Putting agroforestry principles into practice with hands-on training. Focus on alley cropping & silvopasture systems in the field.
Meach Cove Farms, Interlace Commons, NRCS-Vermont, UVM Extension, and the USDA NE Climate Hub invite you to a hands-on training session covering two of the most in demand agroforestry practices - silvopasture and alley cropping. The training will start with introductions to Interlace Commons and its service provision, the USDA NE Climate Hub, and Meach Cove Farms. Definitions, principles, and practices of agroforestry with the focus on silvopasture and alley cropping will encompass:
- What is the appropriate mix of trees/grass/rotating animals
- What it is not: forested feedlots, single tree, no rotation, pigs in the woods
- Benefits: shade, crops, fodder, habitat & other ecosystem services
- Design considerations in the field - site specifics & typologies
- Tensions & potential tradeoffs - group discussion
The classroom talks and discussion will be followed by a design session in the field at Meach Cove Farms working within the opportunities and constraints of site specifics as well as the farm manager's interests and priorities.
Trainers & Partners Meghan Giroux and Eli Roberts from Interlace Commons will be leading the training. Interlace Commons will cover the fundamentals of designing and implementing Alley Cropping and Silvopasture. Suzy Hodgson, UVM Extension and USDA NE Climate Hub Learning Forum will provide a climate smart framework. John Van Hoesen, NRCS- Vermont will provide an update on Climate Smart funding for Agriculture & Forestry (CSAF) practices. Lynn Wolfe, Argosy Foundation, will share her perspective on initiating new climate-focused projects such as agroforestry at Meach Cove Farms.
Who should come? Agriculture and Forestry service providers including NRCS staff, Extension staff, and others working with landowners, foresters, and farmers interested in climate smart practices involving trees.
This workshop is free and refreshments will be provided.
To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this session, please contact Suzy Hodgson sbhodgson@uvm.edu at least two weeks before the event so that we may assist you.
Carpooling Please contact any of the partners for carpooling opportunities and check https://carpoolorganiser.com/ where we will post carpooling offers soon.
Event registrationThis event is supported by the Interlace Commons Cooperative Agreement with NRCS-VT , the USDA Northeast Climate Hub , Meach Cove Farms, and the Argosy Foundation. This is a Healthy Trees Initiative of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub's Climate Learning Forum.