Forest Farming

Forest farming is the cultivation of high-value crops under the protection of a managed tree canopy. In some parts of the world, this is called multi-story cropping and when used on a small scale in the tropics it is sometimes called home gardening. It is not just recreational harvesting or wild harvesting of native understory woodland plants without management; management is an essential part of forest farming. This approach to crop production intentionally uses both vertical space and the interactions of the plants and microclimate.

Markets for Forest Products

Very little information is available for people who want to sell forest crops and similar products.What you can or can not sell will depend on your ability to connect and introduce your crop to potential buyers.With a few exceptions, forest crop growers report frustration with “trial and error” approaches. Since this is the only marketing technique widely used, many people are reluctant to start growing something their not sure has a market.

Overcoming Forest Crop Marketing Challenges:

• Start on a small scale so your risks are reduced.
• Sell to people you know or customers you already have.
• Regulated crops, like American ginseng, provide well-defined channels for selling your goods.

Possible Marketing Channels:

• Give away your product (forest berry jam, birch frames, forest potpourri) as a gift with information on how to purchase more.
• Partner with a local roadside stand.
• Obtain shelf space at a natural foods cooperative or market.
• Place a classified ad in a regional publication.
• Promote your forest crop through a local nature club.
• Provide an “open house” to introduce your product to neighbors and residents of your community.

Supply Other Forest Farmers

If you have read through this web site, you will see that there are a lot of possible forest vocations. The timber industry is well developed, but hard to get in to if you are new. However, with the emergence of other non-timber forest products in New York, Pennsylvania, and the eastern United States, forest farmers will need supplies.

There is more to come on this topic as updates are made. For now, get out paper and a pencil and just start jotting down the things that can be sold to other forest farmers. A current list of suppliers and dealers is being created by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Useful Tools

• Marketing Specialty Forest Products - Bulletin from the National Agroforestry Center describing techniques for identifying markets and reaching new customers.
• Marketing Specialty Forest Products - Article from the University of Minnesota Extension Service describing good approaches to packaging, adding value, and advertising forest crops.

Other Uses of Forest Materials

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Specialty Wood and Flavorwood

You can utilize tree species often overlooked by commercial logging companies, including basswood, black birch, white birch, poplar, elm, and butternut. These species are ideal for some types of carving, framing, making instruments, fabricating walking sticks, and making decorations. For income, these products may be marketed to crafters, or selling products through craft fairs. Harvest the desired species based on a forest management plan. Example: Framing watercolor pictures with halved birch limbs. Cooking wood represents true interaction with your forest. You can select favorable species, then cut and splitting the wood to produce a useful size and shape to accommodate cooking and grilling. Wood smoke enhances meat and fish flavors, imparting a rustic scent to the food. You can also place the wood into incense holders and steamers. If you are trying to make a market, consider packaging and selling directly to grill owners (include directions and recipes), selling to restaurants, selling to herbalists and spas, or creating unique gift packs. To keep your forest healthy, use species thinned for woodlot management. You will avoid problems if the wood is very dry (less than 10 percent moisture), clean, and pest-free.

Decorative Wood

Begin by assessing your forest for hardwoods with knots, burls, or unusual shapes. If you have a good inventory of these, also consider collecting logs with decorative bark, such as white birch and American beech. Common uses include wall and hearth decorations, coasters, furnishings, bases for carvings, frames, bird feeders, and other rustic-looking uses. Any of these uses could comprise a part-time business as well. You will get more out of a sustainable, well-managed forest, so use only species and trees removed as part of a long-term management plan. Keep and eye out for insect pests and splinters.

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Weaving and Dyeing Materials

Obtaining the right kinds of materials from forests for weaving and dyeing will take some research, but plenty of information is available. Some forest owners will be inclined to experiment with various plant uses. Usually, these materials are used to create natural products for decoration, coloring textiles, and weaving baskets or small-scale crafts. It may be possible to establish yourself as a source weaving and dyeing materials for local crafters and spinners. As with other forest projects, make sure you harvest small portions of vigorous populations, replant, or create a cultivated area. Among the problems to overcome are long-term storage, timing of harvest, and drying of the materials. Older home craft books explain traditional methods of using forest products.

Materials

The NY forest is full of potentially “weavable” materials, such as willow, grapevine, and fibrous plant stems. You should begin by exploring your forest, noting and flagging trees, vines, and plants that have the properties of good weaving material.

Willow is an excellent kind of tree for weaving with its long, flexible branches. A lot of willow used in the Unted States for basket making is imported. The color and texture depends on the kind of willow. Purpleosier willow (Salix purpurea), American willow (Salix americana), and crack willow (Salix fragilis) are some of the top species. Look for these or plant them in wet, sunny openings, on creek banks, or in damp hedgerows.

White oak can be split into long strips (“splints”) for a durable, long lasting weaving medium. The trees shoud be small (4 – 6″ diameter) and free of knots. Trees that are damaged are usually unsuitable. Virginia Tech has information about oakwood weaving at Oakwood Baskets.

Ash is used for baskets and other woven products. The logs are cut into straight, unblemished sections, about 5 – 7 feet long. After de-barking, the log is pounded with the backside of an axe or sledge to loosen the woody fibers. Strips are peeled and processed from the log.

Dyes

Many forest plants can be used to make natural dyes. Elderberries produce a dark purple, or green dye, depending on harvest time. The inner bark of red and white oaks produces reddish brown dyes. Walnut husks can produce a brown or golden-brown dye. Young ferns in the “fiddle head’ stage are said to be a potent green dye. Experiments can abound for you!

Last updated August 20, 2024