Recipient Organization
PERMACULTURE LIVING LANDS TRUST, INC.
253 BRIGGS HWY
ELLENVILLE,NY 12428
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Agroforestry offers one of the most climate-smart responses to our global crises of climate, biodiversity and water, yet it accounts for less than 2% of farm production. The goal of the Agroforestry Accelerator pilot program is to train beginning farmers to establish tree crop and agroforestry operations that transform annual monocultures into perennial polycultures, increasing healthy food access for communities in densely populated eastern United States. The main objective is to develop and pilot a training program with a first year cohort of 12 beginning farmers convening on-line and at a network of land trust training sites in the Hudson Valley of New York (Northeast), central New Jersey (Mid-Atlantic), and the Triangle of North Carolina (Southeast). Each will receive training and mentorship from an experienced team to gain a working knowledge of: 1) propagating native fruit and nut trees and shrubs with nursery production, alley cropping, silvopasture, and productive riparian buffers; 2) regional value chains for native fruits/nuts/fungi/ roots; seeds and nursery stock; and value-added processing; and 3) equitable land access and cooperative business models. The core focus for trainees is to instill a deep appreciation for ancient ecological wisdom about wild foods and medicines, and the skills to adapt agriculture to sequester carbon, restore biodiverse habitat, build living soils, promote water quality and quantity, and feed local communities. Upon completion, each year's trainees will join the Agroforestry Accelerator Network for ongoing peer and mentor support between regions as they develop agroforestry operations in the communities they serve.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Project Goal: Develop and pilot an Agroforestry Accelerator program and curriculum to train beginning farmers to establish 5 agroforestry and tree crop agriculture operations serving community food systems in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and SoutheastObjectives:1) Develop and offer a community-focused agroforestry and tree crop agriculture training curriculum to an initial cohort of 12 beginning farmers on an interconnected network of land trust training sites in the Hudson Valley of New York (6 Apprentices), central New Jersey (3 Apprentices), and the Triangle and Triad regions of central North Carolina (3 Apprentices).2) Assess the level of interest in, and feasibility of, forming producer cooperatives to grow, process and distribute perennial tree crops based on evaluations of regional market opportunities for tree crop products and services; and3) Share findings and assess the viability and replicability of the program for communities throughout the Eastern U.S.
Project Methods
Approach - Timeline, ActivitiesFall/Winter - Sept 15, 2024 - Feb 28, 2025- Project Planning & Design (PDs with Trainers, Partners)- Develop Training Curriculum and Recruitment Materials (PDs with Trainers, Partners) - Outreach and recruitment of 12 beginning farmers as Agroforestry Apprentices (6 from NY, 3 from NJ/PA, 3 from NC). 12 additional beginning farmers may audit/observe.- Harvest Day Trainings - harvesting nuts and fruits, value-added processing and sampling of products (nut oils, flours, dried fruits, etc): NY - Mid-October; NJ - Late October; NC - Early November- Distribute Workbooks with core materials...with additional homework and training materials to be added as the year progresses. The final workbook will be published in summary form as a printed and PDF booklet.- Pay 12 trainees learning stipends of $250- Local volunteer work day opportunities for trainees (NY, NJ, NC)- Online monthly lunch-n-learn meetings (4 @ 1.5 hrs with check-ins and guest speakers.- Winter On-line Training (4 hrs) - Welcome and Introductions, Introduction to Program, Handbook and Homework, Apprenticeships, agroforestry overview, emphasize growing season steps and skills, introduce value chain, land access, cooperative business.- Local Apprenticeship/volunteer work day opportunitiesSpring - March 1, 2025 - May 30, 2025- On-line Monthly Lunch-n-Learn Meetings (3 @ 1.5 hrs)- On-Farm Propagation Meetings - propagation, nursery, seeds, cuttings, scion wood, species: NC (early April); NJ (late April); NY (early May) - Add training materials and homework to handbooks- Local apprenticeship/volunteer work day opportunities- Permaculture Living Lands Trust will apply for a Large Standard BFRDP grantSummer - June 1 - September 14, 2025- On-line Monthly Meetings (3)- Handbook and Homework, Apprenticeships- On-line final Training - (4 hrs) - focus on value chain, land access, cooperative development). All on-line trainings will be recorded and required viewing for Apprentices who miss a live session.- In September, an Agroforestry Accelerator Overview webinar presentation will be open to a larger audience of interested beginning farmers to summarize the highlights of the pilot year with video, powerpoint, and in-person discussion among trainees, trainers and site hosts sharing their experiences. Agroforestry Accelerator Workbooks will be made 8 available in print and digital form to prospective applications for future training cohorts. The goal is to recruit up to 50 additional beginning farmers for future cohorts in each region, and to identify additional candidate training sites in other regions.- Cooperative Business formation - the Trust will support interested trainees in forming a tree crop cooperative business in their region - Network formation - the Trust will organize the Network to include ongoing communication among trainees, trainers, hosts via an email group, website, e-newsletter.- Volunteer work day opportunities - trainees are invited to participate at training sites- Outreach and recruitment for next cohort