Cultivating resilience in Midwestern agriculture...
Hoch Orchard Agroforestry Farm in Minnesota
Savanna Institute started in central Illinois in 2013 when a group of volunteers launched a bulk plant program to assist farmers purchasing tree stock from select nurseries. From that modest beginning, the organization has grown to provide a wide range of services including many educational and research programs as well as demonstration farms. Savanna Institute has collaborated in our local area with non-profits such as Land Conservancy of McHenry County and Small Waters Education in Harvard. With headquarters in Spring Green, Wisconsin and Champaign, Illinois, Savanna Institute serves farmers throughout the Midwest region who have adopted, or are considering adopting, the practice of Agroforestry, a type of sustainable agriculture. Demonstration farms give prospective farmers the chance to see Agroforestry techniques in action.
“Inspired by the oak savannas native to the region, the Savanna Institute conducts research, education, and outreach to support the growth of diverse, perennial agro-ecosystems in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi watersheds… We envision a multifunctional agriculture in the Midwestern US based on agroforestry systems of integrated trees, crops, and livestock that fosters ecological resilience, climate stability, economic prosperity, and vibrant communities.”
“Agroforestry describes regenerative farming practices that integrate trees and other perennials with livestock in agricultural systems. There are many ways to include trees into farm systems. Five agroforestry practices that might be an option for your land include: windbreaks, riparian buffers, alley cropping, silvopasture, and forest farming.”
What are the benefits of Agroforestry?
- Enhanced food security
- Sustainable communities
- Cleaner air
- Wildlife Habitat
- Diversified farm income
- Restores Biodiversity
- Improve Livestock comfort
- Regenerates soil
- Purifies water
- Sequesters carbon
- Captures fertilizers and pesticides
Check out this video about how Savanna Institute helped transform a family farm in Oregon, Illinois, incorporating various agroforestry techniques.
To learn more about the Savanna Institute and its many programs and resources, visit: savannainstitute.org