Perennial Crops and Practices

Kathleen Fitzgibbon July 18, 2022

Author: Savanna Institute

Description: The crops and practices people use in agroforestry vary across the landscape based on site characteristics (soils, climate, water availability, geomorphology) as well as the goals, values, and resources of each practitioner. For this reason, agroforestry looks different at each site and across landscapes. This course walks you through the characteristics, considerations, pros and cons, and economics of each of the five core US agroforestry practices and 12 of the most promising crops. Throughout the material, we provide opportunities to pause and reflect on the topics you are learning about as well as your personal preferences and goals.

Deciding which crops and/or animals to include and how agroforestry will function at your site will be heavily influenced by the site characteristics as well as your preferences and resources. This course will help you learn about the common agroforestry crops and practices and reflect on how agroforestry can work for your situation and goals. Once you’ve made a plan, implementing the plan can happen gradually. Remember that agroforestry doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor–it can be all-or-something!

Check it out!

Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Featured Resources, Online Course
Categories: Featured Resources, Online Course
Tags: ,
Kathleen Fitzgibbon

Related Articles

Planning, Land Access and Finances

The degree to which different crops and practices are incorporated into an agroforestry system depends on the site characteristics as well as the values and goals of the people stewarding the land. This makes agroforestry very site specific, and therefore, no two practices or systems are exactly alike.

Kathleen Fitzgibbon July 18, 2022

Agroforestry Foundations

The Agroforestry Foundations course has been designed to introduce you to a diversity of agroforestry practices, financial arrangements, farm designs and business models while helping you reflect on your own personal values and goals.

Kathleen Fitzgibbon July 18, 2022

Managing Agroforestry Systems in a Changing Climate

All ecosystems are complex, including agroforestry systems. They are made up of many organisms interacting with each other and their environment. Through observing and understanding how ecosystems function, people can work with natural processes to design and manipulate ecosystems for desired benefits in ways that are sustainable, resilient, and even regenerative.

Kathleen Fitzgibbon July 18, 2022

Marketing for Agroforestry

If selling at least one product or generating income is a goal of your agroforestry practice, then, it’s important to consider how you will market the product(s) you want to sell. Agricultural marketing includes all the activities producers do in order to promote and sell products to consumers.

Kathleen Fitzgibbon July 18, 2022