The Seeds Of Working Trees
Trees have a job to do. Put them to "work" on your land and watch them do important tasks like improve water quality, control soil erosion, increase agricultural production, and provide wildlife habitat.
The Working Trees concept was a fundamental step towards helping the USDA National Agroforestry Center effectively communicate the role that trees can play in agricultural systems. Natural resource professionals and landowners identify with Working Trees: combining agriculture and forestry practices to yield environmental, economic, and social benefits.
The Working Trees concept was the brainchild of now-retired Forest Service Lead Agroforester, Jerry (JB) Bratton. After 23 years as District Forester for southeast Kansas, he became Great Plains Forestry Specialist (later Lead Agroforester) for the USDA Forest Service. With his focus on the entire region rather than individual forest lands, he saw the positive effect that trees could have on whole watersheds and the greater landscape. Jerry says, "When I became focused on the Great Plains as a whole, I realized that trees continually provide an important service to us. When the right trees are planted in the right places they can do any number of things to help conserve natural resources." And so, the seeds of Working Trees were planted.
As the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) began to take shape in the early 1990's, an informational brochure about agroforestry was needed. With the 1994 publication of "Agroforestry: Working Trees for Agriculture," Working Trees had sprouted and continues to grow. The demand for this brochure has been so popular that NAC is now distributing copies of its sixth printing, as well as a Spanish translation. The original drawings used to illustrate theoretical concepts have been replaced by photographs of real-life agroforestry examples. The Working Trees concept is now an integral component to promoting agroforestry in the United States.
One of Jerry's favorite sayings is, "Working Trees really earn their room and board!" If the growing adoption of agroforestry practices across the country is any indication, a lot of other people think so, too!
Working Trees
NAC's popular series of Working Trees brochures serves as a great introduction to agroforestry. These color publications each illustrate various agroforestry practices that landowners can apply to help meet their production and conservation objectives. Additionally, you can reserve our corresponding Working Trees displays to accompany the brochures at your next event.
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Working Trees
for Energy
Agroforestry practices can help farms, ranches and communities reduce energy use and diversify income.(6 pages)
Working Trees
For Communities
Agroforestry practices can be adapted to provide benefits to communities of all sizes, especially at the rural/urban interface. (6 pages)
Working Trees
For Wildlife
Agroforestry provides many options for landowners to create wildlife habitat that is mutually beneficial. (6 pages)
Working Trees
For Water Quality
Using the right trees to restore and protect water quality while acheiving both landowner and community objectives. (6 pages)
Working Trees
For Livestock
Combining trees with livestock and forage can help landowners diversify production and income while reducing strees on livestock. (6 pages)
Working Trees
For Agriculture
By adding the right trees in the right places, landowners can make their farms and ranches more productive and sustainable. (6 pages)
Working Trees
For Treating Waste
Fast growing trees can recycle excess waste, providing an effective, natural alternative to waste treatment plants. (6 pages)
Working Trees
For Carbon: Windbreaks In The U.S.
Carbon storage, compounded with reduced energy consumption, makes windbreaks an obvious conservation choice. (2 pages)
Working Trees: Living Snow Fence
By adding the right trees in the right places, roadways can be kept clear of drifting and blowing snow, for safety and lower maintenance costs. (6 pages)
Working Trees: Silvopasture
Various planning, establishment, and management considerations are detailed with examples from the Southeastern United States. (6 pages)
Working Trees Coloring Book
We encourage you to print out these pages and share them with your children. (10 pages)
