2023 Forest Farming Tours
Integrating Trees and Grazing Livestock In A Silvopasture System
Join Noah and Lyric for a tour of Wild East Farm, where they have established ~12 acres of crop tree plantings designed for pasturing livestock throughout. Learn about the fundamentals of silvopasture and experience firsthand how to plan for longterm tree regeneration and intensive livestock management.
Date: July 30th
Location: Wild East Farm, Marion, NC
Time: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Cost: $55
Planting and Propagation of Forest Farmed Botanicals
Tour Greenheart Gardens forest botanicals and learn how they are managed and tended to. They will demonstrate a wild-simulated planting and a workshop on other forest farming types, including woods grown and nursery-raised beds. Wild Yam, Ginseng, blue cohosh, Solomon’s seal, wild ginger, and goldenseal will be the plants showcased.
Date: August 6th
Location: Greenheart Gardens, Chandler, NC
Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Cost: $55
Join Chris Parker for a tour of the Forest Farmacy to better understand how to propagate and expand the forest production operation, including a tour of the mushroom spawn and grow rooms. Participants will work on observation and deepening awareness of mushroom and mycorrhizal forest systems and cultivation techniques, specifically how to use wood chip beds and logs for mushroom cultivation.
Date: September 24th
Location: Forest Farmacy, Marshall, NC
Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Cost: $55
Most farms in Western NC and the Southern Appalachians contain forested land. These forest farm tours and on-farm workshops aim to train beginning forest farmers and land stewards, both novice and experienced, to understand the wealth and history of woodland botanicals and forest products.
Additionally, this series will explore the opportunities for land stewardship and possible income streams within existing farm operations while also promoting health, respect, and diversity for forests.
Forest farming has long been practiced by the Indigenous people of our region, who have a significant relationship with native plants for food and medicines, and are the original and current stewards of these forests.
On all the farms and lands we showcase, we want to name and acknowledge that the land we gather on is the traditional, unceded territory of the Tsalaguwetiyi/Cherokee People, today known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee (see this map). At OGS, as an agricultural support organization, we feel it is essential to honor and offer our respect to the Cherokee people who have stewarded and farmed this land throughout the generations while fighting to retain sovereign rights to land and community. Today, forest farming is a practice of cultivating medicinal, edible, decorative, and handicraft non-timber crops under a forest canopy. Forest farming contributes to healthy human and natural ecosystems and can contribute to land conservation, stewardship, and economic viability.
Organic Growers School offers this series of forest farm tours and workshops in partnership with the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition (ABFFC). ABFFC is dedicated to increasing opportunities for farmers and forestland owners in Appalachia and beyond. Join the ABFFC coalition to become part of the movement!
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