Day 1: Sunday, Dec. 6th
9:00am – 7:00pm CST
Help Desk
We have staff on call during the entire conference to help with any questions or issues you may have.
10am – 10:30am CST
Welcome by Keefe Keeley, Co-Executive Director, Savanna Institute and Uma Karki, President, Association for Temperate Agroforestry
11am – 12:00pm CST
Nutshells Talks:Sponsored by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
A main feature of the gathering will be the ever-popular 5-minute Nutshell Show & Tell talks, which are open to all attendees to share success stories, lessons-learned, or nagging questions to help build knowledge across the region.
11am – 12pm CST
AFTA Panel:
Who is AFTA and Why Should You Care
Lunch Break: 12pm – 1pm CST
Deep Roots Award presentation to Paul Johnson
12pm – 1pm CST
Join us live to honor Paul’s work:
Honoring Paul Johnson at the Perennial Farm Gathering
Conferring virtual laurels in appreciation of a life’s work advancing perennial agriculture
2pm – 3pm CST
Elderberry Panel
This panel will kick off with a discussion about current elderberry research, advice from an experienced elderberry farmer; including bed preparation, cultivation techniques, future development and research needs for this growing commercial crop.
Andy Thomas, Research Assistant Professor, University of Missouri Southwest Center
Natasha Simeon, Owner and Farmer at Regeneration Acres
Patrick Byers, Field specialist in Horticulture MU Extension in Webster County Extension University of Missouri
2pm – 3pm CST
AFTA Panel: Silvopasture and Soil Health
3pm – 4:30pm CST
Grafting Workshop: Sponsored by SILT
Learn alongside longtime grafting expert how to do a “barn-door” graft (AKA “modified mega chip-bud inlay bark graft”) and an “inverted saddle” graft.
Tom Wahl, Owner & Farmer Red Fern Farm
The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) is a non-profit organization working to preserve land in Iowa for nature-friendly, sustainable food farming. They work with landowners who wish to pass the legacy of their land on to the next generation of food farmers. Currently, they protect over 1000 acres of land and have provided opportunities to beginning farmers all across Iowa. For more information about SILT please visit silt.org
3pm – 3:45pm CST
Mushroom Production in Agroforestry
Join Steve Gabriel, co-steward of Wellspring Forest Farm in New York and Specialty Mushroom Extension Educator at the Cornell Small Farms Program and Olivia Watkins, steward of Oliver’s Agroforestry in North Carolina and president of the Black Farmer Fund. In this session, Steve and Olivia will share about their shiitake production systems and connect them to regenerative forest management, land legacy, and profitable small enterprise.
Steve Gabriel, Owner & Farmer of Well Spring Forest Farm
Olivia Watkins, steward of Oliver’s Agroforestry
3:45pm – 4:30pm CST
Maple Syruping in Agroforestry Systems: Sponsored by Forrest Keeling Nursery
Maple syruping in agroforestry systems: This panel will discuss the history and future of this traditional agroforested crop. How to manage sugar maples amidst climate change, companion plants to maple sugar trees, tools of the trade and challenges of entering into the maple syrup market.
Cecil Wright: Maple Valley Coop
Sheamus Cavanaugh, University of Wisconsin, Intertribal Maple Syrup Producers Cooperative, Farley Center for Peace, Justice and Sustainability
Dinner Break
4:30pm – 6pm CST
Enjoy your dinner while checking out our Pioneer Agroforestry Farm Tour Video Series!
Meet-ups
6pm – 7pm CST
Elderberry Meet-up
Connect with fellow growers and enthusiasts!
6pm – 7pm CST
Young Farmers Meet-up
Meet your fellow beginning farmers! A great chance to network and share ideas.
Conference Add-Ons
If you purchased a bonus session, check your email for the Zoom passcode.
6pm – 7pm CST
Connecting with Keefe & Kevin
What are the opportunities and barriers facing agroforestry in the US? Join SI ED, Keefe Keeley, for a thoughtful conversation about the future of agroforestry and visions for change…. and at least one tree crop inspired cocktail.