Agroforestry introductory seminar

Climate change, soil erosion, drought and increasing loss of biodiversity – there are many reasons to make agriculture more sustainable. Agroforestry is a fascinating way of tackling several problems at once. Trees are combined with arable crops or grassland on the same area of land in such a way that it benefits agriculture, nature and the climate in equal measure. Depending on the needs of the soil, either easy or dynamic agroforestry is used.

This vision is becoming a reality in Sieben Linden: fertile, humus-rich soil, high biomass growth, healthy plants and resilience to climate change (drought, heavy rainfall, extreme temperatures, storms). Over the past five years, four species-rich tree strips have been planted on a 17-hectare certified organic field: native fruit and nut trees (apple, plum, pear, walnut, chestnut) and other woody plants. In addition, two rows of fast-growing woody plants have been planted for biomass production for use as mulch. There is sufficient space between the species-rich woody plant strips for mechanised soil cultivation.

In this weekend seminar, agroforestry expert Noemi Stadler-Kaulich teaches the basics of agroforestry, from easy to dynamic. Small and larger agroforestry areas are visited and analysed. A practical session brings us together and illustrates what we have learned.