1. Saimniecība “Bekas” - Silvopasture at Bekas
Text comming soon.
Text comming soon.
UNHIDE Agroforestry Latvia - September 2024
2. Ragarès
Forest Garden / Market Garden run by a small family, with many elements of woody plants, shrubs and trees. Wonderful to see a business take advantage of such a diversity of landscape resources. As all market gardens, the labor intensity, marketing efforts and constant innovation is taxing for the owner and Ragarès is a beautiful example of how woody plants can be either central or a valuable complement to such an enterprise. Useful Report: Nuts and berries from agroforestry systems in temperate regions can form the foundation for a healthier human diet and improved outcomes from diet related diseases.
Forest Garden / Market Garden run by a small family, with many elements of woody plants, shrubs and trees. Wonderful to see a business take advantage of such a diversity of landscape resources. As all market gardens, the labor intensity, marketing efforts and constant innovation is taxing for the owner and Ragarès is a beautiful example of how woody plants can be either central or a valuable complement to such an enterprise. Useful Report: Nuts and berries from agroforestry systems in temperate regions can form the foundation for a healthier human diet and improved outcomes from diet related diseases.
3.
Vadakste Biodiversity forest
Text comming soon. (We have edited a film about this system)
4. Agņa saimniecība - Agnas' Forest garden
Another beautiful smallholding with a rich history - the meal was right from the dreams of hungry people, the hosts were exceptional, and the whole property held such a tremendous energy and space ready for planting. Already grown orchards, fantastic kitchen food forest garden, this farm has caretakers that love it and bring out the best in it. From our point of view, this farm has the possibility to stand out as an international “Latvian permaculture & sauna experience stay”. (They are at AirBnB) A typical old-fashion Latvian, self-sustaining household with a magnificent oak tree at the heart of the garden, with a canopy and root system that embrace and
provide for wind break, acorns, mycorrhiza collaborations, habitat, water- and nutrients distribution.
What a place!
5. Dagnijas saimniecība - Skriveri trial
Text comming soon.
Text comming soon.
6. Andris Ansis Špats - Cranberry alley cropping
Very unique take on alley cropping that we had not seen in practice before. Organic and nature based production with world class products made this visit very valuable. The fact that growing cranberries is a more profitable and environmentally friendly land-use alternative to peat extraction, lends another interesting dimension to this farm.
Andris Ansis is a visionary who's fulfilled his dreams.
7. Māra saimniecība - Forest garden
Beautiful smallholding, with great potential for self-reliance. Classic forest gardening situation in the early phases of the practitioners experience. Wind is a big problem here (one of the most windy areas in the country) as is a lack of water and an excess of deer. Grafted cultivars of trees on the edge of being hardy will not work well as pioneer species. The swedish team suggest focusing more on establishing wind breaks and experimenting with planting for example 1) grafted walnuts in the naturally established birch grove by making small openings, clearing the birches, making smaller "rooms" where the surrounding birches will provide shelter for each cultivar, while the walnut trees get a chance to get established in order to compete. 2) Digging a number of ponds on the big windswept part. 3) Putting the plants in guilds with nitrogen fixing plants (Cuttings and sprouts can be taken from silverbush and sea buckthorn in the back yard garden) rather than solitaires, for a faster progression of sturdy trees and bushes that can thrive in the environment. So many exciting things going on in a relatively small space, we look forward to seeing it again in the future!
Beautiful smallholding, with great potential for self-reliance. Classic forest gardening situation in the early phases of the practitioners experience. Wind is a big problem here (one of the most windy areas in the country) as is a lack of water and an excess of deer. Grafted cultivars of trees on the edge of being hardy will not work well as pioneer species. The swedish team suggest focusing more on establishing wind breaks and experimenting with planting for example 1) grafted walnuts in the naturally established birch grove by making small openings, clearing the birches, making smaller "rooms" where the surrounding birches will provide shelter for each cultivar, while the walnut trees get a chance to get established in order to compete. 2) Digging a number of ponds on the big windswept part. 3) Putting the plants in guilds with nitrogen fixing plants (Cuttings and sprouts can be taken from silverbush and sea buckthorn in the back yard garden) rather than solitaires, for a faster progression of sturdy trees and bushes that can thrive in the environment. So many exciting things going on in a relatively small space, we look forward to seeing it again in the future!
8. Annas dārzs / Annna's forest garden
Text comming soon. (We have soon edited a short film interview with Anna about her experience of the Unhide Agroforestry Road-Trip).
Text comming soon. (We have soon edited a short film interview with Anna about her experience of the Unhide Agroforestry Road-Trip).
Texts by Swedish participants: Katarina Holmdahl, Anders Lindén, Jona Elfdahl, Leo Sjöstrand, Maja Lindström Kling.
