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ABFFC Membership Through your participation and support, the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition can provide free access to many resources for forest farming and agroforestry, and an ever growing network of support though partners , communities , technical assistance and essential training to forest farmers like you. We promise to protect your information, and privacy. Please read through our privacy policy for more information about how we use your survey answers for demographic purposes only, and to better connect to our members through events, regional conferences and hands on training. Member Become a Member (it's free!) Help us improve and expand the coalition by filling out our short membership survey! We promise to protect your information and privacy . Membership Sign-up Membership Benefits Hands-on Training & Support Hands-on workshops on all aspects of operations: choosing and preparing a site, management planning, organic production and certification, forest grown verification, best handling and processing practices, value added production techniques, forest farming business planning and record keeping. Unique opportunities to see value-added facilities and productive forest farms. Forest Farming Resources This coalition clearinghouse website houses a wide array of online and video resources for forest farmers on diverse topics from industry basics to cultivation to value added production and beyond. The coalition will also help link members to free and reduced rate seed distribution programs and house an equipment share forum to assist growers in accessing tools for harvest and processing. Bi-annual Appalachian Forest Farmer Chronicle. Connecting and Networking Growers Forest farmer and industry stakeholder meetings will offer opportunities for growers to connect with buyers, organic certifiers, representatives from verification and other labeling programs. Growing communities full of folks interested in all aspects of forest farming and every skill level. Regional Technical Assistance Network Forest farmer to forest farmer mentorship program. Access to university extension and other agency personnel for FAQs and assistance with site and habitat management planning. Forest Farming Community Newsletter Join our email list to be one of the first to receive our seasonal Forest Farming Footnotes newsletter, which brings together the best of our regional partners, trainings, events, forest farming classifieds, and regional happenings! Other ways to support the Coalition! J oin our email list Share the word about ABFFC Ask about forest farming Learn more about forest farming in our video library Participate in our forest farming community on Facebook Check out our Forest Farming Footnotes newsletter and archive Attend online or in person events and trainings Fill out a survey , which helps inform our resources, and future projects Follow ABFFC on Facebook and Instagram Read and share our newsletter

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

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

Forest Farming: In Focus A Deeper Dive 2022 Winter Webinar Series Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2022 winter webinar series! While this webinar series might be over, the ABFFC and our partners are working on the next series! Please become a member, join our FB group or reach out to tell us what you think, and what kinds of forest farming topics you would like to see next! Scroll down this page to find all webinar resources for this series! -Pre webinar resource pdfs (101 level & basics) -Webinar recordings -Presentation slides Click here to view all recorded webinars (on YouTube)! About our 2022 Winter Webinar Series "Forest Farming In Focus" is a series of 5 winter webinars that are designed to be a deeper dive into forest farming species, topics and practices. ABFFC and our partners have joined forces to create this special webinar series for experienced forest farmers* who want to dive deeper into common non-timber forest products and expand their understanding of forest farming species and practices. Each webinar in this series will bring together experts in the field, experienced forest farmers, and learning resources for our topic. Together we will explore forest farming species and practices, as well as engage in discussions with experienced forest farmers with years of expertise. *While these webinars are more in-depth than most of our beginner level website resources, we invite beginner forest farmers, and those who are less familiar with these species to review our pre webinar resources to learn about the basics prior to each event. Saps & Syrups "Tree Saps & Syrups 201: A Deeper Tap into Species, Processes, and Products" Kate Fotos of Future Generations University Britney Hervey Farris of Family Roots Farm Rachel Taylor of Frostmore Farm Missy Moyers-Jarrells of Laurel Fork Sapsuckers Webinar Presentation Slides (pdf) Syrups - Pre Webinar Resource (pdf) Ramps "Digging Deeper into Ramp Forest Farming" Eric Burkhart of Penn State University Steve Schwartz of Delaware Valley Ramps Ramps - Pre Webinar Resource (pdf) Ramps- Presentation Slides Goods from the Woods - Delaware Valley Ramps Fungi Beyond the Basics: Forest Farming Fungi Hannah Hemmelgarn of University of Missouri Tradd Cotter of Mushroom Mountain Rick Felumlee of Mayapple Farms Fungi - Pre Webinar Resource (pdf) Ginseng "Digging deeper into ginseng forest farming" Eric Burkhart of Penn State University Ed & Carole Daniels, Shady Grove Botanicals Anna Plattner & Justin Wexler, Wild Hudson Valley Ginseng - Pre Webinar Resource (pdf) Ginseng Webinar Slides (pdf) Goldenseal "How to make money growing Goldenseal and other NTFPs" Jeanine Davis and Margaret Bloomquist of North Carolina State University Joe from "up the creek" in the High Country of Western North Carolina Goldenseal - Pre Webinar Resource (pdf) Presented by:

Forest Farming Digital Tools and Resources Page under construction - check back soon. In addition to field based Forest Farming Site Assessments , there are several freely available resources that range from essential documentation to complementary resources and information for forest farmers. Collecting information from these sources can provide a digital x-ray, more or less, of a forest site and sometimes, even its history as well. Highly recommended basic documentation for Forest Farmers/landowners Not only are the following documents invaluable for site assessments and planning, but they also provide important documentation for record keeping, business planning and legal purposes, if needed. 1. Basic property maps These can come from many sources. It is recommended to keep at least one original copy, but duplicates can be with labeled with helpful information like: adjoining property owners, roads, structures, trails, forest farming areas or future areas of interest, etc. If available, zoomed maps of specific areas can be helpful for mapping current and future forest farming plans. and/or 2. Geographical Information System (GIS) imagery/maps All US counties have access to geographic information systems. The disclaimer is that GIS information and mapping is not, nor should be considered a professional survey in any way. Finding some time to explore the online GIS is very much worth it. In addition to several basemaps (road, satellite and historical), there are also measurement tools, and many other useful layers including named roads, terrain contours, creeks, waterways and more. Through not 100% accurate, this free online tool is invaluable for forest farmers that want to familiarize themselves with their parcel, make plans and print detailed maps. How to find a property on GIS? Computer (not mobile) search for "county, state + GIS". Click to enter the site, go to the map section and search by address or owner name. Resources that are complementary to field-based assessments: (from the Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition Site Assessment Worksheet ) PlantShoe This is a site assessment tool developed by Virginia Tech that will produce a property report based on spatial datasets resulting from broad environmental analysis efforts conducted by organizations like USGS. It is important to recognize that the information produced in these reports can be useful but is limited to the accuracy and availability of underlying data. Therefore, this tool should only be used to compliment field-based observations. NRCS Web Soil Survey This website can be used to collect baseline soil information regarding the different soil classifications on your site. You will be able to draw a polygon around your area of interest and find out valuable information about the underlying soils of that area. Google Earth Google Earth is a free and user-friendly way to acquire basic topographical information about your site. This is useful when working to narrow down potential forest farming sites within a large area. For example, if you have 50 acres of land and want to find the single best acre to forest farm, you could use Google Earth to identify the ideally sloped areas (5-20% slope) that are facing either north or east on your property. This will narrow down your options so you can more accurately and efficiently target your in-field assessments. Here is a short video showing how to make an elevation profile of a path in Google Earth, which will tell you the % slope of an area: Google Earth Elevation Path Demo Here is a video showing how to find the aspect of a slope as well as how to see how much sunshine different parts of a landscape receive throughout the day: Google Earth Aspect and Sunlight Demo Aerial photos Most states in the Northeast have programs that have been taking landscape level aerial photographs since at least the mid-1900s. This can be useful in seeing if the areas you are interested in forest farming have had large-scale disturbances like logging or major windstorms in the past. This can help you better understand if the present-day conditions you are seeing on the ground arose from underlying site conditions (like geology) or land use history (like forest management). Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition Site Assessment Worksheet

Post-Disaster Resources November 2024: Forest Farming in the Southeast after Tropical Storm Helene On September 27th, 2024 Tropical Storm Helene reached the southernmost portions of the Appalachian Mountains, and left a path of destruction through the heavily forested regions of Western North Carolina, Upper South Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia. These rich and highly diverse forests are home to many forest farmers, and the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition stands in solidarity with all those affected. The region is beginning the recovery phase post-disaster, while some counties remain in active relief mode. There are short term and long term needs to support Southern Appalachian forest farmers and all those affected by the historic, geologic event. Agroforestry practices are an important part of the future. Below are a few ways to participate in the recovery and begin to help build a more resilient post-disaster response infrastructure in the future. Post Helene Forest Farm Damage Assessment Post-Helene Seeds and Trees Donation Form Post Helene Agroforestry Recovery Work Exchange Post Helene Forest Farm Damage Assessment We are collecting voluntary and anonymous information about damage from Helene to forest farms in Southern and Central Appalachia, as well as farmer needs. Our intent is to compile information about Helene's impact on your forest farm and generate regional estimates to assist recovery efforts. While voluntary, we encourage participation in this ten question survey if you experienced any forest farm damage to ensure estimates reflect the scale and scope of loss due to the storm. Other Agroforestry practices that experienced damage are also noted within the survey. Post Helene Agroforestry Planting Stock Donations The storm damage was widespread as well as localized in parts of TN, VA, SC and NC. Hundreds of thousands of acres of forest were damaged in North Carolina alone. There is a need for planting seeds and planting stock in the agroforestry community to assist in disaster recovery in the short and long term. Please fill out the google form if you would like to share plant material with our forest farmers of Helene affected areas Post Helene Farm and Agroforestry Recovery Volunteer Opportunities A number of organizations are organizing volunteer and farmer to farmer labor groups to assist in short and long term recovery. If you would like to participate with on the ground recovery and planting efforts, please fill out this volunteer form with our partners at Organic Growers School at this link . Please contact margaret_bloomquist@ncsu.edu with any questions. More ways to help the region in recovery: https://www.organicgrowersschool.org/helene-recovery/ways-to-support

Forest Farming Footnotes AFFC's Forest Farming Footnotes Newsletter features partners, people, forest farming stories and events related to forest farming throughout Appalachia and beyond. Have a great story, event or forest farming feature? Let us know by sending us an email ! Current Newsletter Newsletter Archive Forest Farming Footnotes Newsletter Read, print, download or share our most recent newsletter. Current Forest Farming Footnotes Archive archive Issue 1, Winter 2012 Issue 2, Spring 2013 Issue 3, Fall 2013 Issue 4, Winter 2013 Issue 5, Spring 2014 Issue 6, Fall 2014 Issue 7, Spring 2016 Issue 8, Fall 2016 Issue 9, Spring 2017 Issue 10, Fall 2017 Issue 11, Summer 2018 Issue 12, Spring 2019 Issue 13, Spring 2020 Issue 14, Fall 2020 Issue 15, Summer 2021 Issue 16, Fall 2021 Issue 17, Spring 2022 Issue 18, Spring 2023 Issue 19, Autumn 2023 Issue 20, Winter 2024

Forest Farming Site Assessment Page under construction - check back soon. What is a site assessment? A site assessment is a guided walkthrough of many aspects of a potential forest farming site, from general, fixed elements (like exposure and slope) to existing tree and plant species and other details. Site assessments are an important tool as they help identify overall health, assets and advantages as well as challenges and limitations. All of these factors put together help to paint a picture of available options, practices, compatible species and long term objectives, and can be invaluable to forest farmers. Why assess a forest site? Site assessment can help forest farmers explore several factors regarding a specific site, as well as potential suitability for growing certain forest botanicals. While there are helpful online assessment tools, they are mapping and data based and therefore no substitute for quality field based site assessments. In order to be most effective, basic documentation like property maps are needed, as well as being at the site during the growing season (mid spring through mid autumn) and taking a hard copy of the assessment to fill out. This improves the chances of accurate observations of forest health, current conditions and species during the growing season. In addition to having fixed aspects like site type, direction, exposure and slope, every forest is also an ever changing mosaic of tree and species succession, wildlife, understory changes and varying plant composition and competition. For the most part, healthy forests naturally support plenty of biodiversity which is generally favorable to forest farming, but the challenge most often faced by potential and new forest farmers is not the habitat itself, but: a) learning to work with the forest, because every place is different, b) selecting ideal species for their habitat c) finding the right balance of existing conditions and practices for success d) long term planning of goals and objectives What is a site assessment? Click the button below to read, download or print the Northeast Forest Farming Coalition Site Assessment Tool. The video below is an Introduction for Site Assessment Evaluation. Topography Hydrology Vegetative Composition -Woody indicator species -Dominant tree species -Herbaceous indicator species -Dominant Understory Plants Shade Level Estimates Soil and Site Surface Site Accessibility vs. Security Northeast Forest Farming Coalition Site Assesment

Proposed Work Long Term Goals Regional Toolkit Project Design ARC Alignment Project Activity Regional Activities Technical Initiatives Accelerating Forest Farming in Central Appalachia: Strengthening Market Connections and Collaboration for Long-Term Sector Impact and Sustainability Accelerating Forest Farming in Central Appalachia: Strengthening Market Connections and Collaboration for Long-Term Sector Impact and Sustainability” is a regional and multistate project designed to support continued expansion of the ABFFC work and prepare for ARISE implementation funding. The work will result in long-term transformational goals all critical to establishment of the Appalachian forest farmers as leaders in this global market. Proposed Work Long Term Goals Proposed Work – Planning into Implementation The ARISE Project uses a multifaceted strategy to support Appalachian forest farmers, traditional wild harvesters who implement sustainable forest farming methods, and associated regional stakeholders. The planning work prepares for a five-year project to accelerate technical assistance, value-added market and technology development, sector capacity and efficiency initiatives, as well as efforts to raise industry investments and consumer awareness all of which underpin the economic viability of individual and collective business ventures across Central Appalachia and increase the long-term sustainability of a value-added NTFP supply chain. The project strengthens existing partnerships and programs in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Proposed programs and services will deliver a broad spectrum of market-centered opportunities for Appalachian residents and localities to transform a deeply rooted, traditional economic sector and create a sustainable platform for continued growth as the marketplace evolves. Planning will allow for an intensive focus on some of Appalachia’s most distressed communities, places where many individuals have knowledge of and experience with NTFPs but have long been poorly compensated for their efforts. Further, access to individuals in these communities can be challenging for a variety of reasons (lack of broadband, limits to enterprise development due to income challenges, despair factors linked to persistent poverty). The planning project will establish implementation methods and pathways to expand outreach, increase value-added trade, and encourage participation in a rising trend: just compensation and increased economic benefits for the citizens and communities where these natural resources thrive. This multistate project will touch 133 counties across Central Appalachia in seven states. Long Term Implementation Goals The work will result in long-term transformational goals all critical to establishment of the Appalachian forest farmers as leaders in this global market. Long-term transformational goals include: Position Central Appalachia’s forest farming sector at the forefront of the region’s future bio-economy; Become the global marketing, processing, aggregation, and distribution model for sustainable forest farmed products; Capture an unprecedented share of local, regional, national, and international value-added forest farming markets; Develop an Appalachian forest farming brand recognized the world over; Ramp and revolutionize forest farming planting stock, seed sales, mycelium and spore production, and tree-tapping equipment enterprises; Elevate, coordinate, and connect forest farming tourism, cultural identity, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives; Grow the number of financially sound forest farming businesses predicated on sustainable whole-forest management; Leverage and sustain highly successful ongoing technical training and assistance for forest farmers and technical service provider consultants; Increase the reach and impact of current forest farming business recruitment, public awareness, and workforce development programs through product placement, experiential and technical education, and community engagement and tourism initiatives; Expand market activity and the physical presence of medium- and large-scale forest farming dependent industries in Appalachia; Celebrate Appalachian forest farmers as ecosystem services stewards who protect land, water and air quality, climate,biodiversity, and other natural resources; and Spur the next phase of Appalachian forest farming in meaningful, impactful, and sustainable bioeconomic regional development. Regional Toolkit Intersecting the ARISE Regional Multistate Collaboration Toolkit Insights and Strategies Project Design Project Design Process and Figures Section ARC Alignment Project Activity Alignment with ARC Strategic Investment Goals and Objectives Primary ARC Goal: Building Appalachian Businesses - Individual producers become small- and medium-sized business owners through technical assistance and participation in regional activities. Existing businesses (forest farming operations, primary buyers, nurseries, cottage businesses, tourism enterprise) expand revenue as supply chains grow and national and international investments increases. Secondary ARC Goals: Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem - By building and strengthening relationships, and coordinating and facilitating trainings, we will create an enabling environment for agroforestry to be a viable industry cluster for Central Appalachia. Building Regional Culture and Tourism - Appalachia has a rich history of forested homesteading combined with use and celebration of our resilient and fecund forest commons. Build producer networks, NTFP markets, and connecting these with the broader tourism economy allows this rich history to take center stage in narratives about Appalachia, and in tourist experiences of Appalachia. Project Activity Rationale, Framing, and Coordination The following summary identifies key focus areas, informed by previous and ongoing work, specifically designed to address the need for additional resources and expansion of the ABFFC footprint for transformational sector growth. The impact of ABFFC initiatives to date is clear. Training and recruitment events are sold out, the number and scale of forest farms is growing, forest farming is increasingly celebrated in regional, national, and international media, communities in the region increasingly extol forest farming, and sector challenges and opportunities have led to on-the-ground solutions. Building on the coalition’s success requires additional investments to expand sector growth and sustainability. The number of potential forest farmers who seek assistance is on the rise in terms of enterprise development (such as start-up support and training) with potential to maximize returns on investments. They seek business diversification by incorporating NTFPs into their production systems and/or by participating in substantial public and private investments in climate-smart commodities as well as carbon sequestration and water quality trading income streams. The project is designed to maximize impact using known strengths of ABFFC partners to support specialized technical activities combined with partner organizations who bring standing networks and relationships along with deep knowledge of their respective landscapes and goals. Knowledge and skills are shared across the seven-state region with a neutral facilitator assisting in the equitable distribution of financial resources, project administration, and scheduling support. The framework for managing a balanced and broadly impactful project occurs across two simultaneous tracks: 1) sub-region baseline activities that continue producer recruitment and support, market connections and promotion, and sector sustainability; and, 2) region-wide technical initiatives that address existing bottlenecks identified over the course of the Coalition’s growth. Regional Activities Sub-region Baseline Activities Local partner organizations oversee direct engagement and support in their particular areas of responsibility, known in this project as a sub-region (state, collection of counties). Baseline activities include providing technical assistance and training along with producer and entrepreneurial recruitment and outreach. Outreach and support activities also engage existing technical service providers to integrate agroforestry support services into existing land-use programs. As needed, the VT/ABFFC facilitator coordinates support by local or regional partners. Newer and longstanding partners are positioned to expand the ABFFC footprint and its role in continuing regional growth. This allows for provision of coalition-forged practices to a broad region. Further, because local partners best understand their networks and localities, community engagement and public awareness/education are delivered through them to realize proximal impacts supporting coherent multi-state goals and objectives. Local community engagement activities receive support through the neutral facilitator/lead applicant by connecting with communications and outreach professionals engaged in the project. These measures include an intentional focus on traditionally underserved communities (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, socially disadvantaged) based upon an ongoing financial producer support program funded by a private family foundation. To summarize, sub-region baseline activities include: Continuation of technical assistance and training, as well as ongoing market development Producer/business recruitment and outreach Community engagement and public awareness/education including direct engagement with local development district and locality leadership Region-wide Technical Initiatives Select partner organizations address specific challenges identified through ongoing work and prepare the cluster to accelerate regional and direct producer impact. Leadership assignments are based on specialized expertise and experience that chosen partner organizations possess and are informed by input from all partner organizations via technical topic committees. Initiative leaders are also responsible for advancing the state of knowledge in their respective technical specialties and distributing information along with documenting findings for distribution to all participants across the region. It is important to note that all technical leaders receive a high level of support from other organizations. Cooperative relationships exist through past and ongoing ABFFC efforts, allowing for efficient and effective launching of proposed work by virtue of ARISE investments. Technical activities have been identified as critical needs in order to advance the Appalachian agroforestry economic cluster toward a broadly coordinated and efficient regional NTFP sector: Technical Initiatives

Forest Farming Publications 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 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 .

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