Description: How does nature do it? is a question frequently asked by Mark Shepard, one of my podcast guests. In this video, we get to see Mark’s farm, while he shows us chestnut trees, his property development and describes permaculture principles he puts into effect every day. Many of my podcast listeners tell me how much they enjoyed Mark Shepard’s discussions. He observes: what makes the system work? And then applies those very principles. Nature is a bit messy yet diversity creates backup systems.

I enjoy videos like the one above because he shows us what he has put into practice. So for a bit of a break in my podcast schedule, I am offering a couple of weeks of other videos by my guests. I hope you enjoy them. Any comments? All are appreciated.

Enjoy, Judith

Bio: Mark Shepard is the CEO of Forest Agriculture Enterprises LLC, founder of Restoration Agriculture Development LLC and award-winning author of the book, Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers. Mark has also been a farmer member of the Organic Valley cooperative, the worlds largest Organic Farmer’s marketing co-op, since 1995. He is most widely known as the founder of New Forest Farm, the 106-acre perennial agricultural savanna considered by many to be one of the most ambitious sustainable agriculture projects in the United States.

New Forest Farm is a planned conversion of a typical row-crops grain farm into a commercial-scale, perennial agricultural ecosystem using oak savanna, successional brushland, and eastern woodlands as the ecological models. Trees, shrubs, vines, canes, perennial plants, and fungi are planted in association with one another to produce foods, fuels, medicines, and beauty. Hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts and various fruits are the primary woody crops. The farm is entirely solar and wind-powered and farm equipment is capable of being powered with locally produced biofuels.

Trained in both mechanical engineering and ecology, Mark has developed and patented equipment and processes for the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of forest-derived agricultural products for human foods and biofuels production. Mark was certified as a Permaculture designer in 1993 and received his Diploma of Permaculture design from Bill Mollison, the founder of the international Permaculture movement. He teaches agroforestry and Permaculture worldwide.

For more information about Mark Shepard, one can visit newforestfarm.us
For Restoration Agriculture Development, visit restoration.com @restoration.ag on Instagram
For Forest Agriculture Enterprises, visit forestag.com
He can be located on Facebook by searching mark.shepard.906 and his Instagram is @mark_shepard_rad

Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, Writer, Speaker, and Workshop Presenter, Master Gardener.

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