September Agroforestry Extension Events

The British Columbia Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AIDI) is pleased to provide support for a big line-up of education and outreach events in September.  All events are free to attend, but please contact the respective event organizers to indicate your attendance.

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Silver Hills Biodiversity Tour (AGF1304)
Friday, 6 September 2013, 10:00 - whenever
Silver Hills Ranch, Lumby

More information:  http://www.agroforestry.info/2013/07/6th-annual-silver-hills-ranch.html

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Streamside Honeybees Agroforestry Tour (AGF1205)
Saturday, 7 September 2013, 13:00 - 14:00
Murray Family Woodlot, near Slocan City

More information: http://www.agroforestry.info/2013/08/streamside-honeybees-agroforestry-tour.html

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Kootenay Silvopasture Tour (AGF1207)
Thursday, 19 September 2013, 08:00 – 12:00
Start from junction of Pritchard Road and Hwy 3/93, Cranbrook

More information: http://www.agroforestry.info/2013/08/2013-kootenay-silvopasture-tour-sept-19.html

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Agroforestry Open House (AGF1103)
Monday, 23 September 2013, 16:00 - 20:00
Resources North Boardroom
2666 Queensway Street, Prince George

More information: http://www.agroforestry.info/2013/08/agroforestry-open-house-prince-george.html

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Cariboo Silvopasture Workshop & Tour (AGF1209)
Friday, 27 September 2013, 10:00 – 16:00
At the Zirnhelt Ranch, 5455 Jacobson Rd (near Big Lake Ranch, BC, east of Williams Lake)

More information:http://www.agroforestry.info/2013/08/cariboo-silvopasture-workshop-tour.html

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A full listing of AIDI extension events is available at:  http://www.agroforestry.info/p/events.html

Agroforestry Open House, Prince George

Resources North Association, with funding support from the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative, invites all interested in farming or learning more about agroforestry to attend their Agroforestry Open House.

Where? 
Resources North Boardroom
2666 Queensway Street
Prince George, BC

When?
Monday, September 23, 2013
16:00 - 20:00 (4 to 8 pm)

Complimentary snacks and beverages will be available.

Come and learn how agroforestry can help land owners diversify products, markets and farm income; improve soil and water quality; reduce erosion; and, enhance biodiversity while sustaining land resources for generations to come.

2013 Horticulture Growers Short Course Proceedings Available

The proceedings from the 2013 Growers Short Course held in January 2013 at Tradex, Abbotsford is ready for download. 
Included are the full presentations and supplementary information from Alternate Crops / Agroforestry Session held on January 24.

The proceedings are a free download for those that attended the Short Course; registered participants will be emailed a link and download password.

Others interested in the proceedings can purchase a copy (and copies of past proceedings) from the Lower Mainland Hort Improvement Association: www.agricultureshow.net/horticulture-growers-short-course

Extension Series: Riparian Stewardship Through Agroforestry

Photo courtesy of D. Trotter, BC Ministry of Agriculture

The Farm Riparian Interface Stewardship Program (FRISP), with funding from the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AIDI), will be delivering a series of agroforestry education and outreach sessions in British Columbia throughout 2013.  These sessions will provide information and build awareness about agroforestry beneficial management practices (BMPs) within the agricultural community, and will deliver details on how agroforestry practices can contribute to responsible riparian stewardship.

FRISP, a partnership led by the BC Cattlemen's Association, is designed to help the agricultural sector to protect and enhance water quality, to protect and enhance riparian vegetation, and prevent and mitigate agricultural impacts on streams, rivers and lakes.  This is accomplished by:

• Increasing understanding and cooperation between the provincial and federal agencies responsible for resource management in BC and the agricultural community regarding farmland development and use;
• Promoting the joint planning of habitat restoration and farmland activities between landowners, resource management agencies and community groups;
• Increasing awareness of interactions between land use and habitat values; and,
• Resolving conflicts that may arise between resource agencies and landowners.

Working directly with the landowners to supply technical services or workable advice has enabled FRISP to provide the reasoning behind the regulations, which brings about understanding, cooperation and stewardship through action.

Proper land stewardship requires that landowners understand riparian functions and the negative impact that riparian mis-management can have on agricultural operations, fisheries, and watershed health.  These information sessions will provide attendees with access to agroforestry-related BMP information and resources to understand their full range of management options, and with that information, help plan and implement sustainable agricultural production integrated with riparian stewardship and watershed values.

Details on specific events in this extension series will be announced through the AIDI website (www.agroforestry.info) and social media, and will be included in the Agroforestry BC Event Calendar listings (www.agroforestry.info/p/events.html).

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Funding for this work has been provided through the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AGF1304)

Agroforestry Future Directions Package Released

This report examines the future directions of agroforestry practices in British Columbia and recaps what came out of the Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry workshop held on September 29, 2012, at the University of BC Farm. This workshop brought together people from various backgrounds and areas of interest, to discuss the current state of agroforestry in BC and the opportunities for the continued development of this land management practice.

The collaboration between 75 participants and 9 guest speakers made for a day of dynamic dialogue and new connections within the agroforestry community. Facilitated discussion allowed small groups to consider current challenges, successes and ideas of agroforestry in BC and an on-site agroforestry demonstration tour helped coalesce ideas from the day.

The document outlines the workshop proceedings and offers considerations and recommendations for moving agroforestry in BC forward. This document, and the agroforestry website that hosts it, comprise the Future Directions package.

Visit the Future Directions website, hosted by the UBC Farm : http://agroforestry.ubcfarm.ubc.ca/

Download your free copy of the Future Directions Package
 

Agroforestry Session at the 2013 Hort Growers Short Course

The BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative is pleased to sponsor the Alternate Crops/Agroforestry Session at the 2013 Horticulture Growers' Short Course. 

The 2013 Short Course is being delivered by the Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Association in association with the Pacific Agriculture Show at the Tradex in Abbotsford, BC from January 24 to 26, 2013.

The Alternate Crops/Agroforestry Session will take place on Thursday January 24 from 1 pm to 4:30 pm in the Lobby Room at the Tradex, and will be chaired by Dave Trotter from the BC Ministry of Agriculture.

For more information on the Horticulture Growers's Short Course or to register, please visit: www.agricultureshow.net/horticulture-growers-short-course

Agenda

1:00 - 1:15 
Introduction
Dave Trotter, BC Ministry of Agriculture

1:15 - 1:45 
Agroforestry Initiative - Current Projects and Funding Opportunities.
George Powell, Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative
The Agroforestry Initiative has cost-share funding for projects which benefit industry development including demonstrations, workshops etc; Outlines of current and pending projects will be provided.

1:45 - 2:15 
Mushroom Cultivation within an Agroforestry Framework
Scott Henderson, The Mushroom Man, Vancouver, BC
Scott will provide an overview of the different mushroom species, kits and considerations from his many years of experience and how they may be used within an agroforestry systems approach.

2:15 - 2:30
Scott Henderson will have various mushroom kits and supplies available for viewing.

2:30 - 3:00 
Food Forest Agroforestry Model in Eastern BC
Michelle Heinz, Clear Sky Meditation and Study Foundation, Fort Steele, BC
Learn about an innovative approach to a food forest model that demonstrates agroforestry practices that are ecologically sound as well as productive in South Eastern BC.

15:00 - 15:30 
Current Research on New Hazelnut Varieties
Thom O’Dell and Haley Argen, Nature Tech Nursery Ltd., Langley, BC
Haley and Thom will look at the new disease resistant variety of hazelnut species along with the biological and management considerations needed to develop an agroforestry system approach to hazelnuts.

3:30 - 4:00 
Exploring the Possibilities of Devil’s Club under Forest Farming & Integrated Riparian Agroforestry Management
Fidel Forgarty, Pacific Reishi Ltd, Robert’s Creek, BC
Fidel will discuss the biology, uses and management considerations for the development of an integrated riparian management or forest farming systems approach with Devil’s Club.

4:00 - 4:30 
Alley Cropping of High Valued Hardwoods and Forage - Pilot Initiative for a Production Approach
Lavona Liggins, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Kamloops, BC
Learn about an alley cropping agroforestry systems approach to the co-production of high-valued hardwoods and forage coupled with efficient irrigation management.

Delta Farmers and UBC Farm Cultivating Sustainable Agroforestry

With increased consumer demand for ethically and sustainably sourced products, and new markets with the emergence of carbon offsets, BC’s agricultural sector has an exciting opportunity to contribute to sustainable land use and generate new income streams.  While many agroforestry stakeholders and community members are already practicing sustainability, there are opportunities for new products and services and new financing mechanisms that are not well known in the farming community.  The lack of inter-community and public awareness, market access, communication, and exchange of ideas in this area leaves significant gaps in the overall strength, vitality and innovation of the agroforestry sector.

The Delta Farmers' Institute (DFI) in partnership with the University of British Columbia Farm (UBC Farm), and with funding from the British Columbia Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative, will be hosting a workshop to start to address these gaps.  The workshop will facilitate discussion, networking, hands-on learning, demonstration, and an exchange of ideas across sectors, cultures and generations.  It will bring together a broad cross-section of farmers, land managers, policy makers, small businesses and others in BC’s lower-mainland, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands to help put sustainable agroforestry into practice on their lands.

The workshop, to be hosted at the UBC Farm in Vancouver, will be a forum to discuss small-scale production and marketing of timber and non-timber products and services, riparian and terrestrial buffers, emerging opportunities and technologies, removing barriers to market access, niche marketing strategies, and the role of regulation.  It will also include hands-on demonstration sessions covering forest farming, windbreak/hedgerow establishment, and managing a trial Mediterranean truffière.  Information presented at the workshop will be incorporated into a Future Directions package, a quick-reference guide that summarizes sustainable agroforestry trends, emerging opportunities, practices, marketing considerations, and challenges.

UBC Farm will host an agroforestry workshop

DFI is leading this project due to increasing awareness of, and interest in, the benefits of alternative sustainable opportunities such as agroforestry, among the regional farming community.  Agroforestry requires a long-term vision and commitment and DFI believes that building links between current and future generations of farmers is critical to our futures as successful land stewards.  Partnership with UBC Farm will enhance its organizational capacity, provide a working demonstration site with event hosting services, build on established partnerships with practitioners, researchers and policy-makers, and improve connections with students interested in careers in agroforestry and land stewardship.  The UBC Farm currently offers a wide range of interdisciplinary learning, research and community programs on site, while operating as a working food/fuel/fibre-production farm.

The Delta Farmers’ Institute was established in 1898 and is a non-government and non-profit farm producers’ organization.  DFI’s mandate includes supporting farmers working to increase conservation, greenbelt projects and production of alternative sustainable crops.  Most notably, DFI has been instrumental in supporting Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust’s establishment of roughly 18,000 m² of hedgerows, and riparian and terrestrial buffers throughout Delta.

Building Agroforestry Capacity in Northern BC

Similar to many temperate areas across the globe, a vacuum exists in northern British Columbia with respect to the implementation and evolution of agroforestry as a viable element of integrated resource management. Diverse groups can benefit from agroforestry in this area including small forest and range tenure holders (woodlot licensees, community forests and ranchers) and private land owners (including farmers) as agroforestry provides an opportunity to diversify their business operations. In 2009, Resources North Association (RNA) held and agroforestry workshop which revealed a desire for:

• "Northern” content when learning about agroforestry;
• Maps indicating where certain cultivated plants grow the best;
• More education opportunities;
• Information about regulations regarding land management and processing; and,
• Information about operational feasibility.

Resources North Association (RNA), with funding from the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative, is working to address many of these issues and improve regional agroforestry awareness, education, and networking in northern BC.

Initially this project is focusing on bringing together a small groups of partners to engage in the community of practice and initiate extension, education and networking activities. Their experience and networks will add other key participants in various regions across the north, focusing on the area from Smithers to Valemont and Quesnel to Fort St. John. This core group will develop and deliver the remainder of the networking and education activities across the north. RNA will host 3-5 activities or events focused on improving agroforestry awareness, education and extension, and expanding and strengthening agroforestry partnerships.The project team will develop activities that will strive for the following project objectives:

1. Awareness: Help agricultural and forestry practitioners in northern BC alike to build their awareness about agroforestry, including the science, practice and business opportunities.
2. Regional networking: Identify currently known and previously unknown resources, facilities and practitioners of agroforestry. Develop contact lists and opportunities for networking through education and awareness activities. This might occur across the identified target region or the sub-regions within it.
3. Knowledge and skills development: Hold workshops and field tours that provide current and potential practitioners with the skills and knowledge to implement agroforestry practices.
4. Publications: publish hardcopy and online proceedings and summaries from workshops and networking activities.

RNA was established in 2007 and operates under the partnership of northern BC communities, First Nations, industry, small business, academia, and provincial government. RNA’s mandate is to promote healthy communities, economies and environment by enabling collaborative approaches to developing sustainable resource management solutions. Their project-based work is focused on northern BC and its resource-dependent communities. RNA has a membership of 60 partner organizations. For more information on RNA, please visit their website at www.resourcesnorth.org

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Funding for this work has been provided through the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AGF1103)