Silvopasture

“With farmland getting scarcer and the climate getting warmer, we must figure out novel approaches to growing food on less land with a smaller environmental footprint. Getting meat, firewood, lumber, mushrooms, berries, nuts, and other crops off the same piece of land will be even more important. One of the best approaches to that is silvopasturing—combining food animals with tree crops. Author Steve Gabriel gives us a well-organized, practical guide to this centuries-old approach of land management.”—Rebecca Thistlethwaite, author of Farms with a Future and The New Livestock Farmer

“A heartfelt, humble, and hope-filled account of the need for people to embrace one another and the landscapes we inhabit, told through the invaluable language of silvopasture. This book is packed with information and practical examples for anyone interested in the benefits of trees and grazing for the health of soil, plants, herbivores, and human beings.”—Fred Provenza, professor emeritus, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University

“There comes a time when modern messengers are needed to bring new life to ancient practices so that they can be utilized by the masses to transform society. In this foundational book, Steve Gabriel masterfully blends years of hard work, listening, and studying to present the complex subject in simple yet meaningful ways. Silvopasture provides much needed support and inspiration for anyone interested in becoming part of the solution to our climate, ecological, economic, and health challenges.”—Vail Dixon, Simple Soil Solutions

“There is rapidly increasing interest among European farmers in combining trees and livestock, but until now there’s been no really good book to guide them that explores all the benefits, as well as the tricky management decisions, involved in silvopasture systems. This is where Steve Gabriel’s book, appearing at exactly the right moment, comes in. Covering both tree management (stocking, species, etc.) and animal management (fencing, shelter, and breeds) as well as the ecology of the interactions between the two, this book should become the first port of call for farmers needing that extra information and confidence to take the step toward becoming agroforesters.”—Martin Crawford, director, Agroforestry Research Trust

“To practice silvopasture grazing successfully we must recognize the complexity of the farm ecosystem as a whole, and understand the needs of the many different parts of the system: livestock; understory plants, including grasses, legumes, and forbs; trees and other woody plants; and, of course, the soil itself, which must be maintained in good health. This book is an excellent resource to gain the essential knowledge needed to manage silvopasture well.”—Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing