The work to establish and scale up agroforestry for carbon draw-down has only just begun, but the potential is enormous. One acre of alley cropping can sequester nearly a ton of carbon in woody biomass alone. Silvopasture is #4 on Project Draw-down’s list of natural climate solutions. And even just a modest adoption of agroforestry is head and shoulders above other agricultural land-use changes in its potential for carbon sequestration.
The 2021 North American Agroforestry Conference will bring together farmers, landowners, researchers, climate scientists, investors, philanthropists, policymakers, and global leaders on climate change, carbon draw-down, and agroforestry. Together we will tackle the major barriers to scaling agroforestry, focusing on solutions and action.
Early July is the perfect time to get outside and smell the elderflowers! Tour Regeneration Acres to learn about elderberry varieties, best management practices and potential market possibilities for this blossoming crop. We'll end the tour with farm owner, Natasha teaching us how to make an elderflower simple syrup. 5-7 pm CDT.
After a checkered history in North America, black currants are making a strong comeback as a robust crop and nutrition-packed fruit. Visit Saturn Farm, the largest black currant farm in Illinois to learn about the history of black currants, their on-farm management, processing and marketing, ongoing variety trials and breeding, and innovative alley cropping practices. Refreshments and bathroom available onsite. This field day is accessible to those with limited mobility.
The time is right to expand black currants (Ribes nigrum) as a crop in Wisconsin. Farmers in Wisconsin that grow black currants consider them to be viable from an agronomic standpoint, citing the following attributes: extremely cold hardy, able to grow on a wide variety of soil types and a wide range of pH, less attractive to wildlife, can produce up to 6,000 pounds per acre, can be machine harvested, and they hold on the bush to allow for flexible harvest dates.
Two farms, one field day! Click here to learn more.
Tour Savanna Institute's new home farm with our farm manager and a technical service provider. We'll discuss watersheds and water quality, and you'll have the opportunity to learn how to incorporate agroforestry practices on your land. We'll lunch together on the farm then head to Spring Green to join the River Alliance of Wisconsin for a paddle down the lower Wisconsin river to continue learning about water quality.