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TRADITIONAL TREES FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS: THEIR CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, AND USETT book cover 200x240

A solid foundation of locally appropriate, time-tested tree species is essential to expanding agroforestry. This popular publication provides detailed, practical information on products, uses, interplanting applications, environmental requirements, and propagation methods. Traditional Trees for Pacific Islands puts vital information for the conservation and expansion of Pacific Island trees at the fingertips of the people who need it most. Read More...

Agroforestry Landscapes cover 200px

AGROFORESTRY LANDSCAPES FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS: Creating abundant and resilient food systems

This publication focuses on low-input, self-sufficient, and sustainable techniques for growing food in the Pacific. The chapters cover a range of time-tested traditional agroforestry systems, modern agroforestry systems, local sources of soil fertility, pest and disease control, livestock, and getting started with planning and implementation. Read More...

SPECIALTY CROPS FOR PACIFIC ISLANDSSpecialty crops cover 200px

Specialty crops provide a rapidly growing economic opportunity for farmers and gardeners who are interested in diversifying their crops and who are willing to innovate their production methods, postharvest processing, and marketing. This publicaton promotes high quality food, fiber, and healthcare crops grown in diverse agroforestry systems to provide family farms both subsistence and commercial opportunities. Read More...

Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands

book cover agroforestryAn essential user-friendly resource for conserving and expanding the use of trees. Downloadable chapters include: Information Resources for Pacific Island Agroforestry; Multipurpose Trees; Nontimber Forest Products; Integrating Understory Crops with Tree Crops; Introduction to Integrating Trees into Pacific Island Farm Systems; Choosing Timber Species; Economics of Farm Forestry; Multipurpose Windbreaks.  Read More...

Tropical Agroforestry Articles

free pubsDownloadable Articles such as: The Hawai'i Island Homegrown: Start-up guide for an organic self-reliance garden; Nitrogen Fixing Tree Start-up Guide; A Guide to Orchard Alley Cropping–for fertility, mulch and soil conservation; Can I Grow a Complete Diet?; The potential of chainsaw milling outside forests; Deep pipe irrigation; Leaves to Live By; Trees on farm to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS in SSA.  Read More...

Multipurpose Palms You Can Grow

palmsAmong the plants of the Tropics it is difficult to find a family of plants of more service to people than the palm family. In fact, this family has been called the most versatile of all due to its many uses. A better known family and still more important as a source of food is the grass family for the principal crops it provides, wheat, rice and corn. Yet the grass family has few other uses compared with the palm family.  Read More...

Forestry Technology: Seed Collection

forestWhy work hard to collect good seed? In agriculture, collecting seed from superior parent stock has been practiced for thousands of years. This technique results in higher yields and environmentally durable plants. This concept, however, has yet to gain widespread acceptance in forestry practice. To maximize yields and quality of trees for plantations, agroforestry, and other uses, the following principles for collecting seed should be observed.  Read More...

Specialty Crops for Pacific Island Agroforestry

bambooSpecialty crops provide a rapidly growing economic opportunity for farmers and gardeners who are interested in diversifying their crops and who are willing to innovate their production methods, post-harvest processing, and marketing. This project promotes high quality food, fiber, and healthcare crops grown in diverse agroforestry systems to provide family farms both subsistence and commercial opportunities.  Read More...

Nitrogen Fixing Trees - Multipurpose Pioneers

nitrogenNitrogen fixation is a pattern of nutrient cycling which has successfully been used in perennial agriculture for millennia. Focuses on legumes, which are nitrogen fixers of particular importance in agriculture. Specifically, tree legumes are especially valuable in subtropical and tropical agroforestry. They can be integrated into an agroforestery system to restore nutrient cycling and fertility self-reliance.  Read More...

Sheet Mulching

mulchingGreater Plant and Soil Health for Less Work. Agriculture with mulch in the tropics promotes plant health and vigor; improves nutrient and water retention in the soil, encourages favorable soil microbial activity and worms, and suppresses weed growth. When properly executed, it can significantly improve the well-being of plants and reduce maintenance as compared to bare soil culture. Mulched plants have improved resistance to pests and diseases.  Read More...

Working with Weeds in the Tropics

weedsIf You Can't Eat Them, Succeed Them! How to get started in this thick mat of weedy trees? What to do about all the huge clumping grasses in the pineapple patch? How to manage this morning glory vine strangling the orchard? Weeds are experts in the process of succession, and great soil indicators as well, so I always look to them to learn what is appropriate.  Read More...

Not Seeing the Forest for the Trees

forest treesIn (re)afforestation work we usually talk about the planting of trees. Lots of 'em. We should be rather talking about planting forests. Until our planting site has in it the components of the Mother of all plantations - the climax forest system - the "trees" we plant will always be weak and prone to exposure, disease and drought.  Read More...