From: Steve Gabriel <steve AT fingerlakespermaculture.org>
To: fingerlakespermaculture AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Support Research on Temperate Forest Farming
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:48:58 -0400
HELP US DOCUMENT FOREST FARMS FOR OUR BOOK!
www.FarmingTheWoods.com
We (Ken Mudge & Steve Gabriel) are excited about Forest Farming. So
excited, in fact, that we are writing a book about it through Chelsea
Green Publishing with an expected release of Spring 2014.
Forest Farming is an agroforestry practice of growing non-timber crops
under the canopy of an existing forest. The practice is both old and
new, as historically many traditional cultures around the world have
gained their sustenance through forest-based ecosystems.
Forest farming offers woodlot owners the opportunity to grow a wide
variety of unique and high-value fruits, nuts, mushrooms, medicinal
plants, and more. The income generation potential is very high for some
crops (shiitake mushrooms and ginseng, for example), while others are
more useful on a home scale.
We want to visit and document many real world examples of Forest Farming
in the Eastern and Midwestern US. We will interview forest farmers,
document their sites, and write up case studies. Much of this
information will be presented in the book, but also available as a free
online map and database resource at FarmingtheWoods.com.
These free tools will foster connection and collaboration among all who
are learning to farm the woods. Your generous contribution helps us
with travel and research of case studies. The face-to-face interviews
and onsite examination of forest farmers and their land will provide
crucial information and learned wisdom for the book and our website.
Your gift also pays for the development of the free online database,
map, and listserv. The book will be for sale, but the online resources
will be a free, available to anyone interested in farming the woods.