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Sustainable Herbs Initiative is an Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition partner organization. Visit their website at: https://www.sustainableherbsinitiative.org/ 🌱 What happens when farmers, wild harvesters, brand leaders, and herbalists all come together to listen to plants? That’s the heart of an SHI Learning Journey. These gatherings are designed to deepen connection across the herbal sourcing ecosystem, creating space to learn from one another and from the landscapes and plants that sustain us. In southern Oregon, forty people representing every step of the supply chain spent three days walking fields, sharing stories, and asking big questions: How do we create sourcing networks that are truly sustainable and ethical? What can the plants and places teach us about our role in this work? This video offers a glimpse into that journey, held at @OshalaFarm and @HerbPharm .

Forest farming and agroforestry are in the NC State Extension news with this article from Simon Gonzalez . Read about farming with the forest - not against it, how agroforestry can intersect with many types of agriculture, sites, and needs, and a recent Agroforestry Farm Tour near Durham, NC. These agroforestry farm tours are a collaboration with the Agroforestry Regional Knowledge Exchange Network (ARKx) & Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program (CAGP), NC State Extension and farmers around Western and Central North Carolina. Learn more about future Agroforestry Farm Tours and other in person and online events by visiting the CatalyzingAgroforestry.org website or the AFFC's Community Forest Farming Calendar . Read the article here:  https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/2025/07/nc-state-extension-agroforestry/ NC State Extension specialists Margaret Bloomquist (center) and Mary Bulan (right) explain the benefits of forest farming on an agroforestry farm tour in Durham.

Greetings forest farmers! Don't forget to secure your spot for the upcoming Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference happening later this month. This conference and community gathering for Central Appalachia is both immersive and comprehensive — from forest floor to market door — making it an excellent event for both new and experienced forest farmers. Whether you're launching your farm or product business, or seeking fresh ideas, inspiration, and networking opportunities, this conference offers everything you need to help you achieve success in forest farming. Attendees will delve into forest farming topics such as cultivating, conserving, harvesting, and marketing a variety of species like mushrooms, goldenseal, and elderberry. The event will also cover small business development, marketing, value-added strategies, and exploring agritourism as a way to diversify income and connect the public with forest-based enterprises. ​ Engage in hands-on learning, listen to inspiring speakers, and take advantage of networking opportunities in the heart of Appalachian Ohio. Whether you're just starting or expanding, this conference will provide you with the tools, connections, and knowledge to grow sustainably.

AFFC is pleased to present new Partner Pages where we highlight the work of our wonderful partners, as well as their forest farming and agroforestry resources, events and other community contributions. See all of our Partners, and find one near you on our Community page. Appalachian Sustainable Development has been a foundational partner since the beginning of the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition, and has since grown in size, in scope and in the agroforestry community, especially throughout VA and surrounding states. From the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub in Duffield, VA, to their Ask an Agroforestry Webinars , and the Agroforestry Trainings for Natural Resource Professionals Series, ASD has resources and opportunities for all experience levels, from potential forest farmers to seasoned farmers and professionals. Read a full list of their programs, resources and events here. https://www.appalachianforestfarmers.org/appalachian-sustainable-development

Prepared by Sara Jackson (Bat Cave Botanicals) and Eric P. Burkhart (Penn State University) v.1 (2025) Click here for the free pdf download. Similar to saving a favorite garden heirloom variety for both preservation and enjoyment, our North American native ginseng species presents several long- and short-term opportunities—and compelling reasons—to preserve the remaining strains through stewardship and seed saving. Beginning with the reasons why saving American ginseng strains is important to the future of this imperiled and valuable species, and then exploring practical ways to do so, this 31-page guide outlines the 'whys' and 'hows' of saving ginseng seeds with step by step methods. This guide is brought to you by a collaboration between Penn State University College of Agriculture and Middle Tennessee University International Ginseng Institute. Learn more and find forest farming webinars including on American Ginseng Seed Saving at https://linktr.ee/forestfarmingwebinars .

September 1, 2025 End of Summer salutations from the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition!   This very special American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius ) edition highlights a list of resources for stewarding and growing this important forest botanical.   This issue of Forest Farming Footnotes also includes Forest Farming Planting Stock Resources, 2025 Autumn Events and Forest Farming Office Hours, Learning and Training Opportunities and much more.   Click on the image or button below to view the latest Forest Farming Footnotes Newsletter.   Please enjoy in the spirit of Summer's abundance, The AFFC Team

Since its inception in 2014, one of the primary missions of the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition has been to create, host, and maintain a comprehensive clearinghouse of forest farming information and resources. This initiative aims to empower future, beginning, and current forest farmers by providing peer to peer knowledge sharing and tools needed to increase success. The coalition recognizes the unique challenges and opportunities that forest farming presents, and it is committed to fostering a supportive community that encourages sustainable practices and economic viability in forest farming. With a collection of over 200 forest farming videos, a dedicated following of 29K subscribers, and nearly 4 million total views, eXtension Forest Farming in collaboration with the AFFC has established a robust forest farming video library. This resource is designed not only to educate but also to inspire and connect forest farmers across Appalachia and beyond. Each video and playlist provides insights, tips, and ideas that can help forest farmers optimize their practices and enhance their productivity. These videos and the practices shown are based on peer to peer knowledge sharing, and what is working for other forest farmers. ​ This  YouTube channel serves as a resource for those seeking detailed information on forest farming basics , which encompasses the fundamental principles of cultivating and managing forested land for various purposes. Additionally, it covers a diverse range of non-timber forest products (commonly referred to as "NTPFs"), which include items such as mushrooms, medicinal herbs, and specialty woods. The channel also delves into the various markets, products, and business models associated with these sustainably harvested forest-farmed crops, sharing knowledge needed to navigate this growing sector effectively. ​ Along with exploring this extensive video library, we invite you to dive into the many other forest farming resources available on this website. These resources are designed to complement the video content and provide further insights into the practices and principles of forest farming. We encourage you to join our forest farming community , where like-minded individuals come together to share experiences, ideas, and support one another in their forest farming journeys. Furthermore, you can learn more about  regional groups and partners  in your area, which can provide localized support and networking opportunities. Together, we can cultivate a thriving forest farming community that benefits both the environment and the economy. Be sure to check our channel, or subscribe for updates and new forest farming videos, presentations, and webinars. For live and in person events, visit our Community Forest Farming Calendar and be sure to check out our Partner Organizations for regional events and farm tour demonstrations. Learn more about the national agroforestry peer to peer knowledge exchange on CatalyzingAgroforestry.org .

Bring the forest to the farm or the farm to the forest? Agroforestry faces a dichotomy Key ideas from the Mongabay article from Marlowe Starling 23 June 2025, British Columbia A new comment article published in Nature Climate Change makes the case for more forest-based agroforestry — integrating crops into existing forests — as an underutilized climate and livelihood solution. The authors find that there’s a noticeable lack of funding for forest-based methods compared to field-based agroforestry, in which trees are added to pasture and croplands, which they say has led to missed opportunities for carbon storage and biodiversity. A lack of consensus and understanding on how to define agroforestry is another factor in the misalignment of intentions and outcomes of agroforestry as a climate solution. The authors call on policymakers and scientists to fund and study forest-based agroforestry methods with more rigor, especially in places where people depend on rural livelihoods such as agriculture. Read the article here: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/06/bring-the-forest-to-the-farm-or-the-farm-to-the-forest-agroforestry-faces-a-dichotomy/ Nuu-chah-nulth forest garden in Nuchatlaht Hahoulthi, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with Pacific crabapple (Malus fusca), salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), salal (Gaultheria shallon), and other edible, medicinal and handicraft plant species. These Indigenous forest garden systems have been managed over substantial periods of time through long-distance transplanting of plant material, controlled burning, weeding, fertilizing, coppicing and pruning. Image by Chelsey Geralda Armstrong.

Keeping forests on the agroforestry agenda "Emerging agroforestry initiatives focus on planting trees rather than managing existing forestland. The result is a missed opportunity to support forest ecosystems, rural livelihoods and climate mitigation." This study from May 2025 was co-authored by a group of researchers including Karam Sheban of Northeast Forest Farming Coalition , and John Munsell, AFFC Director . The study paper is available as a pdf document at the link below (file will download). Link to the Nature Climate Change Journal article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02344-8 Yale School of the Environment article Agriculture in Forests Can Provide Climate and Economic Dividends "Forest-based agroforestry can restore forests, promote livelihoods, and combat climate change, but initiatives focusing only on tree planting are leading to missed opportunities to support the beneficial outcomes of forest management, a Yale-led team of scientists found." Read the full article on Yale School of the Environment news page.

Join us for the 2025 Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference, a weekend-long immersive event that unites both novice and seasoned forest farmers, professionals, and natural product entrepreneurs from around the region, and beyond.   Attendees will delve into forest farming topics such as cultivating, conserving, harvesting, and marketing a variety of species like mushrooms, goldenseal, and elderberry. The conference will also emphasize small business development, marketing, value-added strategies, and exploring agritourism as a means to diversify income and engage the public with forest-based enterprises. ​ Enjoy hands-on learning, inspiring speakers, and networking opportunities in the heart of Appalachian Ohio, at the beautiful United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary and Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation. Whether you're just beginning or expanding your horizons, this conference will provide you with the tools, connections, and knowledge to grow sustainably. Check the page linked below for updates including conference schedule, speaker bios, registration deadlines, travel information and more.