{"product_id":"agroforestry-workshop-saturday-nov-7-2026-4-6pm","title":"Agroforestry Workshop! Saturday Nov 7, 2026 4-6PM","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHAT\u003c\/strong\u003e: A hands-on day in the field: learn how forests grow, how to design layered plant systems, and how to start building your own food forest—from soil to canopy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHERE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fertile Earth, 15150 SW 264 St, Homestead, FL \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWHEN: \u003c\/strong\u003eNov 7, 2026, 4-6 PM\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1. Intro\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuick introduction: why are we here?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe’ll start with a gauge of everyone’s plant proficiency—no wrong answers, just a sense of where the group is starting from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen we get into the work. \u003cstrong\u003eLet’s get our hands dirty quick\u003c\/strong\u003e—we’ll be weeding all throughout the day, not just at the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlant ID \u0026amp; pick\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLearn to I.D. what’s growing around you, and pick as we work. Identification and harvest go hand in hand in a food forest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"agro-section\" id=\"what-is-a-forest\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e2. What is a forest?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow it grows, and why.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe cycle of a plant’s life\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eseed falls on leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e—the leaf litter is a nutrient sink, catching and holding fertility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDark, humid, dappled light\u003c\/strong\u003e from the mother tree creates the conditions seedlings need.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil layers\u003c\/strong\u003e stack from the surface down: soft leaves, compost, soil, mineral, water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrowing \u003cstrong\u003enext to many of its kind\u003c\/strong\u003e, the stronger ones survive and thrive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSaplings stretch\u003c\/strong\u003e toward the light—and when a big tree falls, new space opens for the next generation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"agro-section\" id=\"agroforest-principles\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e3. Agroforest principles\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil networks\u003c\/strong\u003e — roots, fungi, and microbes connect the whole system. Feed the network, not just individual plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePioneer plants\u003c\/strong\u003e — “Grow what grows.” Let fast, tough species lead while slower perennials establish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChop and drop\u003c\/strong\u003e — Don’t import nutrition or amendments when you can recycle biomass on site.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep the ground covered\u003c\/strong\u003e — Bare soil is lost soil. Leaves, mulch, and living ground covers protect it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed bomb plus lots of “stick growers”\u003c\/strong\u003e — Spread seed where it makes sense, and propagate from cuttings and sticks that root in place.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCanopy control\u003c\/strong\u003e — Manage height and shade as the system matures. (More on this below.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"agro-section\" id=\"trench-konuko\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e4. Trench: Konuko\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA trench system that gives you a defined path with little to no weeding along it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eActive compost \/ chop and drop in place\u003c\/strong\u003e — Build fertility right where you walk and work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrown and green separate\u003c\/strong\u003e — Layer carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials deliberately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater drainage, distribution, and storage\u003c\/strong\u003e — The trench moves and holds water through the landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil aeration\u003c\/strong\u003e — Air and biology get into the profile as the trench is built and maintained.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeeps systems (plots) separate\u003c\/strong\u003e — Clear edges between planting zones without hard barriers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"agro-section\" id=\"orga-systems\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e5. Orga-systems\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSystems inside of larger systems—fields, ultimately. A food forest is organized in \u003cstrong\u003estrata\u003c\/strong\u003e (layers), each with a job to do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy is there a…\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"agro-strata-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCanopy lead\u003c\/strong\u003e (overstory)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSecondary\u003c\/strong\u003e layer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnderstory\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBush\u003c\/strong\u003e layer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChop and drop\u003c\/strong\u003e plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTwo ground covers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNitrogen fixers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese roles are \u003cstrong\u003enot mutually exclusive\u003c\/strong\u003e, and they’re \u003cstrong\u003enot necessarily in rows or banana circles\u003c\/strong\u003e. A single plant can serve more than one function; placement matters more than geometry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow they interact overall\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink about \u003cstrong\u003eplant placement\u003c\/strong\u003e: who shades whom, who feeds the soil, who fixes nitrogen for neighbors, and who you can chop without losing the structure of the forest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"agro-section\" id=\"canopy-control\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e6. Canopy control\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSun\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth\u003c\/strong\u003e — Light drives photosynthesis and fruit set.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtection\u003c\/strong\u003e — The right amount of shade protects tender plants and soil moisture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWind\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollination\u003c\/strong\u003e — Air movement helps many crops set fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorm and cold protection\u003c\/strong\u003e — A managed canopy buffers wind, reducing damage and microclimate extremes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"agro-section\" id=\"selection\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e7. Selection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThin out\u003c\/strong\u003e—leave only the healthiest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetter fruit, bigger fruit, better seed, better plant. Selection is ongoing: the forest teaches you what wants to be there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e8. Outro\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSome foraging\u003c\/strong\u003e—feel free to take stuff home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReady to build your own food forest? Start with what you learned today: cover the ground, layer your plants, chop and drop, and let the system grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Fertile Earth","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67648571408558,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0605\/7010\/8078\/files\/workshop-group-food-forest.jpg?v=1791435419","url":"https:\/\/shop.fertileearth.net\/products\/agroforestry-workshop-saturday-nov-7-2026-4-6pm","provider":"Fertile Earth","version":"1.0","type":"link"}