Forest farming is an agroforestry practice which cultivates medicinal and edible plants and fungi, traditional craft and decorative materials, bulk material, and more under a forest canopy that is managed to provide ideal shade levels and habitat.​

 

​Though many cultures from here and around the world have always tended the forest and and harvested food, medicine, and other necessities, the modern agroforestry practice of forest farming focuses on the cultivation, stewardship and sustainable harvest of these diverse and important resources mostly on a larger scale. These days, the benefits of forest farming are many. Locally, forest farming benefits the forest and its inhabitants through management and conservation, as well as families, communities and consumers by way of economic opportunities and the availability of forest products. On a larger scale, broad agroforestry and forest farming adoption by farmers, private landowners and communities has much potential for the conservation through cultivation of at-risk species, diversity and local/traditional foodways, regenerative agriculture, sustainable sourcing, carbon sequestration and more.

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Most agroforestry practices usually involve incorporating trees into other agricultural practices (i.e alley cropping: planting annual crops between rows of trees, and windbreaks: strategically placed rows of trees to decrease wind or snow load), forest farming generally focuses on the cultivation of forest species under an existing forest canopy.

 

Unlike high-production annual farm and garden crops which need full sun and amendments, forest-obligate species are well adapted to shade and competition on the forest floor including from the trees themselves. This results in many factors that can affect cultivation, namely slow growth, changing stages, susceptibility to wildlife and several other considerations. Sometimes, key forest farming species are already naturally occurring, but may need a helping hand to grow into larger populations that can directly support sustainable harvests, which is why good stewardship is a key concept and practice for forest farmers.

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Forest farming also provides several opportunities for land owners, families and communities to benefit while managing, protecting and conserving the forests for the future. 

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Non timber forest products and value added products from the forest are the foundations of income derived from forest farming. From root harvests and raw materials to finished products on market tables and store shelves, everyone is likely familiar with at least one forest product. Gleaming bottles of maple syrup, the famous -and infamous- ramps or wild leeks festivals every spring, and world famous medicinal roots; these are all generously provided by the forest. When these natural resources are well managed, stewarded and sustainably harvested, not only do they give much to the forest ecosystem, but also provide comfort, sustenance, food, medicine, income  and more to those who learn to live with -and from- the forest. 

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Key Forest Farming Terms and Concepts​​​​​​​​​

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Forest Botanicals within the practice of forest farming include any number of plants species that are produced by a forest farm. Typically these forest (shade) obligate species are also native plants and often naturally occurring across the Appalachian region. Popular species include: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), black cohosh (Actaea racemosa), solomon seal (Polygonatum biflorum), and many others. 

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Forest Management is fundamental for obvious reasons. As forest farming is a long term endeavor, the ongoing health and continued management of a forest can create or incorporate forest farming opportunities, help restore or enhance biodiversity, and more. Fortunately, there are lots of national, regional and local resources, groups and professionals that can be of assistance landowners. Documents, maps and various levels of planning are all very useful tools for potential and beginning forest farmers.

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Non timber forest products (NTFPs) are products that come from the forest that are not the result of commercial timber harvest. Examples include: tree saps, edible plants, nuts and fruit, medicinal plants and roots, forest grown mushrooms, live planting stock, craft and decorative supplies and bulk materials like pine straw.

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Site Assessment is the process of evaluating a forest site for future forest farming purposes. 

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Site Preparation is how forest farmers prepare forest areas for new plantings using seeds or planting stock.​

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Value added products (VAPs) from the forest are products that have been changed, enhanced or stabilized for extended shelf life. Many NTFPs can be processed and made into market ready goods including: jams, jellies or preserves, tree saps and syrups, tea or tea blends, tinctures, essential oils, crafts, dried mushrooms, spices and more.