Perennial AF
Episodes
“They Gave Us Three Months” - Rescuing a Collection of Rare Kyrgyzstan Apple Trees with Eliza Greenman
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Eliza Greenman describes the efforts underway to save a unique repository of apple trees from Kyrgyzstan that are currently growing in Ohio...at least...
Wes Jackson and Selena Warsaw-Lane Receive Deep Roots and New Shoots Awards at the 2026 Perennial Farm Gathering
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Savanna Institute’s Deep Roots Award recognizes an individual for a lifetime of achievement advancing the science, practice, and adoption of per...
At the World Congress on Agroforestry in Kigali, Rwanda with Lily Hislop and Jenn Ripp
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The 6th World Congress on Agroforestry was held October 20-24th in Kigali, Rwanda, and staff members Lily Hislop and Jenn Ripp were in attendance. Hea...
“Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods” Book Discussion with Liz Carlisle and Aubrey Streit Krug
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods”, a new book co-edited by Dr. Liz Carlisle and Dr. Aubrey Streit Krug, will launch at the upcoming P...
Dos and Don’ts of Silvopasture By Subtraction in Wisconsin with Stefania Cartoni-Casamitjana and Diane Mayerfeld
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Silvopasture researchers Stefania Cartoni-Casamitjana and Diane Mayerfeld describe the lessons they’ve learned from their research on silvopasture e...
“Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away” - Annie Duke Book Review with Erin Crooks Lynch
15 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host Jacob Grace discusses the book "Quit" by professional poker player Annie Duke with his coworker Erin Crooks Lynch. When is quitting a good thing?...
Stockbroker to Black Currant Breeder: The Dick McGinnis Story with Lily Hislop
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dick McGinnis, a black currant breeder based in British Columbia, began his career as a stockbroker before devoting many years to developing cold-hard...
1,281 Hours of Birds: Bioacoustic Monitoring with Nate Lawrence
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2024, Savanna Institute began a bioacoustic monitoring program to record the sounds of birds and other wildlife each morning and evening at one of ...
Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture by J. Russell Smith - Part 1
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host Jacob Grace reads from the first three chapters of Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture by J. Russell Smith, first published in 1929. This book, w...
“Doing the Work You Can’t Not Do” with Sallie Calhoun
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sallie Calhoun, founder of the #NoRegrets Initiative and owner of Paicines Ranch on California's central coast, talks with staff member Jenn Ripp abou...
Rusted Plowshare Farm Tour with Josh Payne
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farmer Josh Payne leads a tour of his farm in central Missouri and describes his management of beef cattle, sheep, and hogs in a rotational grazing si...
Hoch Orchard Part 2: Carmelita Gardens, Belize (2025 Interview)
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Harry and Jackie Hoch describe their work establishing tropical agroforestry in Carmelita Gardens, Belize, and discuss what has happened with their fa...
Hoch Orchard Part 1: Southeast Minnesota (2018 Farm Tour)
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hear an audio tour of Hoch Orchard and Gardens in southeastern Minnesota in this archival recording from 2018. Harry and Jackie Hoch describe their sy...
“There Are No Slackers In This Field” - Plant Breeding Farm Tour with Adam D’Angelo
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adam D’Angelo, Breeding Operations Manager for the Savanna Institute Tree Crop Improvement Program, leads a tour of a research farm at the Savanna I...
Is It Forest Or Is It Pasture? Silvopasture Q&A with Brett Chedzoy and Cherrie Nolden
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Chedzoy and Cherrie Nolden have decades of experience managing silvopasture on farms in New York, Argentina, and Wisconsin. In this recorded ses...
PFG Archives: Grafting with Lupe Rios, Silvopasture with Eliza Greenman, and Farm Loans with Paul Dietmann
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lupe Rios talks about grafting, Eliza Greenman talks about silvopasture and fruit exploring, and Paul Dietmann talks about farm loans and financing in...
Sembrando Vida, A Flagship Agroforestry Program in Mexico - with Pablo Gonzalez Moctezuma and Sophia Winkler-Schor
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2018, the Mexican government launched a national program called Sembrando Vida, or “sowing life”, with the goal of reducing poverty and refores...
Perennial Beverage Workshop: Maple Syrup Sparkling Water, Acorn Kombucha, Shrub-Grown Shrubs, and More
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Perennial beverage makers discuss the processing, marketing, and development of syrups, sparkling waters, salves, cordials, shrubs, beers, wines, and ...
“This Felt Really Hard” - Obstacles to Perennial Adoption for Non-Operating Landowners
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Host Jacob Grace talks with his friend Alex about her family’s experiences as non-operating landowners trying to establish perennial management on t...
Hedgelaying in the UK with Martin Turner, George Pidgeon, and Steven McCulloch
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This January, Savanna Institute staff member MJ Oviatt visited the UK to study hedgelaying with members of the Blackdown Hills Hedge Association. In t...
Culinary Creativity with Beth Dooley, Francesca Hong, and Odessa Piper
15 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chefs and perennial food advocates Beth Dooley, Francesca Hong, and Odessa Piper discuss cooking and baking with perennial ingredients, favorite recip...
"In Some Cases It's Actually Not That Hard" - Silvopasture Farm Tour with Erik Hagan
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Erik Hagan, farm director of the Spring Green Campus, leads a farm tour of silvopasture systems in this recording from a field day in August 2024. Sho...
The Pros and Cons of Windbreaks and Riparian Buffers - Eliza Greenman and Nate Lawrence
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tree crop researchers Eliza Greenman and Nate Lawrence discuss the pros, cons, and tradeoffs of windbreak and riparian buffer management for ecosystem...
Visualizing Your Future Farm - A Guided Meditation with Barbara Decré
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Barbara Decré, assistant director of our Agroforestry Adoption program, leads a guided meditation to help you visualize a perennial farming project f...
The R(evolution) of Indigenous Foodways with Chef Sean Sherman - PFG 2024
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chef Sean Sherman delivers the keynote address at the 2024 Perennial Farm Gathering in October 2024. Show notes at www.savannainstitute.org/PerennialA...
Why Trees Die (and what we can do to help them!) with Steve Gabriel - PFG 2024
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Agroforester Steve Gabriel leads the audience in a conversation about why agroforestry plantings fail and what we can do to help projects succeed in t...
Ag Policy and the Farm Bill with Chuck Anderas and Margaret Krome
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chuck Anderas and Margaret Krome from the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute's policy team discuss the need for a new Farm Bill, the importance of ...
“We’re In the Belly of the Beast” - Illinois Agroforestry Farm Tour with Kaitie Adams
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A tour of 4H Memorial Demonstration Farm at Allerton Park in central Illinois with Demonstration Farms Director Kaitie Adams and Savanna Institute sta...
Spring Green Campus Tour with Farm Director Erik Hagan
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode takes you on an audio tour of the Savanna Institute's North Farm, part of our Spring Green Campus in southern Wisconsin. Hear farm direct...
"Forest Farming Is A Gateway" with Dr. Eric Burkhart
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A recording of Dr. Eric Burkhart's forest farming workshop at the Savanna Institute's Spring Green Campus. Learn more about forest stewardship and non...
Northeast Agroforestry Road Trip Part II: Steve Gabriel, Eric Toensmeier, and Akiva Silver
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The road trip continues! We hear from agroforesters and authors Steve Gabriel, Eric Toensmeier, and Akiva Silver on a road trip to the northeast. Show...
Northeast Agroforestry Road Trip Part I: Sven Pihl, Seva Water, and Joe Orefice
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Road trip! We hear from agroforesters Sven Pihl, Seva Water, and Joe Orefice on a road trip to the northeast. Show notes at savannainstitute.org/Peren...
Canopy Compass: A New Tree Crop Suitability Mapping Tool - with Monika Shea and Kevin Wolz
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Monika Shea and Kevin Wolz, two of the researchers behind Canopy Compass, describe the history and the potential of this new web-based tree crop suita...
Persimmon Folklore, Fruit Exploring, and Genetics - with Eliza Greenman
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Savanna Institute researcher Eliza Greenman describes her search for the best-tasting American persimmon cultivars, which involves box turtles, puddin...
"We Can't Call Them Superfruit" - Barriers to Berry Markets with Bill Davison & PJ Connolly
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Savanna Institute staff members Bill Davison and PJ Connolly describe their work to expand regional markets for four nutritionally-dense perennial ber...
Nightfall Farm, Riveredge Nature Center, Chestnut Research, and More
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A compilation of short interviews from our recent videos, featuring Nightfall Farm, Riveredge Nature Center, Scott Brainard & Eliza Greenman, Gras...
“You Can’t Believe It Grows Here” - Project Pawpaw with Adam D’Angelo
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adam D’Angelo, founder of Project Pawpaw, answers commonly asked questions about this elusive and beloved North American fruit. Project Pawpaw: http...
A Thorny Topic: Black Locust and Honey Locust for Agroforestry
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people hate black locust and honey locust trees, but some people think they hold great potential for agroforestry. Greg Judy, Austin Unruh, S...
“Spreadsheets on the Radio” - Farm Viability and the Fruit & Nut Compass with John Hendrickson
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spreadsheet wizard John Hendrickson helps host Jacob Grace get started with the Fruit and Nut Compass, a free spreadsheet tool for producers to track ...
Getting Started with Forest Farming - Ingrid Daudert, Karam Sheban, and Robin Suggs
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features portions of the PFG 2023 panel discussion "Everything You Wanted to Know About Forest Farming (But Didn't Know to Ask)", featuri...
Agroforestry for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation - with Nate Lawrence and Monika Shea
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Savanna Institute research scientists Nate Lawrence and Monika Shea dig into the details of agroforestry for climate change mitigation (through reduce...
“Joy Is What Emerges From Connection” - Q&A with Author Ross Gay
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Author and poet Ross Gay speaks with silvopasture farmer Liz Brownlee in a recorded keynote session from the 2023 Perennial Farm Gathering. Show notes...
“Grass Holds the World Together” - A Beginning Farmer Interviews Greg Judy
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features a recorded phone interview between Missouri silvopasture farmer and author Greg Judy and Iowa State University student Jesse Mat...
Q&A With "Braiding Sweetgrass" Author Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer - PFG 2023
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, ecologist and author of "Braiding Sweetgrass" and "Gathering Moss", answers questions from the audience of our 2023 Perennial...
"You Should Consider Maple Syrup Production" - with Tony Johnson
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wisconsin Extension forestry specialist Tony Johnson discusses how maple syrup production can open doors for other agroforestry enterprises, and how W...
Choosing the Right Livestock with Cherrie Nolden
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Goats, sheep, cattle, hogs, horses, and fowl all have different diets, behavior, and impacts on the land. Choosing the right type of livestock for you...
"What Would It Look Like?" - Introduction to Agroforestry with the Field Notes Podcast
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Jacob Grace and Eric Wolske of Canopy Farm Management join Will Fulwider and Michael Geissinger, hosts of the Field Notes podcast from the Univer...
"My Dad and I Are Both Stubborn..." Generational Dynamics with Jacob Marty
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jacob Marty reflects on how his relationship with his father has shaped the dynamics on their sixth generation family farm in southern Wisconsin in th...
Tree Crop Improvement Research with Scott Brainard
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Brainard, a plant breeding specialist working for the Savanna Institute, gives an overview of the institute's goals and strategies for breeding ...
“Embrace the Chaos” - Dayna Burtness, Beth Dooley, Eliza Greenman, and Anna Lappé
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this recording from our 2021 Perennial Farm Gathering, farmer Dayna Burtness moderates an online panel conversation with cookbook author Beth Doole...
“The Benefits of Silvopasture Are Endless” - Farm Tour with Erik Hagan and Michael Dolan
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A recording of our July 27th, 2023 pasture walk at the Spring Green Campus with farm director Erik Hagan and farmer Michael Dolan. Erik and Michael sh...
Building an Agroforestry Business with Austin Unruh
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Austin Unruh, owner of Trees for Graziers and author of "The Grazier’s Guide to Trees", tells the story of how he started his agroforestry business ...
“It’s Better To Learn From Other People’s Mistakes” - with Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm in southeastern Iowa have been practicing agroforestry for decades. In July, podcast host Jacob Grace visited...
Black Currants: From Farm to Flavor, a Once-Forbidden Fruit
15 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This mini-episode features voices from our 2021 black currant tasting event: farmers Kevin Wolz and Erin Schneider and chefs Odessa Piper and Colton S...
Coppice Agroforestry with Mark Krawczyk
01 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Exerpts from Mark Krawczyk's presentation at the 2022 Perennial Farm Gathering, drawing from Mark's new book, "Coppice Agroforestry". Mark provides an...
"Fearless Farm Finances" with Paul Dietmann and The Cutting Edge Podcast
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Dietmann, Senior Lending Officer for Compeer Financial’s Emerging Markets program, talks with host Jacob Grace and with Steffen Mirsky from the...
Thick as Thieves with Samantha Bosco
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Excerpts from Dr. Samantha Bosco's presentation at the 2022 Perennial Farm Gathering, entitled "Thick as Thieves: A social ecology of nucivery in a mo...
The Institute’s Roots with Keefe Keeley & Kevin Wolz
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To commemorate the Savanna Institute’s 10th anniversary this year, Kevin Wolz and Keefe Keeley recall the early days of the Savanna Institute, inclu...
Virtual Fence, and “The Artist’s Way” for Agroforesters
15 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meghan Filbert discusses virtual fence technology in a recording from our most recent Perennial Farm Gathering, and staff member Bill Davison reads an...
Grazing on Solar Farms, Mobilizing Goats, and Finding Farm Dogs – with Aaron Steele
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Steele is an Iowa farmer and entrepreneur, owner of Goats On The Go®, Sheep on the Go®, and host of the Farm Dog podcast. In this episode, Aar...
New Forest Farm Tour with Mark Shepard
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An audio tour of agroforestry and perennial farming systems at New Forest Farm in southwestern Wisconsin with farmer Mark Shepard, author of "Restorat...
Shower Goats and Arctic Kiwis - with Xinyuan Shi
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Savanna Institute Research Fellow Xinyuan Shi describes her time as an Agroforestry Apprentice and talks about her current research on silvopasture an...
“Perennial Dreams and Realities” - Keynote by Dr. Ricardo Salvador, 2022 Perennial Farm Gathering
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A recording of Dr. Ricardo Salvador's keynote presentation to the 2022 Perennial Farm Gathering, "Perennial Dreams and Realities", which draws on Dr. ...
How NOT to Start a Farm - with Marie Raboin
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Marie Raboin is a beginning farmer in southern Wisconsin who has already learned a lot from her first few years of raising livestock and tree crops. I...
The Climate Conversation with Keefe Keeley, Tucker Gretebeck, and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a collaboration with The Climate Conversation podcast, which is produced by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). Hosts...
Partnering for Agroforestry, Part II: Nettle Valley Farm, Southern Ohio Chestnut Company, and Delight Flower Farm
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Agroforestry can be tough to do on your own. This episode features interviews from our "Partnering for Agroforestry" series about successful partnersh...
"Is This Really A Dairy Farm?" - Ask-a-Farmer with Greg Galbraith
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Galbraith, a retired Wisconsin organic dairy farmer turned podcaster, answers questions from listeners and tells some stories about his time as a...
Cooking with Perennial Ingredients - Beth Dooley, Linda Hezel, Rick Mullins, & Taylor Neff
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we enter the holiday season, many of us begin thinking about food and cooking - and what to do with perennial crops as they go from farm to kitchen...
“Why Do Farmers Wear Overalls?” - Farmers answer commonly Googled questions about farming
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Marie Raboin of Brix Cider, Jacob Marty of Green Fire Farm, and Thelma Heidel-Baker of Bossie Cow Farm answer some of Google's top qu...
Agriculture as a Climate Solution: Just Add Trees
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Keefe Keeley and Barbara Decré discuss agroforestry as a natural climate solution in a recorded webinar for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, ...
“You'll Be Stuck Raising Vegetables!” - with Bill Davison
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Savanna Institute staff member Bill Davison answers questions from listeners and shares some of his favorite podcasts, books, and perspectives for suc...
Partnering for Agroforestry, Part I: All Seasons Farm, Organic Compound, and Silverwood Park
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features voices from our Partnering for Agroforestry series: All Seasons Farm, Organic Compound, and Silverwood Park. Learn more about th...
"The Indiana Jones of Agroforestry" with Eliza Greenman
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eliza Greenman is a farmer, "fruit explorer", and Savanna Institute staff member based in Virginia. In this episode, she answers questions from listen...
"Why Are We Still Using Old AF Technology?" - with Eric Wolske
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Wolske is an experienced agroforestry researcher with a fondness for "booze crops" and an interest in modernizing agroforestry equipment and mach...
Welcome to Perennial AF!
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Savanna Institute's newly rebranded podcast and blog about perennial agroforestry (AF) features interviews, questions from listeners, inside jokes...
Profitable Berry Crops for the Upper Midwest - Blue Fruit Farm webinar with Jim Riddle
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jim Riddle has been an organic farmer, gardener, inspector, educator, policy analyst, author, and speaker for more than 35 years. Jim co-owns and...
"How Grouchy Would They Be?" - Ask an Agroforester with Matt Wilson
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Wilson, our Wisconsin agroforestry technical service provider, answers questions we've received online and plays a round of agroforestry would-yo...
"I've Learned Fifty Ways to Kill a Tree" - Ask an Agroforester with Kaitie Adams
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Savanna Institute's Illinois Community Agroforester, Kaitie Adams, answers questions we've received online and plays a round of agroforestry would-you...
“You Should Have Elderberries in Your Life!” - Terry Durham and Chris Patton
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about elderberries in this episode! Featuring elderberry experts Terry Durham of River Hills Harvest and Chri...
Greg Judy: "We Converted a Vegetarian..."
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Judy is a Missouri farmer, author, and role model for many aspiring agroforesters and livestock farmers. This episode features Greg's keynote pre...
Eliza Greenman: "I Want to Haunt an Orchard Someday"
31 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eliza Greenman is an orchardist and fruit explorer who is enthusiastic about incorporating livestock into orchards. This episode features a recording ...