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Part of the coalition's mission is to create and host a "clearinghouse" of forest farming resources. These resources are free and available to the public. Forest Farming Resources Page under construction - check back soon for more information. Since 2014, one of the primary missions of the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition has been to create, host and maintain a clearinghouse of forest farming information and resources, in order to help future, beginning and current forest farmers across the region. Since that time, attention and interest in forest farming has grown, as have the groups, resources, events and available information. The resources on this website focus on eastern forests, local native forest botanicals and well established forest farming practices of this region. That being said, many folks outside of the Appalachians also want to learn more about local species and try to grow them in other temperate regions. The AFFC welcomes and supports knowledge sharing and exchange, while acknowledging that research and local expertise is always necessary. Note: These resources are freely available to the public, and can be found or requested from their respective publishers. While these resources have been created for, or curated here on the AFFC website for the benefit of the forest farming community, all resources are used with permission and credit goes to the individual authors and original publishers. Forest Farming Resource Directory 2025 Forest Farming Office Hours (Live) AFFC's virtual & informal lunchtime discussions about forest farming topics, Q&A and more. 2025 Forest Farming Webinar Series With archived webinars from Penn State Botany, Ethnobotany, and Agroforestry Program. Forest Farming in Focus Webinars Series An in-depth look at forest farming practices and species as presented by AFFC & Partners. Forest Farming Video Library Our YouTube channel @farmingforests is home to over 200 forest farming videos. Forest Farming Footnotes Now on the 20th edition, this biannual newsletter highlights AFFC happenings, partners and events throughout the year. Forest Farming Glossary This glossary is an overview of forest farming terms, definitions and concept overviews for forest farming and associated practices. Introduction to Forest Farming New to forest farming or wondering how and where to start? Start here! Non Timber Forest Products Introduction and examples of non timber forest products often called NTFPs for short. Value Added Products in Forest Farming Introduction and examples of value added products from forest products Forest Farming Publications Books, websites, papers and more publication about forest farming in Appalachia. Post Disaster Resources Response and resources for forest farmers across the Southeast that are affected by Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and future community support framework.

Welcome to the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition! We promote the practice of forest farming by educating, supporting and connecting current and future forest farmers. APPALACHIAN FOREST FARMER COALITION GROWING OPPORTUNITIES BENEATH THE CANOPY JOIN our email list for forest farming news and announcements LEARN more with forest farming resources and a dedicated video library CONNECT with our growing community of forest farmer and partners GROW with Forest Farming Office Hours, webinars, and in person training What is the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition? The Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition (AFFC), is a network of forest farmers, forestland owners, universities, and governmental and non-governmental organizations that share a common goal of improving agroforestry production opportunities and farming capabilities among forest farmers. Established in 2014, our collective aim has been to increase awareness of forest-grown medicinal, edible plants and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) through education and relationship building, and support conservation efforts through stewardship of existing plant populations and forest farming of native botanicals. About AFFC AFFC's Partners are you a potential or beginning forest farmer? do you have forest farming questions? If so, be sure to check out our Forest Farming Resource section where you can find a clearinghouse of information about Forest Farming, non timber forest products and more. We are also excited to continue our popular Forest Farming Office Hours in 2025 , where we connect with forest farmers from all over Appalachia and beyond, discuss seasonal forest farming topics and answer questions. All regions and experience levels are welcome! New to Forest Farming? Start Here! 2025 Forest Farming Office Hours Community Forest Farming Calendar The Community Forest Farming Calendar features training, workshops, webinars and regional events with the AFFC and from our partners. Please be sure to follow our Facebook page and online community to learn about online and in-person learning opportunities throughout the year. Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition Events Midwest Forest Farming Coalition Events Forest Farming Footnotes Seasons greetings from the Appalachian Forest Farming Coalition! Click on the buttons below to view the latest Forest Farming Footnotes Newsletter. This edition features several updates and announcements, 2025 Forest Farming Office Hours, Catalyzing Agroforestry website information, new videos and more. After all that 2024 has brought us, we are most grateful for this wonderful group, and the work being done in this and other regions. We send our best wishes to everyone for wellness, warmth, and a wholehearted Holiday Season. Sincerely, The AFFC Team Read the December Footnotes Subscribe to the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition email list below for future newsletters, updates, announcements and more.

Join us for Forest Farming Office Hours, where we meets by zoom to discuss forest farming topics and updates. AFFC's Forest Farming Office Hours 2025 Join the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition and NC State University Extension for Q & A, resources, and conversation about forest farming. All regions and experience levels are welcome. All Forest Farming Office Hours take place on ZOOM on designated Fridays from 12 noon to 1:30 pm EST. We realize that some may not be able to attend a lunch session so we invite you to look through our meeting notes, links and resources, as well as bring your questions to our Forest Farming group on FB . These zoom sessions are not recorded. Forest Farming Office Hours Email List This is email list sends FFOH announcements, registration links, and reminders, and is separate from the AFFC general mailing list. Forest Farming Office Hours Spring 2025 Friday, May 9th, 2025 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Summer 2025 Friday, June 27, 2025 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Friday, August 8, 2025 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Friday, September 19 , 2025 12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Meeting Agenda 1. Welcome 2. Short Introductions (Name, region, topic) 3. Seasonal Forest Farming Discussion 4. Q&A 5. Resources & Events 6. End at 1:30pm Past Office Hours (2022 - 2024)

The aim of the Appalachian Forest Farmers Coalition is to connect the various agencies, groups, people and resources with an interest in our forests. What better way to do that than creating an inclusive Forest Farming community, as diverse as our forests themselves? Comprised of forest far Forest Farming Community The aim of the Appalachian Forest Farmers Coalition is to connect the various forest farmers, partners and groups, community projects, organizations and universities that are taking part in growing the future of forest farming and agroforestry in Appalachia and beyond. There are plenty of ways to participate in the forest farming community person and virtually: Regional Partner Organizations host regular in-person and online events. Use the map below to explore or find links to our partners below. AFFC's Forest Farming Office Hours is a monthly discussion about forest farming topics, Q&As, and to hear about what other farmers are doing in their neck of the woods. Follow our page or join our group on facebook to stay up to date about opportunities, events, ask questions to the group, and more. AFFC's email list shares all of this and more through occasional email announcements, news and updates, as well as virtual and hands on learning opportunities across the Appalachian region. The Forest Farming Video Library on YouTube is home to 200+ on demand videos and webinars about non timber forest products, forest botanicals, value added products and more. Click to open and explore AFFC Partners in Google Maps Partners Partner Universities Supporting Organizations AFFC Partners AFFC Partner Universities AFFC Supporting Organizations Funding for the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition has been sponsored by The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

Please leave feedback so that we can make the AFFC website better! ABFFC Feedback Page Appalachianforestfarmers.org aims to be a perennial resource f or forest farmers of all experience levels. We value and welcome your feedback to help us improve this website and its resources. Website Feedback First Name Last Name Email Phone Message Submit

The suite of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is quite vast but is contingent upon regional climate and forest type. These videos are meant to provide detailed information on a variety of NTFPs, including their natural ecosystem, methods of propagation, and harvest times. Forest Farming Non-Timber Forest Products The suite of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is quite vast but is contingent upon regional climate and forest type. These videos are meant to provide detailed information on a variety of NTFPs, including their natural ecosystem, methods of propagation, and harvest times. Intro Edibles Medicinals Syrups Craft & Decorations Seeds & Plant Stock Other NTFPs We have over 150 forest farming videos! Be sure to check out & subscribe to our YouTube channel. intro What are NTFPs? Simply put, NTFPs are non-timber forest products . NTFPs are a growing category of products that are grown and harvested from the forest. Though forest farming practices sometimes require canopy control through thinning or selective cutting for health and light, in general, NTFPs are non timber species and products that grow under the trees. NTFPs can be sustainably harvested species like ramps (Allium tricoccum ), or even stages of certain species like American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius ) leaf, root, or seeds. The specialized species, products and harvests are as unique as each forest and farmer. No two are exactly the same. Many of these species can then be processed for wholesale or become value added products , which increases the price point and reaches different markets. A key tenant of forest farming is to identify, cultivate, steward and harvest these NTFPS under the forest canopy. Many NTFP species might be naturally occuring, and others might need to be introduced, and many of these crops can take many years to establish and reach harvestable size/age. However, forest farming relies on forest's unique ecology to provide the ideal habitat for many forest species that can't be grown in other ways, and can eventually become a valuable and sustainable resource for personal use and side income for the long term. There are a few general categories of NTFPs: edible and medicinal plants, edible and medicinal mushrooms, non-timber tree crops like nuts, fruits and tree saps and syrups, traditional crafts and decorations, seed nursery and planting stock, and others. Explore the page below to learn more about NTFP species and how they are the backbone of forest farming. Please be sure to explore our youtube channel , and if you have forest farming questions, you can ask them in our FB page or group , or attend an event for networking and hands-on learning. Edibles Forest Farming Edibles Medicinals Forest Farming Medicinals Syrups Forest Farming Syrups Nursery Forest Farming Seeds & Plant Stock Othe NTFPs Other Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Crafts Forest Farming Crafts & Decor

Forest farming is an agroforestry practice which cultivates medicinal, edible, decorative, and handicraft crops under a forest canopy that is managed to provide shade levels and habitat which favor growth and enhance production. An Introduction to Forest Farming Page under construction - check back soon. 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. 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. Forest farming also provides several opportunities for land owners, families and communities to benefit while managing, protecting and conserving the forests for the future. 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. Key Forest Farming Terms and Concepts 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. 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. 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. Site Assessment is the process of evaluating a forest site for future forest farming purposes. Site Preparation is how forest farmers prepare forest areas for new plantings using seeds or planting stock. 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. What is Forest Farming? FAQ Who Are Forest Farmers? First, it is very important to acknowledge, honor and respect the indigenous peoples and their practice of stewardship and land management. The first nations have been stewards, foragers, and farmers since time immemorial, and continue these practices to this day. Individuals and families: Forestland owners are incredibly interested in forest farming. Opportunities abound to bring supplemental income, partially relieve tax burdens and invest in the future of families and forests. However, unlike traditionally agriculture with clear seasons, harvests and yields, forest farming is generally a longer term investment, but one with potentially higher values. Forest farming can also be a legacy endeavor of conserving forests, and a family's land well into the future. Communities An ever-growing group of communities now sees the need for community supported agriculture (CSAs), and forest farming is yet another opportunity for folks to come together to make plans, build visions and create these local, resilient and economically viable projects using forest farming and other agroforestry practices. Technical Services Though always high on the list of interests, non-timber forest products and forest farming assistance are generally limited and associated forest resource inventory and habitat management planning services scarce. However, markets for forest farmed products are evolving quickly and forest farming education and networking has increased in the past several years. Improving management services, education and outreach has never been more important. What do forest farmers need? To develop the operational capacity needed to capitalize on emerging markets, forest farmers need technical, administrative, market sales, and state regulatory training and support related to production using forest grown verification, organic production, and best handling and processing practices. They also need access to extension and state agency personnel that are prepared to assist them with forest resource assessments and medicinal plant habitat management.

2023 Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference Join us for Everything Forest Farming: From Site Selection to Post Harvest Handling Practices The 2023 Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference will provide participants with opportunities to learn about multiple forest farming topics and strategies including site selection, plant propagation, grafting, elderberry production, harvesting, post-harvest handling, processing, and business planning, as well as medicinal plant walks. The conference has a line-up of highly experienced instructors that will enable participants to gain a broad understanding of the many aspects and opportunities of forest farming. All levels of experience welcome! 2023 SOFFC Registration open July 10th! 2023 Southern Ohio Forest Farming Conference - Registration 2023 SOFFC Schedule 2023 SOFFC Speaker Bios

These resources and online publications are dedicated to providing forest farming and educational materials to the public. Forest Farming Publications Page under construction - check back soon for more information. These resources and online publications are dedicated to providing forest farming and educational materials to the public. Plant profiles are published by eXtension and detailed explanations of habitat, growing and processing according to Good Harvest Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices, which are industry standard. eXtension Publications RootReport Newsletter Archive Forest Farming Books Forest Farming Footnotes ~ABFFC Newsletter Page~ eXtension eXtension Forest Farming This website contains a wealth of information about forest farming on a national level. UpS DOWNLOAD PAPERBACK @ AMAZON Publicatons Publications Want to learn more about Bloodroot? Bloodroot Want to learn more about Black Cohosh? Black Cohosh Pests Affecting Shiitake Mushrooms Shiitake Steps Involved in Farming Specialty Mushrooms Mushrooms Want to learn more about Goldenseal? Goldenseal Want to learn more about False Unicorn? False Unicorn Harvesting Pine Straw from a Forest Pine Straw Forest Farming and Non-Timber Forest Products Forest Farming Root Report RootReport at Virginia Tech People have harvested roots, barks, foliage, fruits and mushrooms from forests for generations. Today these are meaningful traditions and sources of income for families and communities across the country. There is growing interest in cultivating NTFPs and managing forests to produce them, but there is a lack of reliable information about their markets. Our goal is to measure the scope and distribution of NTFP production and its economic impact, and make that research available to people who work with and care about these important species. For more information, visit our website .

September 17 - 18th, 2021 Join ABFFC and our partners Appalachian Sustainable Development in Duffield, Virginia to learn about forest farming - from propagation to processing. Forest Farming Intensive Propagation to Processing ~Event Resources~ Thank you for attending our Forest Farming Intensive! We hope you enjoyed the sessions and this corner of Virginia. Below you can find links to the video of Katherine Crane's talk and some Appalachian Harvest handouts. If you would like more information about Appalachian Sustainable Development you can find them online HERE . If you would like to receive emails about ABFFC workshops in 2022, please sign up here ! Keynote Video: Katheryn Crane of Mountain Rose Herbs Appalachian Harvest and ASD handouts: ASD Case Studies: Forest Farmers & Medicinal Herb Farmers AH Herb Hub Overview & Flyer AH Herb Hub Price Lists Katheryn Crane Keynote Speaker: Katheryn Crane of Mountain Rose Herbs Case Studies ASD Case Studies: Forest Farmers & Medicinal Herb Farmers Herb Hub AH Herb Hub Overview & Flyer Price Lists AH Herb Hub Price Lists

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