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Agroforestry Is a NEW word for ancient ancestral farming practices. These ancestralpracticed have been around the world for centuries. Seed2Fork has been using thesefarm practices since 2016 in Snohomish County, we now use these farming practicesin 4 Washington counties. We focus forest farming and alley cropping.
AN ANCIENT INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY WITH WIDE MODERN APPEAL
Regarding agroforestry and the ongoing work we are doing at Seed2Fork:
Agroforestry is an ancient Indigenous technology that combines trees with farming to create multifunctional land-use systems. By emphasizing the convergence of forestry and agriculture, these practices contribute to climate-resilient processes and social well-being.
In 2016, Seed2Fork launched its first small-scale agroforestry and ancestral farming initiatives focused on alley cropping, forest farming, and land stewardship that are culturally relevant to Black, Brown, Latinx, Indigenous, Native American, immigrant, and low-income communities. We have found that growing useful trees, shrubs, and plants together creates a beneficial ecosystem for all species involved. These practices remain an integral part of how we farm throughout Washington State.
Agroforestry: Alley Cropping
Alley cropping is defined as “the planting of rows of trees and/or shrubs to create alleys within which agricultural or horticultural crops are produced” (USDA, 2025). This practice can be used to diversify income, stabilize soils, provide wildlife habitat, and protect sensitive row crops.
Seed2Fork Farm incorporates trees within agricultural cropland systems to support long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability. This system is sometimes referred to as intercropping, especially in tropical regions. It is particularly attractive to producers interested in growing multiple crops on the same acreage to improve overall farm productivity and resilience.
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