Snyder County Conservation District Hosts Agroforestry Workshop

Written by Shannon Wehinger on June 23, 2017. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

Penn State’s Eric Burkhart from the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, tells the group about medicinal plant production, specifically Ginseng. Photo provided by SCCD.

Seventy-five participants at a local workshop learned that there are untapped treasures in the forest that can bring forest landowners some additional income. On June 16 the PA Bureau of Forestry, Community Partnerships RC&D, and the Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) hosted an Agroforestry Workshop at the Shade Mountain Winery near Middleburg.

Attendees heard presentations on marketing non-timber products such as medicinal plants, edible plants and mushrooms, charcoal making, tapping maple syrup, growing ginseng, planting multi-function buffers, among other topics. Speakers included the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Tracey Coulter and Gary Gilmore, Penn State’s Jim Finley and Dr. Eric Burkhart, Rusty Orner of Quiet Creek Herb Farm, Lauren Barlow from Community Partnerships RC&D, and PASA Director Hannah Smith-Brubaker.

Planning Committee:
Craig Bingman, SCCD District Manager
Gerald Hoy, DCNR Service Forester
Lauren Barlow, Community Partnerships, RC&D