2026 Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program applications close on March 3, 2026.
Regeneration Acres
Onalaska, WA
Location:
Onalaska, WA
Total Acres:
18.66
Agroforestry Acres:
5.5
Year Established:
2022
Introduction
Regeneration Acres is a diversified livestock operation, currently focusing mostly on beef cattle, lambs, pastured pigs, and pastured poultry. We are in the process of converting a hay field into silvopasture with approximately 5 acres currently planted. About 1/2 an acre is mostly conserved for wildlife habitat. Additionally, we have added numerous fruit trees, shrubs, and canes to support pollinators with beehives being added this year to aid in pollination.
Our silvopasture project started mostly as bur oak, scarlet oak, and red alder and has expanded significantly in 2025 through CAGP funding. We have expanded into chestnuts, eastern white oak, and mulberries. We will largely use this for pastured poultry in the immediate future, but will begin to graze lambs through as the planting becomes better established. In future years, we will graze our Idaho Pasture pigs under to finish them out on nuts and berries from these trees.
Main Agroforestry Species
Bur oak, scarlet oak, eastern white oak, chestnuts, mulberries, and red alder.
Contact Information
Main Contact:
Hanna and Chris Volmert
Phone
360-978-5189
Email:
Website:
Social Link
Social Link
Site Visitors
Yes
Nursery or Planting Stock Provider Information
Agroforestry System Design
The layout of our silvopasture system is intentionally structured to balance livestock production, long‑term tree crop value, and ecological function. Tree rows are oriented across the northern half of our former hay field, following a design approach informed by research from the Savanna Institute and by the farm owner’s experience growing up on a conservation‑minded Missouri farm. This orientation provides consistent shade corridors, reduces heat stress for grazing animals, and creates predictable alleys for rotational grazing and equipment access. Spacing between rows is calibrated to allow full sunlight penetration for forage growth while still establishing a future canopy of nut and fodder trees.
Species selection and placement were guided by both site conditions and desired livestock integration. Bur oak, scarlet oak, eastern white oak, chestnuts, mulberries, and red alder form the backbone of the system, chosen for their drought tolerance, deep rooting, and long-term fodder and mast production. Red alder is strategically included for its nitrogen‑fixing capacity, improving soil fertility over time. Trees are planted in mixed rows to diversify canopy structure, reduce pest pressure, and stagger seasonal benefits such as shade, leaf drop, and nut fall. Areas identified as wetter—particularly near the perennial stream that crosses the field—are being reserved for more water‑tolerant species to stabilize soils and protect riparian function.
The design also incorporates wildlife and pollinator habitat as an integrated feature rather than a separate zone. Approximately half an acre is maintained as a dedicated habitat corridor, and fruiting shrubs and canes have been added throughout the system to support pollinators, especially as beehives are introduced. Over time, this landscape design will support a multi‑layered agroforestry system where pastured poultry, lambs, and eventually pigs can graze under a productive canopy, cycling nutrients and enhancing soil health while contributing to diversified farm income
Personal or Collective Experiences
The project largely went as expected. Our soils provide some challenge in planting as some areas are heavy clay. We did have to make some modifications in planting area, as December was incredibly moist and the county we reside in experienced significant flooding in some areas. A perennial stream runs through the field we planted in, and it was easily the most water we have seen flow through it since we purchased the property in 2022. There are a few spots that we will be adding some other trees that are more water tolerant, as these were identified as being too wet to plant in.
Originally, we planned to plant out the field we primarily use for grazing, but shortly after submitting the proposal, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife identified a fish passage barrier that a perennial stream in the corner of that field drains into. As a result, the county government intends to pursue a project to try and correct that barrier. This led us to changing the planting location to our hay field, which we were already in the process of converting to silvopasture. We were also fortunate to have some of our own nursery stock added into the project which allowed us to further diversify our planting.
February 23, 2026 at 4:48:44 PM