Regenerative agroforestry workshop gives farmers more profitable options

HAWI — On Aug. 20-31 Hawaii-based organizations Agroforestry Net and FARM Center will present the Aloha Syntropica-Regenerative Agroforestry Workshop Series in Hawi. The two-part workshop will give farmers, gardeners, ranchers and land managers an immersive experience in planning, planting and managing diverse, rich food forests.

The educational program includes personalized training in both theory and practice, and highlights multiple integrated approaches that make the regeneration of lands for production or conservation feasible both ecologically and economically. The skills and knowledge shared in this program will transform the way participants understand and practice agriculture.

Workshop highlights will include extensive curriculum that can save participants years of self-study and trial and error, practical design techniques that can be applied and techniques in hands-on field exercises.

Rodale Institute’s 2014 report on regenerative organic agriculture and climate change confirms the value of the work. It states, “Changing farming practices to organic, regenerative and agro-ecological systems can improve farm profitability and revitalize traditional farming communities, while ensuring biodiversity and resilience of ecosystem services.”

Agroforestry Net is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to promoting agroforestry, trees and sustainable stewardship of land and water. FARM Center, based in Kapaau, is an educational, research and training center for agroforestry systems appropriate to the bioregion and local economy. Aloha Syntropica is a collaborative project of Agroforestry Net and FARM Center, with partners Hawaii Homegrown Food Network and Agenda Gotsch, which fosters regeneration agroforestry through research, education, demonstration and community engagement.

More information about the workshops and registration costs and other details can be found at alohasyntropica.org.