Agroforestry: Regeneration for Communities
Climate Week through the the Common Ground Lens
“We are in the age of urgency.”
So declares the invitation to Climate Week NYC, happening now. Tens of thousands of people will participate in hundreds of parallel events across New York City, with climate leaders and critical conversations shaping the world for future generations.
Meanwhile, we are gearing up for our own gathering of regenerative leaders in Kauai in November, where we will delve deeply into our vision for the future from many intersecting angles. Of special interest are the lessons to be gleaned from our unique Summit location.
Our campus for the Common Ground Summit is home to an inspiring model of agroforestry in action, offering participants a hands-on education in regeneration. Common Ground marries centuries-old production models with innovative biological farming applications, which will allow the annual plantings to adapt to the evolving needs of the venture as a whole over the course of several years.
“In the wild, forests are created by the natural succession of species, each occupying a niche in time and space. By employing nature’s model of succession in the establishment phase of the agroforestry design, it is not just the end result of an intact food forest that is regenerative, but also the pathway we take to get there.” —Common Ground Farm Manager John Parziale
We consider the agroforest to be not only a wildly effective solution to several global challenges, but also a rich metaphor for our diverse community.
It is a system where every element plays a role. Where each entity benefits from all the other parts of the whole.
Agroforestry describes the integration of crops and animals with trees to create the natural structure of a forest. Forests are formed in nature by the process of succession, which is how a community of plants, animals and fungi evolve and replace themselves over time. Managing this process of succession in an agroforestry system allows for intricate relationships and symbiosis to unfold and strengthen over time leading to resilient, biodiverse, productive, and climate-friendly agricultural ecosystems.
In perhaps the most simple terms, agroforestry supports the interaction of agriculture and trees on a single piece of land. The trees support the agriculture. The intent is not solely tree production, but a greater food yield and regeneration of the soil.
In our present reality of definite climate change, the practice of agroforestry gives farmers and communities increased resilience and food sovereignty.
Common Ground is designing a farm that mimics the intricate structures of species diversity found in a (tropical) forest.
Interconnection is the rule in an agroforest—and in community. Every element plays a role. Everything—and everyone—benefits when any participant in the system thrives. Resilience is necessarily collective. Trees and people grow and prosper in diversity.
Common Ground Summit 2024: In Community with Place is an unforgettable experience for many reasons (some of which we share here). The opportunity for participants to learn about agroforestry and community up close is at the top of the list.
Common Ground Summit is an immersive gathering designed to change the way you approach connection to place. Join us for a 3-day regenerative leadership summit featuring curated conversations, authentic experiences, ridiculously good food and meaningful relationships.
