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market-farming - Forest Gardening Workshop, October 6

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  • From: Allan Balliett <igg AT igg.com>
  • To: market farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Cc: seedsofchange AT egroups.com, csa-l AT prairienet.org, community food <nefood-l AT listproc.tufts.edu>, "Honigman, Adam" <community_garden AT mallorn.com>
  • Subject: Forest Gardening Workshop, October 6
  • Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 06:13:00 -0400


Contact: Allan Balliett
Phone: 540- 668-7640
Email: aballiett AT brces.org
September 27 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Forest Gardening Specialist Mark Shepard to Lead Workshop, Saturday, October 6"

Looking for a low-maintenance, high-return use for that 10 acres of lawn around your new house? Need suggestions for getting economic returns from the marginal lands on your farm? "Forest Gardening," or Agroforestry, is a system of horticulture that can help you do just that. Once thought of as an utopian dream, agroforestry has found its way into academic circles (Virginia Tech has a program) and its principles have been refined through decades of field experience. Agroforestry has proven to be a sound and practical way to manage land and while creating a substantial return in income and in the quality of habitat for both humans and wildlife.

This workshop, on Saturday, October 6 at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in Loudoun County, will explore the Oak/Hazel Savanna, an American native ecosystem, as a model for a profitable, permanent agriculture. (Permaculture) This workshop will demonstrate how to create a commercially productive Oak/Hazel Savanna analogue, using market quality cultivars of Hazelnut and Chestnut, as well as a host of associated perennials, (including cut-flowers, herbs, mushrooms, and medicinals.) All of this is done organically, in harmony with natural systems.
Workshop leader Mark Shepard is one of the most highly qualified agroforestry teachers in North America. He owns and operates New Forest Farm in Southwest Wisconsin, where the crops include organic vegetables, medicinal herbs, grains, cut flowers, and, of course, hazelnuts. The farm utilizes agroforestry techniques such as alleycropping, silvopasture, and crop-producing windbreaks. Mark has consulted for, designed and planted Permaculture and agroforestry systems from Alaska and Oregon to Massachusetts and Maine.

Gardeners, farmers, foresters, herbalists, environmentalists, landowners and landscapers will benefit from this workshop. To maintain the quality of the experience, participation will be limited. Pre-registration is required. The workshop starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 6 and will go until at least 4 p.m. A donation of $10 is requested to cover the expenses of the workshop and organic lunch.

The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship is the environmental programs arm of the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation, located two miles south of U.S. Route 340 on Harpers Ferry Road (Rte 671), Loudoun County, Virginia.

To pre-register, or for more information, please contact registrar Maura Balliett at
(540) 668-6165 7am - 10pm by October 5.


-end-



  • Forest Gardening Workshop, October 6, Allan Balliett, 09/28/2001

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