Non-Timber Forest ProductsHow to make every acre count from the forest floor and beyond

PresentationContents

• My Background

• Non-timber Forest Products

• NTFPs in the Landscape

• System Design

• Action Research

• Dialogue

My BackgroundAgroforestry, permaculture, and non-timber forest products

Non-timber Forest ProductsMaking every acre count

Non-timber Forest Prodcuts (NTFPs)

Any biological product other than timber that can be harvested from a forest or tree.

TypesNTFPs

• Edibles

• Medicinals

• Forages/Fodder

• Decoratives

• Crafts

• Specialty wood products

AgroforestryIntegrating NTFPs in the Landscape

Agroforestry

A land management system where trees and shrubs are integrated into production for more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land-use systems

AgroforestryBenefits

• Diversification of farm products

• Over yielding

• Land regeneration and soil protection

• Improved water quality and quantity

• Wildlife habitat

• Carbon Sequestration

• Moderate effects of extreme weather on crops and livestock

NTFPs in Equals Agroforestry Practice

Existing Forest = Forest Farming

Planted Forest = Forest Gardening

Pasture = Silvopasture

Crop system = Alley Cropping

Creek side areas = Riparian Buffers

Wind protection strips = Windbreaks

AgroforestryForest Farming

Photo credit: Forest Farming eXtension

AgroforestryForest Gardening

AgroforestrySilvopasture

Photo credit: Mark Shepard of Restoration Agriculture

Photo credit: Mark Shepard of Restoration Agriculture

AgroforestryRiparian Buffers

AgroforestryAlley Cropping

AgroforestryWindbreaks

PermacultureDesigning agroforestry systems that mimic nature

Permaculture (permanent agriculture)• Designing productive systems that

mimic nature• Observe our biome and work with

nature

• A set of tenants that guide decisions• Earth Care• People Care• Fair Share

• Greater resilience, sustainability, and abundance

Photo credit: Mark Shepard of Restoration Agriculture

Layers of the Forest

How do we get there?NTFPs production, harvesting, marketing, selling.

• Understand our land

• Understand the existing economic system

• Design productive systems

• Learn what works in our region

• Work together

• Make a profit

Community-based Participatory Action ResearchHow we make things happen

Action Research Beliefs• All people accumulate, organize, and use complex

knowledge continuously everyday

• Only knowledge generated and tested through action is credible

• Diverse opinions are valued and generate creativity

• Local knowledge and perspectives of participants are combined with the researchers facilitation of the process, and knowledge of the subject to address complex issues.

Action Research ProcessNTFPs production, harvesting, marketing, selling.

• Collectively define the interest

• Cogenerate knowledge

• Collaboratively develop a plan of action

• Make things happen

• Evaluate results

An open invitationIf you are interested in this project, please fill out a survey so we can include you and your thoughts to shape the direction we take.

Resources• Forest Farming

• eXtension http://www.extension.org/forest_farming• youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/exforestfarming• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FarmingForests• Pinterst http://www.pinterest.com/forestfarming/• Twitter https://twitter.com/ForestFarming• National Agroforestry Center http://nac.unl.edu/forestfarming.htm

• Silvopasture• National Agroforestry Center http://nac.unl.edu/silvopasture.htm• Savana Gardens Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Savanna-Gardens/290210664411298• Restoration Agriculture http://www.forestag.com/book.html

• Forest Gardening• Edible Forest Gardens http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/

• Windbreaks• National Agroforestry Center http://nac.unl.edu/windbreaks.htm

• Riparian Buffers• National Agroforestry Center http://nac.unl.edu/riparianforestbuffers.htm• Trozzo Extension Pubs http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/author/t/torozzo-katie-res.html

DialogueWhat do you all think?

• What products do you think have the most potential? Or what do you think could be grown in this region?

• What are the assets that may help get this started?

Photo References• https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/988424_515422018556827_1740357287_n.jpg

• https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1467410_499173536848342_426246557_n.jpg

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• https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1016962_448458335253196_1435293499_n.jpg

• https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1014297_435822836516746_7739213_n.jpg

• http://ethicalfoodsguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/shepard2.jpg

• https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/s403x403/1381677_480675375364825_585963478_n.jpg

• https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/936731_419596771472686_893121165_n.jpg

• http://savannagardens.com/wp-content/themes/website/data/php/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-07-03-09.22.19.jpg&q=90&w=489

• http://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site6822/Martin%20Crawford's%20garden%20150dpi.jpg

• http://www.graysonlandcare.org/IndependenceFarmersMarket/images/IndependenceFarmersMarket.jpg

• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Forgard2-003.gif/800px-Forgard2-003.gif