Lessons from an Accidental Food Forest - SWAAN WEBINAR

SOUTHWEST AGROFORESTRY ACTION NETWORK

in partnership with the Arizona Community Tree Council presents:

LESSONS FROM AN ACCIDENTAL FOOD FOREST

WEBINAR

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

at 9:00am AZ  |  10:00am MDT

Register here to receive the Zoom invitation:

9:00– 9:05 – Housekeeping (using Chat, continuing education credits, recording) – Beverly Babb, ACTC

9:05 – 9:10 – – Introduction by Chris Jones, Immediate Past Chair, SWAAN Executive Committee

9:10 – 10:10 (60 minutes)–Presentation by Emerson “Casey” Jones, Retired 

Presentation Description:   This presentation will detail the development of a Food Forest project situated on the high desert landscape of Yavapai County, Arizona. Serving as a valuable case study, it will offer insights for professionals seeking to expand their expertise in food forest cultivation within a high desert context. The project is located in the unincorporated community of Spring Valley Arizona, at an elevation of ~5,000 feet. The climate is characterized by low annual precipitation (less than 18 inches) and high summer temperatures averaging 97°F. The presentation will highlight the practical challenges and information needs that a hobbyist may experience during the initial stages of planting a treed landscape in a desert environment. By sharing personal experiences and lessons learned, the presenter will offer a candid account of what they had to learn along the way, and the expertise they developed through their “accidental” food forest.  The presenter will also discuss the ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity, carbon sequestration) that trees can bring to the high desert landscape and strategies for managing water to maintain productivity in the landscape.

Biosketch:  Emerson Jones has a diverse work background: He taught middle school science, high school environmental science, and biology; he worked in the horticulture business for thirteen years, becoming the head grower of a wholesale greenhouse operation responsible for $16 million dollars in annual sales.  Later he became a partner in a startup retail nursery with responsibility for annual and perennial plant propagation. He sold his interest in the retail nursery after 3 years and returned to teaching high school before retiring in 2017. He now works at home tending the gardens, developing the food forest, greeting visitors, and sharing the lessons he’s learned.

10:10 - 10:25 – (15 minutes) – Q&A with the presenter

10:25 – 10:30 (5 minutes) – Closeout by Caiti Steele, Chair, SWAAN 

10:30 – 11:00 (30 minutes) - SWAAN Business Meeting led by Caiti Steele 

Continuing education credits for program: The applications have been submitted.

• 1.0 - Continuing Forestry Education credits (Cat. 1) by the Society of American Foresters (SAF – contact Andy Mason, acmason1954@gmail.com).
• 1.0 - Continuing Education Units by International Society of Arboriculture (ISA - contact Kathleen Rivera, community@aztrees.org