What counts as a non-timber forest product?
Non-timber forest products are things you gather or grow from the woods that are not lumber. Examples include mushrooms, nuts, syrup, shade-loving herbs and flowers, ferns, berries and craft materials. Some are harvested from wild stands, and others are cultivated on purpose.
Forest farming is the cultivated version. Instead of gathering whatever appears, you plant and manage chosen crops in a woodland setting, using the canopy as part of the system.
Maple syrup is perhaps the best-known woodland product, though it is a distinct industry with its own equipment, food-safety rules and seasonal labor. Treat it as a separate project, and ask your state agriculture department about what applies.
Why consider it?
Many small woodland owners have trees but little income from them between timber harvests. A shade crop can fit under mature trees without cutting them. It also keeps the forest intact, which many owners prefer.
Others want products for their own use or for a local market. Some simply want a reason to spend time in the woods. All these are legitimate goals, and your goal shapes the choices.
A forest farm can also be a way to keep land in a family. Seasonal products and the pleasure of tending them can give heirs a reason to value the woods.
What does the site need to be like?
Light, moisture, soil and the kind of trees overhead decide what will grow. Some crops want dense shade and moist, rich soil. Others do better with dappled light. A north-facing slope under hardwoods is very different from a dry pine stand.
Before choosing a crop, observe your site through the seasons. Test the soil through your Extension office. Ask which species suit your region, and be careful about plants that might escape and become invasive.
Deer can undo a planting in a single season. Ask local growers what protection works in your area before you buy any plants.
- Light level under the canopy through the year.
- Soil depth, drainage and moisture.
- Deer and rodent pressure on the plants.
- Access for planting, tending and harvesting.
What are the honest drawbacks?
Many forest crops are slow. Some take years to reach harvest. Markets may be small, local and changeable. A crop that sells well in one region may have almost no buyers in another. Never rely on a seller's claim about income.
Poaching is another risk with valuable plants. Wild-harvested products can be stolen from woods that are not closely watched, and some species are protected by law.
What rules and food-safety issues apply?
Selling food from your woods usually involves state and local rules. Mushrooms, syrup, herbs and nuts may require licenses, labeling, inspection or a registered kitchen, depending on where you live. Ask your state department of agriculture and your county health department before you sell anything.
Harvesting from public land or taking certain wild plants can need permits, and some species cannot be sold. Your state forestry or natural resources agency can say which. Never eat or sell a wild plant or mushroom unless an expert has positively identified it, since some look very similar to poisonous ones.
If you plan to sell by mail or online, shipping rules for plants and food products also vary. State agricultural agencies can explain the requirements.
How do I learn more and start small?
Extension programs and agroforestry centers publish growers' guides for specific crops. Look for workshops and ask whether a woodland owners group in your area includes people who do forest farming.
Start with one crop on a small patch. Keep records of cost, time, losses and sales. After two or three seasons you will know much more about whether to expand.
How should I think about money and markets?
Do a plain assessment before you plant. Estimate your costs of plants, fencing, labor and time, and compare them with what local buyers say they will pay. Ask more than one buyer, and ask what quality and quantity they expect.
Your SBDC, your Extension office and USDA programs for small producers can help with business planning. Do not rely on a number from an advertisement. If a program offers financial support, ask the office what it requires and for how long.
Key takeaways
- Forest farming grows shade-tolerant crops under managed woodland.
- Match crops to your light, soil and moisture, and avoid species that can spread.
- Markets and prices are uncertain, so start small and keep records.
- Check state and local rules on selling food and on wild harvest before you sell.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.