through the year.
• Rainfall exceeding evaporation + heavy winter snowfalls = high levels of spring mineral leaching from topsoil.
• Most forests are under 100 years old. Old-growth very rare and extremely fragmented.
• Coastal & intervale prairies and savannas almost completely gone – huge loss of diverse early-succession habitats.
• 200+ years of near-complete fire suppression.• A 10,000+ Year History of Agroforestry
Tree Crop Characteristics for AF in the Northeast
• Climate-appropriate
Tree Crop Characteristics for AF in the Northeast
• Climate-appropriate
• High Yielding & High Quality
Tree Crop Characteristics for AF in the Northeast
• Climate-appropriate
• High Yielding & High Quality
• Disease Resistant
Tree Crop Characteristics for AF in the Northeast
• Climate-appropriate
• High Yielding & High Quality
• Disease Resistant
• Historic or present-day use as staple crop
Tree Crop Characteristics for AF in the Northeast
• Climate-appropriate
• High Yielding & High Quality
• Disease Resistant
• Historic or present-day use as staple crop
• Same, Analogous, or Closely Related Plants Found in Local Ecosystems
Tree Crop Characteristics for AF in the Northeast
• Climate-appropriate
• High Yielding & High Quality
• Disease Resistant
• Historic or present-day use as staple crop
• Same, Analogous, or Closely Related Plants Found in Local Ecosystems
--Fun and Exciting – Motivational Species!--
Top Tree Crops: Small Fruits
• Currants & Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Small Fruits
• Currants & Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)• Raspberries & Blackberries (Rubus spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Small Fruits
• Currants & Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)• Raspberries & Blackberries (Rubus spp.)• Bush Cherries (Prunus spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Mid-Sized Fruits
• Juneberries (Amalanchier spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Mid-Sized Fruits
• Juneberries (Amalanchier spp.)• Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Top Tree Crops: Mid-Sized Fruits
• Juneberries (Amalanchier spp.)• Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)• Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta)
Top Tree Crops: Orchard Fruits
• Pear (Pyrus spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Orchard Fruits
• Pear (Pyrus spp.)• Persimmon (Diospyrus spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Orchard Fruits
• Pear (Pyrus spp.)• Persimmon (Diospyrus spp.)• Mulberry (Morus spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Nut Trees
• Hazel/Filbert (Corylus spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Nut Trees
• Hazel/Filbert (Corylus spp.)• Chestnut (Castenaea spp.)
Top Tree Crops: Nut Trees
• Hazel/Filbert (Corylus spp.)• Chestnut (Castenaea spp.)• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Top Tree Crops: Timber/Coppice
• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Top Tree Crops: Timber/Coppice
• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Top Tree Crops: Timber/Coppice
• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)• Hazel/Filbert (Corylus spp.)
Some Tree Crop Resources• Tree Crops - J. Russell Smith• Edible Forest Gardens - Dave Jacke & Eric
Toensmeier• Uncommon Fruits - Lee Reich• A Guide to Nut Tree Culture in North America –
Dennis W. Fulbright, ed.• Northern Nut Growers Association –
nutgrowing.org• The Woodland Way – Ben Law• Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual – Bill
Mollison
Why Implement AF Now?• Overyielding Polycultures• Perennial Staple Crops• Carbon Sequestration• Erosion Control & Soil Fertility Renewal• Sustainable, Local, Carbon-Neutral Fuel• Habitat Regeneration• Productive Use of Marginal/Degraded Land• Enhancement of Existing Farm Systems
= BIOREGION REPAIR
4 Strategies for AF Implementation
• 1. Enhance Existing Farm Systems & Solve Problems with Tree Crops
• 2. Implement Proven AF Tree Crop Systems• 3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially
Unproven AF Tree Crop Systems• 4. Manage Existing Landscapes as Heritage
Ecosystems
1. Enhance Existing Farm Systems & Solve Problems with Tree Crops
– Windbreaks
– Riparian Buffers
– Hedgerows
2. Implement Commercially Proven Tree Crop Systems
• Alley Cropping
• Forest Farming
• Silvopasture
3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially Unproven Tree Crop Systems & Techniques
3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially Unproven Tree Crop Systems & Techniques
• Ideas:– Fruit/nut orchard with diverse perennial crop understory
3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially Unproven Tree Crop Systems & Techniques
• Ideas:– Fruit/nut orchard with diverse perennial crop understory– Prescribed fire management in nut tree-based AF
systems
3. Trial, Research, and Develop Commercially Unproven Tree Crop Systems & Techniques
• Ideas:– Fruit/nut orchard with diverse perennial crop understory– Prescribed fire management in nut tree-based AF systems– Trial uncommon fruits for small commercial markets
within AF systems, such as:• Juneberry• American Persimmon• Pawpaw• Jujube• Honeyberry• Hardy Kiwi
4. Manage Existing Landscapes as Heritage Ecosystems
Contact Info
Gaia Northeast B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degree Programs Start February 2011
www.gaianortheast.orgwww.gaiauniversity.org