Research at the Center for Rural Livelihoods

Forestry Research

Forestry research at CRL has centered around both long and short-term studies. The long -erm studies were established during the organization’s acquisition of the campus in 1981.  The most recent, ten-year forest stewardship plan developed in 2018 continues the inquiries started decades ago. The primary long-term study has been to undertake the conversion of even-aged, dense Douglas fir plantation forest into a late, succession forest type. In this study, the forest is managed to mimic a pre-colonization forest, and to provide diverse forestry yields. Utilizing individual tree and tree group selection techniques that mimic but accelerate forest processes of succession, we manage the forest towards a mixed age and mixed species forest composed of multiple canopy layers. 

Further long-term studies involve:

  • Carrying out adaptive forest management under a changing climate to observe and record changes in forest health and productivity over time

  • Using check dams and beaver dam analogue structures to restore degraded stream channels and historic logging skids

  • Managing for native, fire resistant Oregon white oak and its plant associates 

Short-term studies include:

  • Evaluating the use of wheeled arches, horse logging, and on-contour access systems for low impact log transport 

  • Innovating and assessing the use of solar wood drying kilns for finishing lumber grade material

  • Assessing the viability of low-value grand fir for interior paneling 

  • Introduction of native edible and medicinal mushrooms to increase the speed of stump decay and produce a non-timber forest product, to gauge the viability of cultivating log-grown mushrooms as an understory crop in conifer forests

  • Tracing and recording the viability of understory hardwoods for green woodworking and construction

  • Measuring the impact of applying variable density thinning rates for the successful regeneration of tree seedlings

CRL’s long history of forestry research led to a recent grant through Business Oregon’s Rural Opportunity Initiative to launch educational programming focused on the growth of a restoration forestry sector focused on habitat restoration, ecological forestry, and agroforestry. As a first step in the launch of this program, CRL produced an assessment for the restoration forestry sector in 2024. (See appendix A)

Agroforestry and Crop Development Research

In 2006, the Center for Rural Livelihoods added agroforestry as a branch of its forestry endeavors. Research in agroforestry includes both studies of approaches to agroforestry systems and practices of crop development.  Crop development has been open-sourced to growers and includes the Aprovecho hardy turnip, a series of named varieties of fava beans (a climate change tolerant, nitrogen fixing source of carbohydrates that can be used to feed forests and people), winter hardy purple celery, malva crispa salad mallow, perennial leek, garlic chives, and cold hardy tree chili. 

Studies in agroforestry include:

  • Nitrogen-fixing multipurpose perennial shrubs for agroforestry systems

  • Aquaculture plant species for agroforestry systems

  • Agroforestry species suitable to poorly draining soils in the Willamette foothills

  • The use of native bees for early-season orchard pollination

  • Temperate climate bamboos 

  • Soil conditioning in orchards with broadleaved and tap-rooting cover crops 

  • Forage crops for chickens in forest garden systems

  • Sheep silvopasture in oak woodlands, mixed forests, and orchard systems 

  • Edible and medicinal mushroom inoculation in forest garden soils

  • Compost teas for increasing orchard yields

Studies have culminated in a master list of the best plants for the Willamette Valley foothills and their special uses and characteristics (See appendix B). This history of regional expertise in agroforestry led to the USDA’s agricultural research granting agency Western SARE support of the development of an agroforestry video series and a handbook on agroforestry planning and design (both to be released end of 2025). Additional funding was granted this year from SARE to expand the demonstration and research capacity of the site by installing more agroforestry systems.


Forest-to-Frame Research

The Center for Rural Livelihoods has worked to address a need for new approaches to increase the value of restoration forestry products in the construction sector as a way to address the housing crisis. Studies have included:

  • The use of Willamette Valley Rye straw as an insulative material in straw bale construction in the first permitted strawbale building constructed in the state.

  • The use of plant fibers for structural strength and insulation in earthen plaster and cob construction with state code adopted for multiple applications and the first cob home constructed in the state.

  • The use of small diameter poles as an alternative to stick frame construction with dimensional lumber. This innovation resulted in Lane County code being updated to further this sustainable use of forest products.