Mark Shepard heads Restoration Agriculture Development and Forest Agriculture Nursery, and. is best known as the author of the award-winning book Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers. This work is based on his experiences at New Forest Farm and reflects his belief in the potential of sustainably grown perennial food crops to feed us in our “resource-compromised future.”
New Forest Farm, located in Viola, Wisconsin, was once a worn-out row crop farm since transformed into a 106-acre showcase of commercial-scale perennial agriculture. The farm’s layout was designed around his innovations in managing water runoff distribution, retention, and control throughout the property. He then implemented his version of adaptive mass-selection breeding using select perennial crops based on plant families abundant in the oak savanna, successional brushland, and eastern woodlands that existed in the region prior to commercial agriculture. It is considered one of the most ambitious sustainable agriculture projects in the United States.
With the water management infrastructure in place, trees, shrubs, vines, canes, grasses, forbs, and fungi were planted according to their respective ecological niches and organized to optimize harvesting and management efficiency. Primary woody crops include hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts, and apples. The farm also features various ongoing research sites focused on tree crops, which are vital to an adaptive, resilient restoration agriculture system.
Trained in mechanical engineering and ecology, Mark has combined these two passions to develop equipment and processes for cultivating, harvesting, and processing forest-derived agricultural products. He is a certified permaculture designer and teaches agroforestry, permaculture, and innovative water management systems worldwide.
You can learn more about Mark’s keyline adaptations and how to optimize water management on your property through his latest book, Water for Any Farm, or by attending a number of events and workshops available throughout the year.
TSN Conference 2025:
- January 24th, 2025 (Friday) // 1:50 pm – 2:50 pm // Room 105 // “Integrating Ecosystem Mimicry and Assisted Migration Through the Lens of Restoration Agriculture”