A new $275,000 project has been funded by the Daybreak Foundation and Caerus Foundation to develop agroforestry plantings in southeastern Wisconsin. By integrating trees and shrubs into crop and livestock systems, agroforestry offers a powerful approach to improving soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. It also can help community members in urban neighborhoods with limited health food options grow nutritious fruits, nuts, vegetables, and grains.



Led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, the two-year project, Showcasing Agroforestry in SE Wisconsin Communities, will establish:
Four Agroforestry Demonstration Sites across southeastern Wisconsin
Two On-Farm Pilots utilizing innovative Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to help farmers implement agroforestry practices
Agroforestry Demonstration Sites
Beulah Family Homestead Farm (Elkhorn, Wisconsin)
Practices: Alley cropping, silvopasture, and food forests
Focus: Community-based agriculture and youth education
Lee Hemp Farm (Burlington, Wisconsin)
Practices: One-acre alley cropping system with fruit trees, bushes and a 1,000-foot windbreak
Focus: Hands-on agroforestry education for youth and community members
Kohl Farm Community Gardens (North Milwaukee)
Practices: Converting community gardens into a multipurpose agroforestry site with fruit and nut trees interplanted with vegetables and grains
Focus: Public education, youth empowerment, and community engagement
Central Milwaukee (WestCare Inc.)
Practices: Demonstration plantings of fruit and food crops on three vacant lots
Focus: Supporting community members in producing fruits and vegetables through agroforestry
Innovative Financing for Farmers
The project will also pilot the use of PACE financing, a deferred-repayment program, to help two commercial farmers in southeastern Wisconsin overcome the financial challenges of establishing perennial crops. This initiative is part of a national effort to make agroforestry financially accessible.
"Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Daybreak Foundation and Caerus Fund, we can advance agroforestry practices that not only benefit farmers but also build stronger, healthier communities and ecosystems. Our funders’ vision and commitment to regenerative agriculture and community health are enabling long-lasting community and ecosystem investments."
-- Margaret Krome, policy director, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
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