Abstract

The MacDaniels Nut Grove Forest Farming Center on Cornell University's campus has been developed for teaching, research and outreach in the sustainable agroforestry system known as forest farming.

Issue

Privately owned forests and woodlots in the Northeast are a valuable, but underutilized resource for rural economic development and natural resource conservation. Timber harvest often has negative environmental impact especially when economic pressure forces unsustainable levels of harvest. Small holder farmers are under pressure to come up with alternatives to field crops and dairy while the unproductive woodlots that are prevalent on most small farms are an economic drain due to land taxes. Many non-farmer private forest owners would welcome opportunities that combine recreational forest use with modest income generation. Forest farming is a sustainable agroforestry system that is suited to the extensively forested Northeast. It involves management of existing forested land for production of food, medicinals and ornamental crops. Although Cornell has taught agroforestry for many years, students have had few opportunities to gain field (forest) experience, and woodlot owners and other stakeholders have had few opportunities to see forest farming in action. The MacDaniels Nut Grove is a unique experiential learning opportunity for Cornell students to become involved in the development of a model forest farm where research and outreach are underway

Response

In the 1930s, Professor Lawrence MacDaniels planted over 200 grafted and seedling hickory nuts, walnuts, filberts and chestnuts as a temperate nut tree variety trial on the Cornell campus. After several decades, the seven-acre site area was abandoned, reverted back to secondary forest, and forgotten. About three years ago the site was "rediscovered" and has been under renovation since then by Mudge, Louise Buck and several dedicated student and other volunteers. Consistent with Dr. MacDaniels original vision of Tree Crops Agriculture as a mixture of trees and other perennials for food and for forest conservation, the site is being developed as a model forest farm, which is similarly defined today as the environmentally friendly use of established forested land for food, medicinals and ornamental crops. A new course, called "Practicum in Forest Farming" by faculty from three departments including Horticulture (Mudge), Natural Resources (Buck) and Crop and Soil Science (Hobbs), has been developed to give students hands-on experience in the design, planning and management of a forest farm. Students have been involved in planting and growing a variety of forest tree and shade tolerant under-story crops including hickory nuts and walnuts, pawpaw (a native fruit tree), black and purple raspberries, and other small fruits. Medicinal herbs including ginseng are being grown there as well as valuable gourmet mushrooms.

Impact

Cornell University now has a model forest farm to complement its existing research, teaching, demonstration farms, and orchards. This is a unique resource were students are gaining hands-on experience in the cultivation of non timber forest crops while practicing natural resource conservation. Classes over the last two years have benefitted from this experiential learning experience, three Extension events have taken place involving over 100 participants, and two research projects are underway.

Funding Sources

• Private (e.g., commodity groups, foundations, companies)
• Academic Programs Instructional Support (e.g., Institutional Challenge, Multicultural Scholars, Nat'l Needs, Hispanic Ed)
• Northern Nut Growers Association

Topic Description

• Agroforestry

Collaborators

• The MacDaniels Nut Grove project is going on in collaboration with Cornell Plantations since the land is part of the Cornell Plantations Upper Cascadilla On Campus Natural Area. In addition to Department of Horticulture leadership (Mudge), the Departments of Natural Resources and Crop and Soil Sciences have been actively involved. In addition to financial support from the Northern Nut Growers Association, members of the New York Nut Growers Association has been involved at the site. Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators from Schoharie County (Ochterski) and Green County (Beyfuss) are involved as well.

Key Personnel

• Kenneth W. Mudge, Department of Horticulture
• Louise Buck, Dept. Natural Resources
• Peter Hobbs, Dept. Crop and Soil Sciences
• James Ochterski, Extension Educator, Schoharie County, New York
• Robert Beyfuss, Extension Educator, Greene County, New York
• Marguerite Wells, Dept. Horticulture
• John Wertis, New York Nut Growers Association
• Dan Frelage, Alternative Community School, Ithaca, New York