Trees may hold the key to the future of life on Earth. Trees for the Future teaches farmers to use sustainable techniques to improve their land and their livelihoods. Just as Sandy Springers from 100 years ago led the way in new agricultural practices, this Silver Spring-based international organization has facilitated the planting of more than 210 million trees and helped more than 150,000 people with their unique Forest Garden Approach.

Join Executive Director John Leary as he draws on his experiences in East and West Africa and explains Trees for the Future’s process and success. Their groundbreaking methods show how farmer training is a promising solution to the world’s most pressing challenges. Learn how to implement some of these practices on your own property for soil retention, wildlife habitat creation, carbon capture, soil nutrient improvement, and more.

About the Speaker:
John Leary is the Executive Director of Trees for the Future and author of the Nautilus award-winning book One Shot: Trees as Our Last Chance for Survival. John found his passion for agroforestry while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa and has since committed his life to helping people rise above hunger and poverty. Through his work, John has learned how to speak a few languages well and a few not so well. More importantly, he has worked directly with thousands of farmers to plant over 200 million trees.

About the Moderator:
Guest moderator Jeff Schwartz is the founder and president of Ashton Manor Environmental, an Ashton-based environmental and commercial landscaping company, and industry leader in maintaining and preserving natural resources through real, sustainable landscape solutions. Jeff has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from the State University of New York and a Masters in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins.