Episode 240. Urban Agroforestry for Dryland Environments
Urban agroforestry is the intentional use of perennial trees and shrubs to improve the sustainability and resilience of urban farms and communities. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor sits down with Christopher Marciello of Ecology Artisans — a regenerative landscape and design firm — to talk about urban agroforestry in dryland environments.
While urban agroforestry can take many forms, there are several design principles to keep in mind, no matter what your system looks like. These include sustainable water harvesting, soil development, habitat development, regionally appropriate plant species, and appropriately scaled food production. Chris and Katherine discuss how these design principles can be applied to create productive and regenerative urban agroforestry systems in arid areas.
Related ATTRA Resources:
Meet NCAT: Katherine Favor Says Agroforestry Can Plant the Seeds of Sustainability
Perspectives on Agroforestry with Rowan Reid. Part 1
Perspectives on Agroforestry with Rowan Reid. Part 2
Other Resources:
Olga Romanova and Doctor Lovell – Urban Agriculture Food Safety Considerations
Sustainable Community Food Landscapes Sharing Successes
Desert-Adapted Nurse Plants and Agaves in Climate Friendly Perennial Polycultures
Indoor and Outdoor Forest Gardens
Southwest Agroforestry Action Network
Urban Agroforestry and Its Potential Integration into City Planning Efforts
Contact Katherine Favor via email at katherinef@ncat.org.
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