The forest farming community shares information about growing and selling high-value non-timber forest products. Members are from across the country and have experience farming and studying edible, medicinal, decorative, and craft-based products in woodlands. The community provides woodland owners and managers with information about startup, best practices, and markets and policies.

Non-timber forest products are a key part of the US forest-based economy. Examples of high-value products include shiitake mushrooms, medicinal plants such as goldenseal, decoratives such as pine straw and salal, and craft products such as cypress knees. Forest farming is the sustainable cultivation of these products under the protection of a forest canopy that has been modified and is maintained to provide the correct shade level. Forest farming is an agroforestry practice that provides income while high-quality, long-term trees are being grown for future products or forest conservation. Visit www.appalachianforestfarmers.org for more information.