Project Overview
FNE99-286
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 1999: $7,995.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2000
Region: Northeast
State: West Virginia
Project Leader:
Commodities
- Additional Plants: herbs, native plants, trees
- Miscellaneous: mushrooms
Practices
- Crop Production: agroforestry, multiple cropping, organic fertilizers
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, networking, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, technical assistance
- Farm Business Management: new enterprise development, feasibility study
- Natural Resources/Environment: afforestation, biodiversity, habitat enhancement, soil stabilization
- Production Systems: holistic management
- Soil Management: organic matter
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, social capital, sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
This project will demonstrate how companion planting of diverse crops can be successful on small plots of wooded land and hillside terrain, typical of the Appalachian region. It will also demonstrate methods to increase the value/profitability of forested farmland and increase awareness of the value of underutilized land. It will reduce the abuse of forested land for immediate timbering profit by demonstrating sustainable practices and the diversity of forest products. The project will provide knowledge of alternative to traditional farming, will demonstrate methods to improve the aesthetic disseminated to benefit farmers throughout West Virginia and the Northeast region.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.