Learn how forests grow, how to design layered plant systems, and how to start building your own food forest—from soil to canopy.
Agroforestry Workshop
Join us for a fun and hands-on Agroforestry Workshop where you'll dive into the world of combining trees and crops for a greener future. Matthew will be your instructor in this event perfect for anyone curious about sustainable farming and eco-friendly practices. Come get your hands dirty at Fertile Earth and meet nice people!
Good to know
Highlights
- 2 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Fertile Earth Worm Farm
15150 Southwest 264th Street
Homestead, FL 33032
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
1. Intro
Quick introduction: why are we here? We’ll start with a gauge of everyone’s plant proficiency—no wrong answers, just a sense of where the group is starting from. Then we get into the work. Let’s get our hands dirty quick—we’ll be weeding all throughout the day, not just at the end. Plant ID & pick Learn to I.D. what’s growing around you, and pick as we work. Identification and harvest go hand in hand in a food forest.
2. What is a forest?
How it grows, and why. The cycle of a plant’s life A seed falls on leaves—the leaf litter is a nutrient sink, catching and holding fertility. Dark, humid, dappled light from the mother tree creates the conditions seedlings need. Soil layers stack from the surface down: soft leaves, compost, soil, mineral, water. Growing next to many of its kind, the stronger ones survive and thrive. Saplings stretch toward the light—and when a big tree falls, new space opens for the next generation.
3. Agroforestry Principles
Soil networks — roots, fungi, and microbes connect the whole system. Feed the network, not just individual plants. Pioneer plants — “Grow what grows.” Let fast, tough species lead while slower perennials establish. Chop and drop — Don’t import nutrition or amendments when you can recycle biomass on site. Keep the ground covered — Bare soil is lost soil. Leaves, mulch, and living ground covers protect it. Seed bomb plus lots of “stick growers” — Spread seed where it makes sense, and propagate from cuttings and sticks that root in place. Canopy control — Manage height and shade as the system matures.