Project Overview
FNE99-288
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 1999: $1,945.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/1999
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $1,950.00
Region: Northeast
State: New York
Project Leader:
Dave Gell
Black Locust Initiative, Inc
Commodities
- Fruits: grapes
- Additional Plants: trees, ornamentals
Practices
- Crop Production: agroforestry
- Education and Training: demonstration, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research
- Natural Resources/Environment: afforestation, habitat enhancement
- Sustainable Communities: public participation, sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Black Locust is the most decay resistant tree indigenous to the Northeast and it clearly the best alternative to toxic pressure-treated wood. Utilizing agroforestry practices, small farm operations of all types can yield a supply of quality locust lumber in perpetuity. Finger lake grape growers, long known for the quality of their products and demands for organic practices are an excellent local resource for quality monitoring of our initial stands of black locust trees. As agroforestry techniques are documented and perfected the effective utilization of black locust will spread quickly throughout the Northeast.
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.