Syntropic agroforestry, based in emulating Nature’s processes and patterns of integrated and diverse plantings to create self-sustaining systems, seeks to accelerate yield-capture, natural succession, and land rehabilitation by adding select plants (“pioneer species”) to nurture target crops.
More specifically, carefully selected pioneer plants are brought in to condition soil, to provide biomass, and to shelter target crops to thrive in later, successional stages. Multi-layered, stratified, and bio-diverse plantings are pruned at strategic times to ultimately, benefit the system as a whole, and transform areas into highly productive sites.
Ideally, successions of harvests are achieved (vegetables, therapeutics, flowers, shrub-fruits, etc.), while simultaneously preparing for and supporting long term harvests (tree fruits, nuts, sap, wood from fallen trees, etc.).
Keys to syntropic agroforestry include:
- strategic pruning of pioneer plants pre-flowering to stimulate growth
- ensuring the soil is covered with organic matter (living, as well as mulch)
- planting supportive consortiums of plant-guilds
If you have a quick question on any of these options, please feel free to contact me at kindness [at] BackardNourishment.com.
Note: the “[at]” should be replaced with “@”, as is customary in email addresses.
If you have more in-depth questions or are seeking help with consultation or design, I am grateful for heart-centered honorariums in compensation.
Note that many Soil and Water Conservation District offices at the county level hold annual tree and shrub sales, offering native varieties at deeply-discounted prices. Many district offices open their sales up for ordering in late winter for spring planting, while others are held in the summer for fall planting.