Webinar Recap: From Food Deserts to Food Forests in Dry Climates
On Wednesday, 5/8/2024, 1 – 2:15 pm EDT, the U.S. Forest Service held an engaging and informative webinar titled From Food Deserts to Food Forests in Dry Climates, moderated by Heather Altherr, Cooperative Forestry Specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, and Raven Zellers, Urban and Community Forestry Program Specialist for the Southwest Region. This webinar brought together experts, community members, and stakeholders to discuss innovative agroforestry practices that can help address food insecurity, environmental degradation, and climate resilience, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
The webinar opened with a warm welcome from Heather, who set the stage by introducing the key purpose of the session exploring how agroforestry, specifically food forests, can transform urban food deserts into thriving ecosystems. She explained the technical aspects of the session and how participants could access closed captioning, post questions in the chat, and earn continuing education credits for their participation.
Co-moderator Raven Zellers then took over, providing an overview of the topics and presenters for the day. The webinar featured three experts: Catherine Faber from the USDA National Agroforestry Center, Brooke O’Brien from Soulful Seeds in Reno, Nevada, and Barbara Eiswerth of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network in Tucson, Arizona.
Turning Food Deserts into Food Forests: Key Insights
The first presentation by Catherine Faber delved into the concept of agroforestry and its role in addressing environmental and social challenges. Faber, based in San Diego, California, highlighted that agroforestry is a suite of sustainable land-use practices that integrate trees into agricultural systems. She emphasized the importance of creating food forests, also known as forest gardens, which mimic early succession forests with multiple layers of edible and medicinal plants.
Catherine described how these systems could mitigate issues like the urban heat island effect, improve biodiversity, and enhance community resilience in dry climates. By planting food forests in urban and suburban settings, communities can access fresh and culturally appropriate food while improving environmental conditions. She further shared examples of successful food forests in the Southwest, including a case study of the Festival Beach Food Forest in Austin, Texas. This inspiring initiative, which started on public parkland, has transformed a neglected area into a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem that provides free food to the community.
Spotlight on Local Initiatives: Soulful Seeds and Iskashitaa Refugee Network
The second speaker, Brooke O’Brien, from Soulful Seeds in Reno, Nevada, discussed how her organization builds community gardens and food forests to promote food security in underprivileged neighborhoods. By focusing on community engagement and sustainable practices, Soulful Seeds addresses the unique challenges faced by residents in dry climates, such as water conservation and extreme heat.
Finally, Barbara Eiswerth, founder of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network in Tucson, Arizona, shared her organization's efforts in addressing food waste and food insecurity by harvesting edible fruits from local trees. Iskashitaa helps refugees gain valuable skills and provides access to fresh, locally sourced food, which would otherwise go to waste. Barbara’s work exemplifies how agroforestry can not only enhance environmental sustainability but also strengthen social cohesion.
Key Takeaways: Agroforestry as a Tool for Resilience
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, where participants posed questions about starting their own food forests, navigating zoning regulations, and sourcing drought-tolerant plants. The panelists emphasized the importance of collaboration, creativity, and adaptability when applying agroforestry in urban spaces, particularly in areas facing limited land access and water shortages.
In closing, Heather and Raven encouraged participants to stay engaged by visiting the U.S. Forest Service website for additional resources, tools, and upcoming webinars. They reiterated that agroforestry, though rooted in ancient practices, holds immense potential for addressing today’s environmental and social challenges in urban and rural communities alike.
For those looking to take action, the webinar offered inspiration, practical advice, and a reminder that even in the harshest of environments, it is possible to grow food forests—spaces that nourish people, communities, and the planet. here is the link to the webinar for more information https://research.fs.usda.gov/products/multimedia/webinars/food-deserts-food-forests-dry-climates-models-action
-Rebecca Ursule-Intern