Presented at the 15th North American

Agroforestry Conference June 27, 2017

Blacksburg, Virginia
Community Ecological
Enterprises

Stephen Steve Mann

Prairie Ecosystems Management llc
Ecosystems Managers

Organisms that give a vital service to the ecosystem

while taking a small part of the systems energy.
Kansas City Region
 Urban Ecosystem Degradation
Highly disturbed systems
Rapid changes in soil and plant cover
Large swings in temperature and water
availability
Largely impenetrable covering of the soil
Degraded soil life
Non native plantings, lawns and pioneer
plants
Environmental stress on plants and animal
 Environmental and Social Degradation

Corner Grocery store in disrepair adjacent to cleared, vacant residential lots.

Blue River oxbow eutrophication
A Report by Global Community Monitor for the Argentine/Turner
Good Neighbor Committee and the Diesel Health Project
June 24, 2015

Elemental Carbon (EC)

Urban decline as a legacy of racism

Source :We are Superman

 The Work

In neighborhoods
At landscape level
Grounded in science
Uses ecological wisdom of Planet Earth
Uses an ethical framework
Uses Ecosystems Management Principles
 Urban Ecological Repair Kit
Agroecology Ecological design and
management of sustainable agroecosystems
from the perspective of a science based
environmental/social movement.

Agroforestry - Practices that combine trees

and other crops in Intentional, Intensive,
Interactive, Integrated sustainable production
systems.
 Permaculture Design
An eco-cultural ethical design system
Permaculture is a decision making process to
arrive at sustainable useful systems.
Permaculture is not a tool, its the process of
choosing the right tool, the right solution, the
right design.

Toby Hemenway
 Design Goals
Maximize beneficial interactions between plant
species
Mimicking the structural and functional
relationships of natural ecosystems
Design uses multifunctional elements
Sustainable production of agronomic crops
Preserving and restoring ecosystem services
Economic viability
Vibrant Communities

Altieri 1999; Jacke and Toensmeier 2005; WPP Research 2014

Regenerative Ecological Enterprise
Local businesses that have ecological and
social goals as part of their core business
definition and mission.
A regenerative enterprise increases the four
nurturing capitals, the commons from which
living systems spring: social, cultural, spiritual,
and living capital.
Ecological enterprises are regenerative
enterprises that give particular attention to
the living capitals of its Landbase.
(Roland and G. Landua 2012).
The ecological enterprise does not harvest the
root of the tree of production, only its fruit.

They gather the unique place-based goods

and services that are emergent properties of
the regenerated urban ecosystem, while
simultaneously nurturing the systems ability
to thrive.
Roland and Landua (2010)
 Neighborhood Opportunities
Edible Landscaping
Ecological Design
Food Forestry
Neighborhood composting
Edible perennial plant and medicinal herbs
propagation
Mushroom cultivation on logs harvested from Urban
Forests
Native plant and tree propagation and instalation
Urban Forestry/Agroforestry and biomass harvesting
Opportunities for Ecological Enterprises in
Kansas City Metro Area

Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) in their 2005

Natural Resources Inventory report on green
infrastructure suggested using their resource inventory
to identify locations suitable for effective agroforestry
practices.

In urbanized areas agroforestry practices can be used

to protect urban streams, manage stormwater runoff,
create wildlife habitat, provide recreational
opportunities, grow food crops and reduce noise and
dust (MARC 2005).
We Need More Trees
Ecological Enterprise Case Studies

Local, place based enterprises having concerns for a

local living economy, healthy vital community and
environmental stewardship.
Urban Biomass into Ecological Enterprise

150 million pounds of food waste

+ 150,000 cubic yards of brush
= 54 million pounds of compost annually.

http://www.missouriorganic.com/
 Nebraska Woody Florals (NWF)
Cooperative
Founded in 2005, the Cooperative has grown
to include 44 growers throughout the state of
Nebraska.
Developed through a collaborative effort with
the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska
Forest Service.
NWP produces over 20 varieties of stems
Primarily dogwoods and willows.
Permaculture Extension Agents

Shiitake log inoculation workshop at Home Grown Community Garden

Home Grown Community Garden
and Ecological Design
Demonstration Site
 Home Grown Community Garden
and Ecological Design Demonstration Site
 Urban Ecological Growers

Anna grafting cider apples

Willow Studio
Living Willow Fence
 Salix interior , sandbar willow

Hibiscus syriacus
Roses Of Sharon

Lonicera japonica
Japanese honeysuckle
Mary Lauren Fraser
Basket Weaver
 Community Ecological Enterprise Hub
Train Permaculture Extension
Agents

Perfect for Urban Agroforesters

Propagation of native species local

cultivars for ecological restoration
projects.

Design drawings Christopher Richards

Goals of the Community Ecological
Enterprise Hub
Catalyzing neighborhoods in the restoration
and protection of their ecosystems.

Help create and nurture viable small business

ventures to engage in the work.

Attract, organize, train, empower and increase

the capacity of people to build regenerative
enterprises in their neighborhoods.
Antioch Urban Growers
Bioretention Swale
In the future ecosystem services
preservation, enhancement and
restoration along with sustainable
food production will be our Great
Work.
 Sources:
http://nebraskawoodyflorals.com/wp/contact-us/
https://www.fraserbaskets.com/

Mann, S. 2015. Community Ecological Enterprise Hub:

Developing Healthy Eco-Cultural Systems.
Available online at:
https://www.academia.edu/15089563/Community_Ecologi
cal_Enterprise_Hub_Developing_Healthy_Eco-
Cultural_Systems
Nowak, D.J., Bodine, A.R., Hoehn III, R.E., Crane, D.E., Ellis, A.,
Endreny, T.A. et al. 2013. Assessing urban forest effects and
values: the greater Kansas City region. Resource Bulletin, NRS-
75, Newtown Square, PA, USDA Forest Service, Northern
Research Station, 72.

Reiser, D. B. 2012. Theorizing forms for social enterprise. Emory

LJ, 62, 681.
Roland, E. C. and G. Landua 2012. Regenerative
Enterprise: Optimizing for Multi-Capital
Abundance
http://wearesuperman-
themovie.com/tag/documentary/