2026 Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program applications close on March 3, 2026.
Virginia Tech: Catawba Sustainability Center
Catawba, VA
Location:
Catawba, VA
Total Acres:
377
Agroforestry Acres:
80
Year Established:
2012
Introduction
Located in the beautiful Catawba Valley of Virginia, the center's 377-acre farm property is a place of interdisciplinary research and hands-on learning. Through research, teaching, and demonstration of sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and land management, our work exemplifies the notion that learning is interdisciplinary and occurs in both the classroom and with hands in the soil.
Main Agroforestry Species
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), Chestnut (Castanea spp.), Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), PitchLob (Pinus rigida x Pinus taeda), White Pine (Pinus strobus), Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), Hybrid Poplar (Populus spp), Apple (Malus spp.), Pear (Pyrus spp.), Peach (Prunus spp.)
Contact Information
Main Contact:
Nick Tyre
Phone
336-324-2208
Email:
Website:
Social Link
Social Link
Site Visitors
Yes
Nursery or Planting Stock Provider Information
Agroforestry System Design
The farm rests in the Catawba Valley which is about 1700 ft in elevation and located in southwestern Virginia. The landscape includes rolling pastures and forest that runs up a small Appalachian mountian range, with the Catawba Creek running through the property. All production and research aims at improving the natural resources of the land. The primary production focus of this farm is the 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef operation. Most of the agroforestry pratices support the beef operation, including multiple silvopasture systems and an alley crop. The community food forest and orchard are small production not for sale. The riparian buffer and forest farming projects have been used solely for research and conservation goals.
Personal or Collective Experiences
Most agroforestry projects begin with a research initiative to secure funding for supplies and labor. These investments remain on the property through successive research while managed by Catawba staff. The beef production is a profitable enterprise, but most of our agroforestry projects exist solely for research and demonstration.
January 6, 2026 at 9:48:52 PM