permaculture as a catalyst for agroforestry adoption...permaculture as a catalyst for agroforestry...

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050

Permaculture as a Catalyst for Agroforestry Adoption: Perennial Production Systems on Diversified

Farms

Conference Paper · June 2015

CITATIONS

0READS

314

2 authors:

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Nature-Based Design Course Project View project

Permaculture and the Climate Crisis View project

Rafter Sass Ferguson

Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, D.C., United States

21 PUBLICATIONS 234 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Sarah Taylor Lovell

University of Missouri

80 PUBLICATIONS 3,267 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Rafter Sass Ferguson on 28 September 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050_Permaculture_as_a_Catalyst_for_Agroforestry_Adoption_Perennial_Production_Systems_on_Diversified_Farms?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_2&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050_Permaculture_as_a_Catalyst_for_Agroforestry_Adoption_Perennial_Production_Systems_on_Diversified_Farms?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_3&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/project/Nature-Based-Design-Course-Project?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_9&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/project/Permaculture-and-the-Climate-Crisis?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_9&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_1&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_5&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_7&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Lovell-2?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Lovell-2?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_5&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/institution/University_of_Missouri?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_6&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Lovell-2?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_7&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_10&_esc=publicationCoverPdf

Permaculture as a Catalyst for Agroforestry AdoptionPerennial Production Systems on

Diversified Farms

Dr. Rafter Sass FergusonDr. Sarah Taylor Lovell

Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and Design LabUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin

multifunctionallandscape.com

North American Agroforestry Conference 2015 • Ames, Iowa

Overview

IntroductionWhat is permaculture?

ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis

permanent ~ agriculture

Founded 1975

David Holmgren

Bill MollisonA Perennial Agriculture

for Human Settlement

http://permacultureglobal.org/projects

Projects on Permaculture Global

international distribution

http://permacultureglobal.org/projectshttp://permacultureglobal.org/projects

Grassroots Engagement with Transition to Sustainability: Diversity and Modes of Participation in the International Permaculture Movement. Ferguson RS, ST Lovell. (In Press) Ecology and Society.

912 Responses to 2012 web survey (English only)

“the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.”

Mollison 1988, p. ix

Permaculture for agroecology: design, movement, practice, worldview. A review. Ferguson RS & Lovell ST, 2014. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34:2, pp 251-274.

• nutrient cycling• reduced tillage• biological pest control• crop rotation• intercropping

• agroforestry• agrobiodiversity• semi-naturallandscape elements

• alternative crops• perennial polycultures• integrated water mgmt

• design framework• land use & livelihood diversity• synergies between components• multifunctionality

AGROECOLOGY PERMACULTUREdistinctive approach

or emphasiscommon elements

CONC

EPTS

PRAC

TICE

S

many distinctive elements

Overview



How are permaculture farmers assembling livelihoods around diversified and alternative production?

Quantify the nature and scope of income diversification across perennial production systems, other production, and non-production enterprises

Assess adoption of AF practices for farmstead and commercial use

Synthesis: does permaculture play a role in catalyzing adoption and supporting producers?

Overview



MethodsData Collection

Field Research: Jun 2013 - Jan 2014

• 48 sites• 5-12 hours / visit

• crowdfunded at$10,000 / 175 donors

1. Characterization- farm characteristics- agroecosystem mapping (ongoing)

2. Classification and clustering(3. Modeling returns to labor)

MethodsAnalysis

Overview



Results and DiscussionCharacterization

Gross Income Acres in Production

$2000 - $800,000 farm-based income

1.5 - 1500 acresin production

Scale

Age and Experience

2 - 40 years of farming experience

1 - 100 year old farms

Years Farming Age of Farm

70 ac14 prod

OR 35 ac1.5 prod

TN 55 ac 8 prod

CA 1

7 ac4.5 prod

VA

2000 ac1500 prod

CA 2

Agroecosystem mapping (ongoing)

OR

70 ac14 prod

mixed annual/perennial

seed production

open and woodland pasture

TN 35 ac1.5 prodmulti-species silvopasture

forest garden w/ poultry water management

55 ac 8 prod

water management

pollination services water mgmt/terracing

VA

7 ac4.5 prod

annual production

contour cultivation mixed annual/perennial

drip irrigation & low tunnel

CA 2

2000 ac1500 prod

orchard silvopasture

large up-slope reservoir

rangeland

Prevalence of AF practices on 48 permaculture sitesfor home and commercial use

Results and DiscussionClustering

cultural

material

animal

perennial

annual

mixed

Enterprise class

cultural/ production

animal base

cultural service

base

small mixed

productionintegrated production

$300K

$200K

$100K

$0

Clustering of 36 farms based on distribution of gross income across enterprises classes

Overview


ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis:

catalyzing adoption and supporting producers

Permaculture farmers are...


• implementing AF at a high rate


• implementing AF at a high rate• managing highly multifunctional landscapes


• implementing AF at a high rate• managing highly multifunctional landscapes• facing same hostile environment as other AF producers and diversifed farms


• implementing AF at a high rate• managing highly multifunctional landscapes• facing same hostile environment as other AF producers and diversifed farms• using a familiar set of strategies to survive (non-production enterprises)

Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme

Permaculture is not...


Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environment


Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...


Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...• fostering the narratives and values that inspire and motivate AF & diversified producers


Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...• fostering the narratives and values that inspire and motivate AF & diversified producers• providing social capital for cultural enterprises (i.e. education)


Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...• fostering the narratives and values that inspire and motivate AF & diversified producers• providing social capital for cultural enterprises (i.e. education) • connecting farmers with communities and networks


Thank you.

• The Agroecology Scholars Program and the JB Turner Fellowship• The Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and Design Lab Group• My lab assistant Devin Renee Jen• All 175 donors to my field research• All 48 farmers who took the time to participate

Acknowledgements

View publication statsView publication stats
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050

permaculture as a catalyst for agroforestry adoption...permaculture as a catalyst for agroforestry...

Documents