Research at the Center for Rural Livelihoods

The Center for Rural Livelihoods has long been a hub for forestry research in the Pacific Northwest.  Over the decades, projects have involved multiple stakeholders and have, since 1990, been primarily led by our foresters Matthew Hall (1990-2008) and Abel Kloster (2008-present). Currently, we have agroforestry projects sponsored by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) section of the USDA. 

Forestry Research

Forestry research involves both long and short-term studies. The primary long-term study has been to undertake the conversion of even aged over dense Douglas fir plantation forest into a late succession forest type. Direction of the forest is to occur in the context of  management for diverse forestry yields utilizing individual tree and group selection techniques that mimic but accelerate natural forest processes of succession toward a mixed age and mixed species forest compost of multiple canopy layers. 

  • Other long term studies involve:

    • Carrying out adaptive forest management under a changing climate to observe 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 Oregon white oak and its plant associates 

    Short term studies have included:

    • The use of wheeled arches and horse logging and on-contour access systems for low impact log yarding 

    • Use of a solar wood drying kiln for finish lumber grade material

    • Use 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

    • Use of understory hardwoods for green woodworking and construction

    • Cultivation of log-grown mushrooms as an understory crop in conifer forests

    • Applying variable density thinning rates for the successful regeneration of tree seedlings

    CRL’s long history of forestry research and demonstration led to a recent grant through Business Oregon’s Rural Opportunity Initiative to launch 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.

Agroforestry and Species-development Research

In 2006, the Center for Rural Livelihoods added agroforestry as a branch of its forestry endeavors. Research in agroforestry has included both crop development and studies of approaches to agroforestry systems and practices. 

Crop development has been open sourced to growers and has included the Aprovecho hardy turnip, a series of named varieties of fava beans, winter hardy purple celery, malva crispa salad mallow, perennial leek, garlic chives, and cold hardy tree chili. 

Studies in agroforestry have included:

  • Nitrogen fixing multipurpose perennial shrubs for agroforestry systems

  • Aquaculture plant species for agroforestry systems

  • Agroforestry species suitable for poorly drained 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 and orchard systems 

  • Edible and medicinal mushroom inoculation in forest garden soils

  • Compost teas for orchard maintenance

Studies have culminated in a master list of best plants for the Willamette Valley foothills and their special uses and characteristics. 

This history of regional expertise in agroforestry led to the USDA’s agricultural research granting agency Western SARE supporting the development of an agroforestry video series and a handbook on agroforestry planning and design (both to be released by the 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 Building Research

The Center for Rural Livelihoods has worked to address a need for new building approaches to increase the value of restoration forestry products in the sector. 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 new 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 resulted in Lane County code being adopted for this practice.

Efficient use of Biomass Research

For more than two decades the organization led the world in the research and development of fuel efficient, low emissions cook stoves. This work expanded our forestry conservation work globally by reducing deforestation impacts through reduction of fuel wood use. Central to this project was the invention of the “rocket stove” which has been adapted into myriad stove types the world over. Most recently, research in combustible biomass has centered around biochar production and has been in collaboration with the National Science Foundation and the University of Oregon. The ​​Sustainable Biochar to Mitigate Freshwater HABs: Building Climate Resilient Rural Communities explores how the forest can be a source of carbon storage, water filtration, and increased agricultural fertility through the practice of biochar.   

Independent Study by Interns

Long-term residential courses have always included an independent study and research component. These programs include: 

  • Sustainable Living Skills immersion 

  • Natural Building Workshop Series

  • Agroecology and Permaculture Practicum

  • Forestry Practicum

During independent study, students, as individuals or in teams, have contributed either to ongoing research or taken on their own projects. Projects have included inventorying all forest understory species, studying the viability of greenwood branches from understory plants like hazel and vine maple to make furniture and other products, flagging all light loving tree species and monitoring their growth following canopy thinning, producing compost tea brewers for orchards, and studying the effects of introducing medicinal and edible mushrooms to agroforestry understories.