See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050
Permaculture as a Catalyst for Agroforestry Adoption: Perennial Production Systems on Diversified
Farms
Conference Paper · June 2015
CITATIONS
0READS
314
2 authors:
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Nature-Based Design Course Project View project
Permaculture and the Climate Crisis View project
Rafter Sass Ferguson
Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, D.C., United States
21 PUBLICATIONS 234 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
Sarah Taylor Lovell
University of Missouri
80 PUBLICATIONS 3,267 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by Rafter Sass Ferguson on 28 September 2015.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050_Permaculture_as_a_Catalyst_for_Agroforestry_Adoption_Perennial_Production_Systems_on_Diversified_Farms?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_2&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050_Permaculture_as_a_Catalyst_for_Agroforestry_Adoption_Perennial_Production_Systems_on_Diversified_Farms?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_3&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/project/Nature-Based-Design-Course-Project?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_9&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/project/Permaculture-and-the-Climate-Crisis?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_9&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_1&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_5&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_7&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Lovell-2?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_4&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Lovell-2?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_5&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/institution/University_of_Missouri?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_6&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Lovell-2?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_7&_esc=publicationCoverPdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafter-Ferguson?enrichId=rgreq-5488cc2b9754127cb632fb64b2e309ae-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3OTE5MzA1MDtBUzoyNzg3OTAwMTkyNzI3MDdAMTQ0MzQ4MDEyODk4OQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_10&_esc=publicationCoverPdf
Permaculture as a Catalyst for Agroforestry AdoptionPerennial Production Systems on
Diversified Farms
Dr. Rafter Sass FergusonDr. Sarah Taylor Lovell
Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and Design LabUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin
multifunctionallandscape.com
North American Agroforestry Conference 2015 • Ames, Iowa
Overview
IntroductionWhat is permaculture?
ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis
permanent ~ agriculture
Founded 1975
David Holmgren
Bill MollisonA Perennial Agriculture
for Human Settlement
http://permacultureglobal.org/projects
Projects on Permaculture Global
international distribution
http://permacultureglobal.org/projectshttp://permacultureglobal.org/projects
Grassroots Engagement with Transition to Sustainability: Diversity and Modes of Participation in the International Permaculture Movement. Ferguson RS, ST Lovell. (In Press) Ecology and Society.
912 Responses to 2012 web survey (English only)
“the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.”
Mollison 1988, p. ix
Permaculture for agroecology: design, movement, practice, worldview. A review. Ferguson RS & Lovell ST, 2014. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34:2, pp 251-274.
• nutrient cycling• reduced tillage• biological pest control• crop rotation• intercropping
• agroforestry• agrobiodiversity• semi-naturallandscape elements
• alternative crops• perennial polycultures• integrated water mgmt
• design framework• land use & livelihood diversity• synergies between components• multifunctionality
AGROECOLOGY PERMACULTUREdistinctive approach
or emphasiscommon elements
CONC
EPTS
PRAC
TICE
S
many distinctive elements
Overview
IntroductionWhat is permaculture?
ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis
How are permaculture farmers assembling livelihoods around diversified and alternative production?
Quantify the nature and scope of income diversification across perennial production systems, other production, and non-production enterprises
Assess adoption of AF practices for farmstead and commercial use
Synthesis: does permaculture play a role in catalyzing adoption and supporting producers?
Overview
IntroductionWhat is permaculture?
ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis
MethodsData Collection
Field Research: Jun 2013 - Jan 2014
• 48 sites• 5-12 hours / visit
• crowdfunded at$10,000 / 175 donors
Field Research: Jun 2013 - Jan 2014
• 48 sites• 5-12 hours / visit
• crowdfunded at$10,000 / 175 donors
1. Characterization- farm characteristics- agroecosystem mapping (ongoing)
2. Classification and clustering(3. Modeling returns to labor)
MethodsAnalysis
Overview
IntroductionWhat is permaculture?
ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis
Results and DiscussionCharacterization
Gross Income Acres in Production
$2000 - $800,000 farm-based income
1.5 - 1500 acresin production
Scale
Age and Experience
2 - 40 years of farming experience
1 - 100 year old farms
Years Farming Age of Farm
70 ac14 prod
OR 35 ac1.5 prod
TN 55 ac 8 prod
CA 1
7 ac4.5 prod
VA
2000 ac1500 prod
CA 2
Agroecosystem mapping (ongoing)
OR
70 ac14 prod
mixed annual/perennial
seed production
open and woodland pasture
TN 35 ac1.5 prodmulti-species silvopasture
forest garden w/ poultry water management
55 ac 8 prod
water management
pollination services water mgmt/terracing
VA
7 ac4.5 prod
annual production
contour cultivation mixed annual/perennial
drip irrigation & low tunnel
CA 2
2000 ac1500 prod
orchard silvopasture
large up-slope reservoir
rangeland
Prevalence of AF practices on 48 permaculture sitesfor home and commercial use
Results and DiscussionClustering
cultural
material
animal
perennial
annual
mixed
Enterprise class
cultural/ production
animal base
cultural service
base
small mixed
productionintegrated production
$300K
$200K
$100K
$0
Clustering of 36 farms based on distribution of gross income across enterprises classes
Overview
IntroductionWhat is permaculture?
ObjectivesMethodsResults & DiscussionSynthesis:
catalyzing adoption and supporting producers
Permaculture farmers are...
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate• managing highly multifunctional landscapes
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate• managing highly multifunctional landscapes• facing same hostile environment as other AF producers and diversifed farms
Permaculture farmers are...
• implementing AF at a high rate• managing highly multifunctional landscapes• facing same hostile environment as other AF producers and diversifed farms• using a familiar set of strategies to survive (non-production enterprises)
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Permaculture is not...
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environment
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...• fostering the narratives and values that inspire and motivate AF & diversified producers
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...• fostering the narratives and values that inspire and motivate AF & diversified producers• providing social capital for cultural enterprises (i.e. education)
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Permaculture is not...• enabling farmers to simply avoid or overwhelm the constraints of a hostile environmentPermaculture is...• fostering the narratives and values that inspire and motivate AF & diversified producers• providing social capital for cultural enterprises (i.e. education) • connecting farmers with communities and networks
Neither magic wand nor pyramid scheme
Thank you.
• The Agroecology Scholars Program and the JB Turner Fellowship• The Multifunctional Landscape Analysis and Design Lab Group• My lab assistant Devin Renee Jen• All 175 donors to my field research• All 48 farmers who took the time to participate
Acknowledgements
View publication statsView publication stats
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193050