Our Farming Practices
At Windy Acorn Farm, our work is guided by the principle that farming and forests can thrive together.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is not a new idea—it’s an ancient and enduring practice, long carried forward by Indigenous communities around the world. Simply put, agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs with crops and pasture to create mutually supportive systems.
In the United States, the USDA recognizes five main types of agroforestry: alley cropping, silvopasture, forest farming, riparian buffers, and windbreaks. At Windy Acorn Farm, we practice alley cropping, forest farming, and riparian buffers, while also expanding on these models with a woodland coppicing system inspired by northern traditions of sustainable forest use
Alley Cropping
Alley cropping brings together trees and shrubs planted in rows with crops growing in the alleys between them. It’s a diverse and dynamic system that offers a wealth of ecosystem benefits.
At Windy Acorn Farm, our focus is on perennials. Many of our alleys are planted or will be planted with small fruits, berries, and perennial vegetables, while others are intentionally left with native vegetation to support pollinators and birds.
Forest Farming
Forest farming takes advantage of the dappled light beneath a healthy canopy to cultivate shade-loving native plants. Our forest farming systems are designed to diversify the understory, strengthen forest health, and provide a place for forest botanicals and mushrooms that naturally belong in our northern woodlands.
This approach allows us to produce food and forest products in harmony with existing ecosystems rather than replacing them.
Two ephemeral creeks weave through the farm—one deep in the forest, the other tracing the northeastern edge of our main fields. Both are protected by natural riparian buffers, which we’re gradually enriching with a wider diversity of edible and native species to nourish both people and wildlife.
In the center of the farm lies a discontinuous wetland, where we’re planting edible species along the edges and restoring the interior with native wetland plants that provide vital habitat for pollinators.
Woodland Coppicing
Woodland coppicing is an ancient, sustainable method of managing broadleaf trees by cutting them back periodically to encourage regrowth from the stump. Our U-cut Christmas tree stands` are our own version of this system.
While balsam firs aren’t traditional coppice trees, they demonstrate similar resilience. When a tree is harvested, the root system remains intact, allowing a new tree to grow from the same base. This approach makes our Christmas tree production regenerative and long-lasting, sustaining both the soil and the spirit of the forest
We grow with the northern forest as our model, always working to create a landscape that hums with life. Our fields and forests are managed to provide habitat for birds and insects—partners who help us maintain ecological balance and naturally reduce pest pressure.
Climate Resilience
Because we focus on perennial systems, our farm is built for climate resilience. Once established, shrubs and trees can thrive for decades, capturing carbon, building soil, and adapting to changing seasons and weather.
While we are not yet certified organic, our practices are guided by organic principles—no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, deep respect for soil life, and a commitment to working with natural systems rather than against them.
In every sense, we grow with the forest—cultivating abundance that feeds both people and the land for generations to come.
