Ask an Agroforester Fall '25 Webinar Series

Appalachian Sustainable Development's  "Ask an Agroforester" Webinar Series is an opportunity for us to come together for a deep dive into detailed information about specific Agroforestry topics.  Host Emilie Tweardy stewards deep conversations on emerging topics and perennial favorites. Bring your questions for our regional Agroforestry heroes, and have an opportunity to get real answers from real professionals. We've got a great lineup put together for you, free of charge. Please consider making a donation to ASD to support continued free programming like this!

These events are online only.  Reminders and links will be sent out one week before, one day before, and the morning of each event. All webinars will be recorded and posted to ASD's Youtube channel for your viewing convenience.  Please view, like, subscribe, and share widely!  Check out our Ask an Agroforester Playlist to see our library of existing episodes.  

Each webinar will consist of a welcome and intro from ASD and a short presentation from our guest(s), followed by a two-part Q and A.  The first half will consist of questions collected ahead of time, the second half of the Q and A will be live audience questions. All sessions are Noon - 1:30pm EST. All sessions are free.

Fall 2025 Lineup: 

Wednesday, Nov. 5th - Rethinking our Approach to Herbs in Agroforestry featuring Robin Suggs of Appalachian Sustainable Development. Join in our conversation with ASD's Herb Hub manager as we discuss big questions, "it depends" answers, and potential models for growing herbs in Agroforestry systems.  Can we model forest systems to bring the forest to the field?  How can we push the envelope?  At the same time, how can we stay grounded in profitability and common sense?  Join us for straight-shooting answers, creative solutions, and maybe even a little Appalachian lore.

Wednesday, Nov. 12th - Alley Cropping at Any Scale featuring Kaitie Adams of the Savanna Institute. Kaitie has been working in Alley Cropping at many scales for more than a decade.  From under an acre to over a hundred, she'll show case studies for different scales and discuss simplified approaches for success.  Bring all your burning alley cropping questions for this diva of diversified systems.

Monday, Nov. 17th - All About Bareroot Trees featuring Jenn Ripp of the Savanna Institute. What really are bareroot trees anyway?  And why do we love them so much in Agroforestry?  Jenn answers all our questions about fine root hairs, dormancy, transplant shock and more in this root-loving, nerd-out session.

Thursday, Nov. 20th - Hickories as Keystones in the New Forest Economy featuring Zach Elfers of Future Forest Farm. Zach rejoins us (check out his first session on Honey Locusts) for a big conversation about a big topic.  The abundant hickories!  Come along with us as we visit what a future might look like with hickory headlining as a keystone economic and ecological player.

Monday, Nov. 24th - Willow for Every Farm. featuring Sarah Lasswell from Moss and Thistle Farm and Howard Peller of Living Willow Farm. Join us for a conversation about the ultimate multi-use plant.  We'll hear from two different willow-based businesses who're putting willows to work, and discuss why we think there's space for the genus salix in any design, and on any farm.

Wednesday, Dec. 3rd - Grassroots Treesearch - for Farmers, by Farmers featuring Sam Bonney and Russell Wallack of Breadtree Farms. In this discussion, we'll go over what farmer-led "treesearch" looks like for one farming community that's pushing the envelope.  We'll talk about why we need farmers to be front and center in identifying data needs, how the folks at Breadtree began to realize that the information they were seeking wasn't out there, and how you can get involved and start "treesearching" for yourself and your community.