Note: Private Facebook groups are groups where only members can see who’s in the group and what they post, whereas in public Facebook groups anyone can see who’s in the group and what they post.
Also note: This is a page dedicated to groups and associations, not businesses such as nurseries or tool suppliers. For Nurseries, visit our Nurseries page, for tools suppliers, visit our Tools & Supplies page.
Allies: Organizations with similar or related interests to ours.
Diana Beresford-Kroeger , botanist, medical biochemist and climate visionary, whom you may recognize as a fictionalized character in “the Overstory”. Here are just a few of the fun facts you will hear in a NYT interview with her
- Black Walnut trees are believed to extract Benzene from the air where they grow.
- The resin from the buds of Populous tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) is dispersed widely and affects all mammals in the Spring.
While trees have been given recognition as the lungs of the planet, certain ones, especially those of the Boreal forests, are of special importance and Diana claims that these are working extra hard to sustain the planet and protect its inhabitants.
What’s her recipe for change? She wants humans to take part in reversing the effects of climate change by having everyone plant one native tree per year for the next six years. While she speaks up for the trees, she also maintains a large collection of native species in a not too temperate area of Canada. You can find the interview and more about this Celtic rooted spark of nature at her website .
For a nut-centric talk, listen to her keynote presentation at the 2021 Northern Nut Growers Association Conference .
Woodlanders. [website espired.] Be sure and catch this series of descriptive stories if you have any interest in forest products and practices on a human scale. These mellow and informative glimpses of ordinary people carrying on traditional harvests, is both uplifting and inspiring. —jk
Agrarian Sharing Network , a YouTube channel with dozens of videos ranging from organizing community agricultural events to grafting. A couple of months work of watching here, from the west coast activists. —Jack K.
” An all-volunteer community promoting friendship and ecological resilience throughout the Pacific Northwest, by supporting the birth and maintenance of a network of neighborhood-based initiatives focused on long-term food security. Primarily, we identify, collect, distribute and propagate ‘future heirlooms’, those varieties of fruit, vegetable, nut and mycological crops, both old and modern, which we anticipate will provide the bedrock of locally-sustainable cultures in the decades ahead.”
Silvopasture blog created by Peter Smallidge. “A nice forum here on alternative tree-based fodder systems for livestock. Info on which critters can digest what, and what others are planting.”
—Jack K.
Native Plant Trust’s Go Botany website for education around plant identification. “Discover thousands of New England plants.”
The Balkan Ecology Project is a “permaculture-inspired, grassroots project based in South Eastern Europe, Bulgaria. Our mission is to develop and promote practices that provide food and other resources while enhancing biodiversity. Our efforts aim to develop thoughtful approaches to food, shelter, community and commerce, while promoting and preserving the unique biological diversity associated with the Balkan region.
We strive to be a demonstration and education site for visitors from all over the world, while hosting courses and events throughout the year and managing a forest garden/permaculture plant nursery. Visitors are welcome by prior arrangement or by dropping in to one of the bi-annual Open Day events.” These folks seem ambitious, creative and grounded in trying to connect people to useful plants and info. We can learn from them and their activity.
Shelterwood Forest Farm is a small wooded farm located in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Pennsylvania. “Our goal is to empower backyard gardeners, farmers, and urban foresters across eastern North America to combat climate change and create spaces for thriving biodiversity. We trial and evaluate innovative landscape management strategies to improve climate resiliency and productivity in any landscape. Shelterwood Forest Farm was founded by Max Paschall – an ISA certified arborist and professional horticulturist coming from four generations of nurserymen and women.”
The New England Acorn Cooperative, Website ; Facebook page . Founded in 2013, “the New England Acorn Cooperative’s mission is to provide education and resources for individuals and organizations interested in respectful, sustainable, acorn harvesting, processing and consumption, and to build long-term partnerships that are environmentally sound and economically fair between land-owners, preserved open spaces, wildlife, gatherers, processors and consumers of acorns.”
arbcology wood decaying fungi for arborists and mycologists , a 6,600+ member Facebook group begun in 2016 by Alan Williams. Dedicated to identifying wood-attacking fungi. Photos galore. This group also maintains a list of articles .
Woodland Management, Coppicing, Coppice Crafts & Products , a 2,200+ member Facebook Group. Michael Smith is admin. “This group is for all practitioners, those wishing to learn and those simply interested in the subject(s).” This group maintains a list of articles .
Coppicing, Pollarding, and Hedgelaying North America , a public Facebook Group, “A place to discuss coppice, pollard, and hedge management in North America. Species, uses, technique, history, theory, design.” They maintain a small list of articles .
Hedgelaying North America , a blog from Vermont promoting hedgelaying classes. “Hedgelaying is a traditional rural skill for rejuvenation of a farm hedgerow by ‘pleaching’ (a partial cutting of ) stems and folding them to form a living fence, promoting regrowth from the base and thus keeping them thick and bushy for many decades between lays.”
HEDGEROWS and other traditional fences , a private 700+ member Facebook Group begun circa 2014. “A page dedicated to community, dialogue and the sharing of ideas regarding Hedgerows and other traditional, regenerative and aesthetically pleasing fencing methods of the world such as Living Fences, Drystone Walls and more. We especially encourage the study of regenerative fencing techniques for a low-energy/post-oil future context.”
Tree Hay , a 1,600+ member private Facebook group, begun in 2015 by Carolyn Jill Sloane. “A group for anyone interesting in feeding their livestock tree hay/fodder. Other perennials will be discussed such as grape vines, comfrey, stinging nettle and so on. Please share links, tips & tricks including tree/animal species, how to feed, harvest, and store tree hay.”
Regenerative Forestry , a 400+ member private Facebook group begun in 2018 by Jonathan Ramirez. “This group is for people who are interested in and/or are practitioners of agro-forestry, eco-forestry, sustainable logging, homesteading, or any other occupation or hobby that brings them into the woodland environment in a way that seeks to become increasingly regenerative as we further garner wisdom from the natural world. Politics as they are related to forestry, is a welcome topic. The discussion of climate change is welcome, but it is not a given that all members may agree on this. This is not just for people who wish to make a “living” (economic) off the woods, but also for people who wish to live with the forested landscape regeneratively despite a crumbling socio-political/economic system.”
Silvopasture , a 3600+ member public Facebook group begun in 2015 by Grant Schultz. “Silvopasture – grazing animals in savannas, woodlands, and orchards. Invite like minds to collaborate on the realization of rational agriculture.”
Agroforestry , a 300+ member public Facebook group created in 2019 by Grant Schultz. “Agroforestry: the fusion of forestry and agriculture includes practices such as silvopasture, alley cropping, multispecies orcharding, forest farming, riparian buffers and windbreaks. We discuss it ALL here in a helpful and multinationally inclusive manner.”
Wild Edibles , a 29,000+ member private Facebook group begun in 2015 by Alyssa Tillett. “This group is for those wanting to learn more about wild edible, or those who want to share their knowledge about wild edibles. Feel free to post pictures asking for identification, but please remember to be 100% sure that the plant you consume is NOT poisonous. We are not responsible for what you eat….”
Lichens, Mosses, Ferns and Fungi , a 47,000+ member private Facebook group begun in 2010. “Lichens, Mosses, Ferns and Fungi (LMFF). We accept photos from the following groups, in addition to LMFF, Slime Moulds, Liverworts, Hornworts, Quillworts, Clubmosses, Spikemosses and Horsetails. However we do have rules, and would appreciate you reading them before posting….”
Beauties of the forest , a 2800+ member private Facebook group begun in 2019 by Lucia Widmer-Tatti. “A group devoted to everything that is living and growing in the forest.”
Big Tree Seekers , a 46,000+ member public Facebook group begun in 2016 by Fred Breglia. “Big Tree Seekers – This group is dedicated to discovering the largest trees of each species around the world. Many of the largest trees remain undiscovered and it is our goal to bring forward many new champion trees. This page is dedicated to the Discovery, Protection, Preservation, Documentation & Appreciation of the Biggest Trees and Oldest Forests. We want to showcase these wonderful earth sentinels in photos so please feel free to share photos and posts, as long as its in the theme of the group. Please help us GROW by adding your friends.” Associated with Fred Breglia’s Facebook page Ancient Forests & Champion Trees .
Walnut & Hickory Planet – Juglandaceae , a 500+ member public Facebook group begun in 2018 by Fred Breglia. “For people who like plants in the Juglandaceae – Walnut & Hickory Family.”
Planet Maple , a 900+ member public Facebook group begun in 2018 by Fred Breglia. “A group for Maple (Acer) enthusiasts from around the world. Please feel free to post any relative subject on maple, or their relatives. No advertising / spam etc. Enjoy this group and spread the word. ADD your friends and help us GROW!”
Tree Crops , a 1,900 member private Facebook group begun by David Whyte in 2015. “This group is for those who are passionate about Tree Crops in New Zealand. This groups is about facilitating the conversations that happen at our meetings and fieldtrips.” Associated with the New Zealand Tree Crops Association (website).
Northern Nut Growers Association , a Facebook page of the Northern Nut Growers Association (website). “A national non-profit organization with members throughout the US and 15 foreign countries founded in 1910 to share information on nut tree growing. Our members include beginning nut culturists, farmers, amateur and commercial nut growers, experiment station workers, horticultural teachers and scientists, nut tree breeders, nursery people, and foresters.”
