Agroforestry Basics

What is agroforestry?

Agroforestry is a farming method that combines perennial trees, shrubs, and crops, and sometimes animals in a way that benefits both the environment and people. It's like a special type of farming that's designed to be good for the land and for those who depend on it.

In agroforestry, farmers intentionally plant trees alongside their crops and maybe even include animals in the mix. This combination of trees, crops, and animals has several advantages. The trees can provide shade, which helps protect the crops from harsh sunlight and can also serve as a windbreak, shielding the crops from strong winds. These trees can also improve the soil quality by preventing erosion and adding nutrients. Additionally, they help in cleaning and managing water resources, which is crucial for farming, both on land and farming fish.

Agroforestry isn't a new idea; it's been practiced for centuries in different parts of the world. What's new is that people are now recognizing its many benefits, not just for producing food but also for protecting the environment. By using agroforestry, we can grow food while also taking care of the land and the natural world around us. It's an eco-friendly way of farming that's gaining more attention as we seek sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for agriculture.

Here in the United States, the top 5 methods of agroforestry we use are alley cropping, forest farming, riparian buffers, silvopasture, and windbreaks.

Let’s explore what each of these are:

Alley Cropping

Alley cropping, also known as intercropping is a planting method where you plant multiple rows of trees and then plant other crops in between the rows of trees. This helps sequester carbon, increases biodiversity, decreases soil erosion, and can even be a way to transition monoculture to polyculture.

Forest Farming

Forest farming typically looks like farmers or even homeowners growing high-value specialty crops under the shade of the trees. Some people use forest farming to grow mushrooms, or herbs that don’t need full sun.

one of the crops typically grown under the forest canopy are mushrooms

Riparian Buffers

These are strips of permenant vegetation consisting of trees, shrubs, and herbs, and grasses that are planted and managed together adjacent to bodies of water. Typically the plants in these buffers aren’t plants that you would typically harvest, however, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be. There are plenty of plants that thrive in a riparian buffer that could be harvested for food purposes, their medicinal properties, or handicrafts. If you want a more comprehensive overview of riparian buffers, you can read an article here by the US Forestry Service.

The different areas to a riparian buffer

Silvopasture

This combines livestock with pasture and trees. The livestock would be the main source of income/harvest, and of course they would mainly be eating the grasses in the pasture. The trees are there to provide shade and shelter for the livestock, and a potential secondary income for the farmer. This is also a great to incorporate animals into your garden or crops.

Windbreaks

Also known as shelter belts, I’ve seen these mainly in areas where it is much more flat than where I live, and there isn’t nearly as many trees nearby. I live in Arkansas just for reference, we have lots of trees. Wind breaks work by well, breaking the wind, they create a microclimate with less wind than the surrounding areas. This is great when you have areas that are prone to soil erosion by high winds, and keeps the water from evaporating as higher rates. If grown near livestock, these wind breaks can also help decrease animal stress and even mortality.

These rows of trees between patches of crops are an example of how a windbreak can look

Agroforestry for homeowners

For homeowners, especially if you are into increasing biodiversity, and growing your own food and medicine, there’s no doubt you’ve heard about a food forest. There’s YouTube videos, blog articles (such as this one), magazine articles, books, you name it. If you are a homeowner looking to add some trees to your back yard, chances are you have come across food forest advice.

A food forest, also known as a forest garden or edible forest, is a type of sustainable farming or gardening system that mimics the structure and functions of a natural forest ecosystem while primarily focusing on the cultivation of edible, medicinal, and decorative plants. It is designed to provide a diverse and self-sustaining source of food, incorporating a variety of fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, and other edible plants, along with supporting plants, to create a balanced and low-maintenance ecosystem. Here are some key characteristics of a food forest:

Layered Structure

Food forests are typically organized into different vertical layers, much like a natural forest. These layers include tall canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, ground cover, and sometimes root crops. Each layer serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall ecosystem.

Edible Plants

My favorite part of a food forest! The primary focus of a food forest is growing edible plants, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, and herbs. However, these systems can also incorporate other useful plants, such as those used for medicinal purposes, fiber, or timber.

Low Maintenance

Food forests are often considered low-maintenance because the diversity of plants helps reduce the risk of pests and diseases. The different species also support one another by improving soil health and providing nutrients.

Perennial Plants

Most plants in a food forest are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. This reduces the need for annual replanting and maintenance.

Biodiversity

Food forests are designed to be highly diverse, with a wide range of plant species. This diversity encourages beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife to thrive, which can help with pollination and pest control.

Sustainability

Food forests are sustainable by design. They use organic and regenerative farming practices, promote soil health, and minimize the use of synthetic chemicals.

Food forests are a holistic and environmentally friendly approach to food production, promoting food security, biodiversity, and sustainability. They can be adapted to different climates and regions, making them a valuable tool for local food production and community resilience.