Perennial AF

Why do some events, meetings, or social gatherings seem to go so well, and others don't? Erin Crooks coordinates events for Savanna Institute's Spring Green Campus and has over a decade of experience hosting on-farm gatherings. In this episode, Erin talks with host Jacob Grace about a book that has been a big influence on her work: "The Art of Gathering" by Priya Parker. The lessons in "The Art of Gathering" are useful not just for event coordinators, but for anyone who works with groups of people to get things done. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF

Eliza Greenman tells the story of how Osage orange trees played a major role in the settlement of farmland in the central US and how two men, Andrew Jackson Downing and Jonathan Baldwin Turner, ended up devoting much of their careers to the question of how to build a good hedge. Eliza also gives her recommendations - and cautions - for establishing hedges on US farms in 2026. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF    

You might think of windbreaks as a pretty basic form of agroforestry. You plant a row of trees -- probably evergreens -- and they grow up and block the wind. How hard can it be? They're the most common type of agroforestry in the Midwest by acreage, but they're also in decline across the country, and many existing windbreaks are old, unmanaged, and no longer effective. Don't make the mistake of underestimating windbreaks. This episode features a recording of our August 2026 field day at Valley Farm on Savanna Institute's Spring Green Campus. Farm Director Erik Hagan led a tour of several newly-planted three-row windbreaks at the farm, and explained how planting a windbreak incorrectly could actually make the wind WORSE. How is that possible? Learn more in this episode. Show notes and links at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennailAF    

Savanna Institute's black currant researcher, Lily Hislop, traveled to Europe for a month this summer to learn about black currant breeding and harvesting from farmers and colleagues in France, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and Scotland. In this episode, she shares some highlights (and some black currant flavored candy) from her trip. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF

How do you manage agroforestry alley cropping and silvopasture systems organically in the upper Midwest? Erik Hagan and Dave Hopey have spent years converting Savanna Institute’s demonstration farm north of Spring Green, Wisconsin from conventional corn and alfalfa fields into organically certifiable fields of berry and nut crops growing in and alongside livestock pasture, vegetables, and native prairie restoration. In this farm tour recorded on June 4, 2026, Erik and Dave walk through the conversion and management of these agroforestry operations, including establishment, crop selection, irrigation, weed and pest management, and more. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF

Keefe Keeley, executive director of the Savanna Institute, sits down with host Jacob Grace to talk about Savanna Institute's selection as a finalist for the 2026 Food Planet Prize and share additional news and updates from the organization. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF    

Eliza Greenman describes the efforts underway to save a unique repository of apple trees from Kyrgyzstan that are currently growing in Ohio...at least for the next few months. This story was recently covered in Civil Eats: https://civileats.com/2026/03/24/in-an-ohio-apple-grove-researchers-race-to-save-rare-varieties/

The Savanna Institute’s Deep Roots Award recognizes an individual for a lifetime of achievement advancing the science, practice, and adoption of perennial agriculture, and was presented this year to Wes Jackson, co-founder of The Land Institute. The New Shoots Award recognizes an emerging leader in perennial food and agriculture, and was presented this year to Selena Warsaw-Lane, owner of Future Fruit Farm and The Frozen Local in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This episode features a recording of the Deep Roots and New Shoots Awards Ceremony from the opening session of the 2026 Perennial Farm Gathering, held March 11-13th in Dubuque, Iowa.    

The 6th World Congress on Agroforestry was held October 20-24th in Kigali, Rwanda, and staff members Lily Hislop and Jenn Ripp were in attendance. Hear their interviews with other attendees and their reflections on the event in this episode of the Perennial AF podcast. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF

“Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods”, a new book co-edited by Dr. Liz Carlisle and Dr. Aubrey Streit Krug, will launch at the upcoming Perennial Farm Gathering in Dubuque, Iowa on March 12th. In this episode, Liz and Aubrey share the stories behind the book. “Living Roots” features writing by over thirty different contributors who are working to advance perennial agriculture, including several Savanna Institute staff members. Show notes at www.SavannaInstitute.org/PerennialAF