UNHIDE Agroforestry - A Knowledge Exchange Latvia- Sweden 2023-25 - Report - Page 27
To avoid frost damage a gas-powered fan
is circulated with a truck in the orchard.
of the 17th century.
Regenerative grazing practices at the farm emphasise grazing duration and recovery time,
aiming to replicate the movement patterns of wild
herbivore herds. This approach promotes deeper root systems, reduces soil erosion, enhances
drought resilience, and improves water infiltration during periods of heavy rainfall. Improved
nutrient uptake through deeper rooting systems
reduces nutrient leaching and dependence on
external inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides.
Because animal feed and welfare are largely
provided through forage, overall production costs
are reduced. As noted by Marcus Callenbring,
pigs consume a substantially higher proportion of
herbs than is commonly assumed.
“STINGING NETTLES SAVED
THE FARM ECONOMY A
YEAR WITH LATE SPRING
FROSTS” - Marcus Callenbring
In addition to primary agricultural production,
foraging in unmanaged and semi-managed edge
habitats constitutes a significant and stable source
of income. Harvesting takes place along the
shoreline, forest margins and a stream corridor.
Products include hop shoots, meadowsweet buds,
dried and powdered stinging nettles, apple blossoms, black currant leaves for tea, beach rose leaves, dandelion, ramson, birch and beech leaves,
and birch sap. These products are hand-harvested
and sold to restaurants. Notably, income from nettles is comparable to that from apples; the hourly
wage is €27 (2024), and the market value of one
hour of harvested nettles is approximately double.
Birch sap.
Hop leaves and young sprouts are a treat.
