The Savanna Institute is excited to share the final video in our Pioneer Agroforestry Farm Tour Video Series, featuring Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm! Tom and Kathy manage over 80 species of agroforestry crops on their farm near Wapello, Iowa. "We're trying to mimic the biodiversity you'd see in nature," Kathy says.
In summer 2019, the Savanna Institute is launching the first season of our Agroforestry Farmer Apprenticeship Program! Each apprentice will spend 10 weeks on the farm of a mentor agroforestry farmer, with part- to full-time employment throughout the period. On the farm, apprentices will learn about perennial crop establishment, management, and harvest; farm planning and decision-making; equipment maintenance; product marketing; farm/tree finance, and more!
Applications Due: March 1st, 2019 Start Date: May-June, flexible Location: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa Program Length: 10 weeks
Program Fee: $0 Room and Board: Depends on host farm Compensation: Mentors are highly encouraged to pay apprentices $10/hour, however it may vary among host farms.
This program was born out of the call to provide crucial training for the next generation of agroforestry farmers as well as recognition of the barriers farmers of color, women, and limited-wealth farmers have in accessing these resources and expertise in particular. All are welcome, but we highly encourage self-identifying people of color, women, and limited wealth farmers to apply!
Limited spots exist for the 2019 season, so rolling admission may occur - apply early!
Contact Jess Robinson, Education Program Manager, with any questions regarding the application process or the program (jess@savannainstitute.org).
2019 Nutshell Series Continues!
We hope you'll tune in for more of our live Nutshell webinars this year! Nutshell webinars are held biweekly on Tuesday evenings at 7pm CST.
**Please be sure to use the links provided in your registration email, as older links may no longer connect to our upcoming webinars!
Harry Hoch - Grazing Animals in Perennial Fruit Plots
February 26th at 7pm Central Time
Harry will provide an overview of a on-farm project funded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Demonstration Grant that demonstrates the potential viability of adding animals to perennial fruit productions. He will discuss the time and materials required to establish fencing for animals, provide a comparison of temporary vs permanent fencing, and will dive into the income and costs of raising hogs on pasture. Harry is the co-owner and full time manager of Hoch Orchard and Gardens, a diversified fruit orchard located in Minnesota.
Dan Shepherd - The Nuts and Bolts of Growing and Selling Marketable Pecans
March 12th at 7pm Central Time
Dan will discuss tips and tricks to producing high-quality pecans. Dan co-owns Shepherd farms, which has one of the largest pecan orchards in the state of Missouri.
Ken Mudge - Forest Cultivation of Shiitake and Other Edible and/or Medicinal Mushrooms - March 26th at 7pm Central Time
Kenneth will discuss log acquisition and inoculation with fungal spawn, incubation, fruiting, and harvest of edible and medicinal mushrooms. Ken Mudge is a professor emeritus at the Department of Horticulture, Cornell University and co-author of the book Farming The Woods, An Integrated Permaculture Approach to Growing Food and Medicinals in Temperate Forests.
Early-adopter growers have been waiting for decades for proven hazelnut genetics and the wait is finally over. Four different breeding programs will be presenting information on their recent selections and plans for getting the plants to growers starting in 2020. The Friday session is intended for beginning growers with information on basic production practices, harvesting, post-harvest processing, and marketing. Saturday offers information on the new plant material as well as updates on research projects and what’s happening in other regions.
You won't find a better opportunity to learn the ins and outs of hazelnuts in the Midwest!
