Urban Food Forests with Dr. James Allen

Field, Lab, Earth

“Urban food forests in the American Southwest” with Dr. James Allen.

Food forests are multi-level polycultures where fruit and nut trees, vegetables, shade trees, mushrooms, aquatic plants, and more can all exist in the same urban or rural space. They’re known to have many benefits, both environmentally and socially; however, in more arid climates like the American Southwest, there are a few hurdles urban agroforesters must overcome. In this episode, Dr. Jim Allen discusses a recent survey of Southwestern food forests and how these mini-oases are learning to thrive in more arid climates.

Tune in to learn:

• How food forests, agroforestry, urban agroforestry, and permaculture overlap
• Success stories for food forests in the American Southwest
• Ongoing challenges for food forest implementation
• Future research and partnerships opportunities for food forests and agriculture at large

If you would like more information about this topic, this episode’s paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1002/uar2.20018

This paper is always freely available.

If you would like more information about Agroforestry at large, the 3rd edition of North American Agroforestry is available here: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780891183785.ch14

Use discount code NAA35 for 35% off through April 30, 2022.

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If you would like to reach out to Jim, you can find him here: [e-mail] https://directory.nau.edu/person/jaa74

If you would like to reach out to Paul Benalcazar from our student spotlight, you can find him here: [e-mail]

Resources

Transcripts: https://bit.ly/3r7rQ0R

CEU Quiz: https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses/Course-Detail?productid=%7bC560FA51-9BB6-EC11-8142-DFBD04152281%7d

Bukowski, C., & Munsell, J. (2018). The Community Food Forest Handbook: How to Plan, Organize, and Nurture Edible Gathering Places. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Crawford, M. (2010). Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops. Devon, UK: Green Books.

Jacke, D., & Toensmeier, E. (2005). Edible Forest Gardens (two volumes). White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Lancaster, B. (2019). Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond (two volumes). Tucson: Rainsource Press.

Toensmeier, E. & Bates, J.. (2013). Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Video: What an unlikely food oasis can teach us as climate change worsens. Interview with Jerome Osentowski, founder of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, which is set in his indoor and outdoor food forest. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3090101181030966

Video: A Forest Garden With 500 Edible Plants Could Lead to a Sustainable Future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_m_0UPOzuI

Video: Planting the Rain to Grow Abundance. A TED Talk by Brad Lancaster that addresses issues related to water use in drylands. Brad is the main person behind what I call a dispersed urban/neighborhood food forest in Tucson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2xDZlpInik

Video: How America’s hottest city is trying to cool down. https://www.vox.com/videos/2021/9/20/22683888/sonoran-desert-phoenix-tree-equity

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