Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition

The Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition is a network of forestland owners, universities, and governmental and non-governmental organizations that share a common goal of improving agroforestry production opportunities and farming capabilities among forest farmers. Our collective aim is to increase awareness of forest-grown medicinal plants through education and relationship building, and support conservation efforts through stewardship of existing plant populations and forest farming of these native botanicals.

The project is funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and is supported in part by the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Partners are located from Georgia to Pennsylvania.

The team includes:

Four non-governmental organizations:

• Appalachian Sustainable Development
  
• Blue Ridge Woodland Growers
  
• Rural Action
• United Plant Savers

Four universities:

• Maryland University of Integrative Health
  
• North Carolina State
  
• Penn State
• Virginia Tech

Extension:

• Southern Regional Extension Forestry  

Three agency partners:

• National Agroforestry Center
  
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
  
• US Forest Service’s Southern Research Station, along with forest farmers and other key stakeholders.

To learn more about the coalition, visit http://www.appalachianforestfarmers.org/.