Keynote speech by Mark Shepard on november 24, 2015 in Wageningen University, The Netherlands and on the Van Akker naar Bos (from Field to Forest) conference on november 28 2015

1. Restoration Agriculture:… the time is NOW!

44. PERMA (permanent)
(agri) CULTURE
• “Permaculture is an ecological design methodology
where we create relationships between materials,
plants, animals and humans in order to optimize
function and yield. The aim is to create systems
that are ecologically sound and economically
profitable, which provide for their own needs, do not
exploit or pollute and are therefore sustainable in the
long term. Much of the design is taken from nature. It
can be as simple or as sophisticated as you like.”
(Bill Mollison)
• (Permanent- Latin: per- throughout + manere- to remain; Culture- Middle English: cultivation,
tillage; from Old French; from Latin: cultura, from cultus- cultivation, from Germanic: skel- to
cut)

46. Why Restoration Agriculture?

56. Identify your biome and keystone plant communities
Establish edible woody polycultures
Build fences & roads, utilities, pipelines
Transition using Agroforestry practices
Manage for eternity!
Earthworks/ water management
The Restoration Agriculture process:

57. Fagacea:
Oak,Chestnut, Beech
Apples
Hazelnut
Prunus:
plum, cherry,
peach
Raspberry, grape, currant
Forage, animals, fungi

58. Oak, Chestnut
Apples
Hazelnut
Prunus: Almonds, Cherries
Plums, apricots, peaches
Alpricots etc
Raspberries, grapes,
Currants, gooseberries
Fungi, Forage, ANIMALS!

59. Juglundacae
Prunus: Cherry, plum, peach
almond, apricot, nectarine…
Raspberries, blackberries
Elderberries
Currants, gooseberries
Grapes
Fungi, Forage, Livestock

60. Pecan
Prunus (cherry,plum, peach etc)
Persimmon, Paw Paw
Raspberry, Blackberry, elderberry
Currant, gooseberry
Grape, passionfruit
Fungi, Forage, Animals

61. Pinus: Pine nuts
Beech
Prunus: Cherries, Plums etc
Serviceberry
Hazelnut
Siberian Peashrub
Blueberry
Raspberry
Lingonberry
Grape
Wintergreen
Fungi, forage, livestock…

70. Water movement before
Keyline Patterning & Terraces

71. Water movement
After Keyline patterning
Terraces & ponds

76. The POWER of grass!

77. Alleycropping: Rows of trees, cash crop in the
alleys….

80. Acorn Squash alleys between Hazelnut rows

82. Asparagus between rows of chestnut

83. Silvopasture

84. Dog
Cowies
Silvopasture: managed integration of livestock and woody
crops…

85. WOOF!

89. JURASSIC CHICKENS!

92. Photo: Chad Adams
5 Years Later

93. The POWER of collaboration…

102. RadPioneers.com
Facebook:
Restoration Agriculture Development
Facebook: Restoration Agriculture International, Inc.

103. Thank you for Farming (and EATING!)
in Nature’s Image!
forestag.com
Newforestfarm.net
RadPioneers.com
On facebook:
Mark Shepard
Restoration Agriculture Development