CHRF Agroforestry Overview

Agroforestry Plan

Corbin Hill Road Farm is establishing a multi-phase agroforestry system designed to regenerate soil, build ecological resilience, and create long-term wealth. The plan integrates hazelnuts, chestnuts, black locust, black walnut, truffle production, elderberries, and black currants within a diversified perennial alley-cropping design. Each phase builds on the last, moving from small-scale trials to a fully established agroforestry enterprise rooted in shared ownership and lasting stewardship.
 

Pilot Trial Zone (2021)

The work began with a small experimental zone to study soil conditions, water flow, microclimates, and species compatibility.

This early plot served as a learning site to test methods, track growth patterns, and refine future layout decisions before scaling up.

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Prep Phase (September 2024)

Before major plantings, the full field system was prepared through:

• Cover cropping across all fields and proposed rows

• Assessing moisture retention and compaction

• Mapping shade, slope, and drainage zones

• Establishing initial fencing and access points
   

This preparation created the foundation for healthy root development and long-term soil regeneration.

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Phase 1 — Hazelnut & Chestnut Establishment (May 2025)

Plantings include:

• 100 hazelnut trees inoculated with truffle spores

• 651 chestnut trees arranged in perennial alley rows
   

This phase forms the core backbone of the farm’s perennial production, establishing long-lived nut systems that anchor future intercropping, carbon storage, and high-value harvests.
 

Phase 2 — Black Locust (October 2025)

Phase 2 expands the system with black locust rows, a key species for:

• Nitrogen fixation

• Supporting pollinators

• Future coppice cycles

• Providing natural fence posts and structural wood
   

These fast-growing trees enrich the soil, stabilize the orchard environment, and set the stage for agroforestry layers in the next phase.
 

Phase 3 — Integrated Alley Cropping (Spring 2026)

This phase completes the full alley-cropped design.
Plantings include:

• Black walnut

• Intercropped black currants

• Intercropped elderberries

• Biodiversity companion trees
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Phase 3 introduces multi-strata production, combining timber, nuts, fruits, and biodiversity plantings in one harmonized system. This creates:

• Continuous canopy growth

• Resilient understory economies

• Strong long-term ecological and financial returns