Please note: This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Farmer/Agroforester Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. Please respect privacy and property; contact them directly via public information regarding opportunities to connect. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm Name: Lazy Pigg Farm Farmers: Dana Lydon Agroforestry Practices: Silvopasture Agroforestry Acres:  5 Agroforestry Goals: Silvopasture: The poplar, locust, and willows were planted as nurse trees as well as for fodder and shade. The locust will be coppiced for fence post on a 10 - 12 year rotation. The willow will be pollarded for fodder and craft supplies on a 3 year rotation. The poplar will be pollarded for fodder as needed. In 15 - 20 years the nuts will be harvested for retail sale or used to custom finish hogs. The cypress limbs will be chipped for mulch as limb levels are raised to graze under. Agroforestry Trees and Shrubs:   Yellow Poplar - 260, Black Locust - 350, Black Walnut - 35, Bald Cypress - 35, Black Willow - 325, Shellbark Hickory - 45, Pecan - 25. The trees were planted in blocks of three rows with 10' between trees and 30' between blocks of trees. Project Summary: We already practice rotational grazing with Dexter cattle and Katahdin sheep. Shade has been a real limiting factor on grazing in the summer. I hope to use the silvopasture project to allow more efficient grazing of this pasture as well as to increase the yield of forage. We have predominantly cool season forages and the shade will increase the amount of time the forage is actively growing. The tree species chosen are all native to increase biodiversity. Each tree species chosen needed to produce a product or additional benefit to the farm. For example the locusts will provide additional nitrogen to the pasture as we will lose some of the clover to shade. They will also provide fodder and fence posts. We are hoping to use coppice and pollard practices to increase the diversity of revenue streams to the farm. Our goal is for these ancient practices to increase the amount of productivity and income from the trees. Links:   https://lazypiggfarm.com/ https://www.facebook.com/lazypiggfarm4535

Agroforestry Training Academy The Agroforestry Training Academy is an intensive educational program designed for agriculture and natural resources professionals & farmers to gain an in-depth understanding of agroforestry practices, design concepts, species selection and management, economics and marketing, and more. 5-Week Online Course: April 14 – May 18, 2025 3-Day In-Person Field Experience: May 27 – 30 & June 3 – 6, 2025 Learn more at: https://centerforagroforestry.org/farmers/the-agroforestry-academy/

The Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition (AFFC), formerly known as the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition, is a network of forest farmers, forestland owners, universities, and governmental and non-governmental organizations that share a common goal of improving agroforestry production opportunities and farming capabilities among forest farmers. Our collective aim is to increase awareness of forest-grown medicinal, edible plants and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) through education and relationship building, and support conservation efforts through stewardship of existing plant populations and forest farming of native botanicals. The AFFC website is home to a clearinghouse of forest farming resources, community calendar, initiatives, youtube video channel, and more. Visit appalachianforestfarmers.org .

Read original article from VA Tech here: https://foodsystems.centers.vt.edu/projects11/ARKExchangeNetworkVirginia.html This USDA Southern Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE) Professional Development Program grant funded project aims to expand the Agroforestry Regional Knowledge (ARK) Exchange Network in Virginia using a collective impact approach to strengthen, solidify, and anchor this informal network of farmers, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, governmental agency, and non-governmental partners across the state through enhanced train the trainer programming and coordination of on-farm agroforestry demonstrations. This project is led by Dr. Katie Trozzo and represents a collaboration between our Center, Virginia State University (VSU), Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD), the Virginia Association for Biological Farming (VABF), and farmers. Project objectives include: Objective 1: Foster communication, coordination, and peer-to-peer learning between educational and technical assistance partners as the ARK Exchange Network to enhance collaboration, permanence, and lasting impact of agroforestry TtT professional development programming in Virginia. Objective 2: Provide coordinated agroforestry TtT professional development programming to foster peer learning, information sharing, and network building among agricultural educational professionals and farmer mentor-leaders. Over the course of the project (July 2023-June 2025), partners will conduct following activities: Winter Webinar Series 2024 VSU Small Farm Outreach Program Led On-Farm Demonstration 2-Day Agroforestry Field Intensive at the VT Catawba Sustainability Center 1-Day Agroforestry Field Intensive at VSU Randolph Farm Conference Tracks and Panels Virginia Association for Biological Farming/ VSU-SFOP Summit 2024! VSU’s Small Farm Conference Fall 2024 Virginia Cooperative Extension Winter Conference

Please note: This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Farmer/Agroforester Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. Please respect privacy and property; contact them directly via public information regarding opportunities to connect. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm Name: Meadowdale Farm Farmers: Kate Bowen Agroforestry Practices: Forest Farming, Silvopasture, forest products (firewood, lumber, timber framing, mulch) Agroforestry Acres:   24 Agroforestry Goals: Currently in Phase I of our silvopasture project which will be home to South Poll cattle, broilers, layers, katahdin sheep, and hogs. Animal Welfare in southern summers, soil health, lower feed costs, healthier animals. Project Summary: After 20 years of practicing agroforestry in New England, we are transforming a mature hardwood forest into a diversified farm. Using our background in sustainable forest products we're milling timber, clearing land for perimeter fencing, and strategically working to rehabilitate the soil. We raise meat, eggs, hay, forest products, and also provide farmstead design consulting. Links:   meadowdalefarm.com www.instagram.com/Meadowdale_Farm

This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Agroforestry Project Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State:  Washington Agroforestry Practices:   Forest Farming Acres:  2 acres Trees and Shrubs:   100 species, 2,000 trees/shrubs Goals: Income Project Details:   25-year old project, 2 acres, Medicinal species focus.

Please note: This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Farmer/Agroforester Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. Please respect privacy and property; contact them directly via public information regarding opportunities to connect. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm Name: Broad River Agriculture and Game Farmers: Tammy Smart Agroforestry Practices: Forest Farming Agroforestry Acres:  58 Agroforestry Goals: Natural forest, transitioning to specific species for future harvesting. I want to harvest good trees, get rid of not so good trees and plant more good trees. Project Summary: I bought the property 3 years ago. It is a natural woodland with Canoe Creek running thru the lowland area. I have lots of Poplar, Pine (multiple types) Black walnut, Paw Paw Trees, Persimmon, Cherry, Oak, Maple, you name it, I probably have it. All native species. It's a work in progress.

Please note: This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Farmer/Agroforester Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. Please respect privacy and property; contact them directly via public information regarding opportunities to connect. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm Name: Willow Run Farmstead LLC Farmers: Deanne Boyer Agroforestry Practices: Silvopasture, Riparian Buffers Agroforestry Acres:  11.5 Agroforestry Goals: Our farm is interested in planting trees in our pasture with the ultimate goal of continued resilience as we face rising temperatures and increased rainfall. Our farm currently has limited shade access for our livestock during the summer months. This not only makes our cattle uncomfortable and overheated, but also creates damaged pasture spots where cattle group to avoid the heat. This heat stress also translates to loss in gains during the highest heat days. Trees not only would benefit our cattle, but also work to increase our soil’s health and increase our organic matter while keeping our soils cooler during the summer months. Also, our placement of our trees would increase our 5 acre stream buffer an additional 6.5 acres. With the increased flooding in our area, planting more trees in our low lying fields will increase the amount of water our land can retain as well as provide more ability to clean the water as it heads to our water system and streams. Clean water and water retention helps our community downstream, improving drinking water as well as helping to managing flooding. Agroforestry Trees and Shrubs:   50 Honey Locusts 40 American Persimmons 40 White/Bur Oak Hybrids 6 Basswoods 26 Butternut Hickories 133 Willows and Poplars The tree rows are 45 feet apart with the trees planted 20 ft apart in the rows. Project Summary: In Spring of 2023, we planted 285 trees planted in our 3 pasture paddocks for a total of 6.5 acres of silvopasture. At the same time, plantar tree tubes were installed and black mesh was placed around live stake willows and poplars. We also installed a single strand of poly wire along the trees to use them as an existing temporary fence. Later in the summer, we put down a skirt of wood mulch around the base of the tubes to protect the trees from vole damage. Links:   willowrunfarmstead.com facebook.com/willowrunfarm

This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Agroforestry Project Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State:  Virginia Agroforestry Practices:   Silvopasture Trees and Shrubs:   Apple trees (McIntosh, Pink Lady< Arkansas Black, Granny Smith, Crabapple) Jujube, Mulberry Goals: Our main goals are increasing biodiversity and forage opportunities for cattle and wildlife. Project Details: We view agroforestry as a way to increase the diversity and quality of forage for both our livestock and wildlife on the farm. This diversity helps not only the animals but also the microbiology of the ecosystem. We feel this is an important point that many miss. The health of any ecosystem begins with the healthy microbiology of the soil itself and this can only be accomplished via a wide variety of inputs. Different species of plant and tree provide different resources to the soil and consume others. Only through this symbiotic relationship can any ecology prosper. This is why we feel it's important to increase the diversity of the ecosystem and introducing native trees that have been destroyed by monoculture in the region really help to correct these deficiencies.

Please note: This is an Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange (ARKx) Farmer/Agroforester Profile. This profile information is provided with permission so that others can see successful stories and learn more about regional agroforestry practice adoption. Please respect privacy and property; contact them directly via public information regarding opportunities to connect. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm Name: River Bend Farm Farmer: Will Bowling State: Kentucky Acreage: 21 Agroforestry Practices: Silvopasture, Riparian Buffers Goals: Silvopasture: shade for livestock, nut and fruit production. Riparian buffer: erosion control, water quality protection, wildlife habitat Farm Profile: We raise organic vegetables/cut flowers and pastured livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) in Clay County, KY. We are huge proponents of rotational grazing, and subdivide our permanent pastures into smaller paddocks using temporary electric fencing. One of our limiting factors for pasture management - particularly in our river bottoms - is a lack of shade. Our primary reason for adding silvopasture to our operation is to provide additional shade throughout our pastures, which will provide more flexibility in paddock subdivision and forage management. All species established in the high density planted silvopasture bear edible fruit or nuts. While a secondary focus, we do plan to sell some of these tree crops through our existing market outlets (CSA, online farm store, and commercial accounts) in the coming years. In addition to the silvopasture, we also maintain a relatively large riparian buffer along Goose Creek (one of the main tributaries of the South Fork of the Kentucky River). Our main goal for the riparian buffer is to prevent bank sloughing and minimize fence damage during flood events, remove excess nutrients from water leaving the farm, and provide wildlife habitat. Project Summary:  High density planted silvopasture on 11 acres; half was established in 2022, and half in 2023. High density plantings include overstory trees (black walnut, pecan, and American persimmon) planted at 25' in-row spacing with 75' between-row spacing. Half of the high density silvopasture acreage includes pawpaws planted between overstory trees at 8' in-row spacing. The other half of the high density silvopasture acreage was underplanted with improved American elderberry, but the elderberry planting succumbed to deer browse. Our goal for overstory tree spacing at maturity is 50' in-row spacing with pawpaws maintained between overstory trees. Low density planted silvopasture on 2 acres; established in 2020. These plantings include overstory trees (black walnut, hickory, and pecan) at 4 trees/acre coupled with understory species (flowering dogwood, eastern redbud) at 4 trees/acre. All trees are distributed randomly throughout the field. Converted silvopasture on 3 acres; conversion was initiated on 2 acres in 2021, and on the remainder in 2024. This field was previously in very low-quality regenerating forest that included a large amount of invasive plants (autumn-olive, tree-of-heaven, Callery pear). After terminating the invasive species, we retained a residual overstory of ~35 trees/acre dominated by tulip-poplar, Virginia pine, and other native species. Overstory trees are distributed evenly throughout the field. Riparian buffer on 5 acres. The buffer is ~2,800 long and averages 75' wide. All vegetation is naturally regenerating after having been cleared for farming in past decades. The overstory is dominated by black walnut, river birch, American sycamore, and tulip-poplar. The understory includes giant river cane, northern spicebush, American elderberry, pawpaw, and various herbaceous species. Links: https://www.oldhomeplacefarm.com/ Media: