Air prune raised beds (APRBs) are built nursery containers elevated above the ground, consisting of one or more stacked wooden frames with a mesh bottom filled with growing media. By naturally pruning roots through air exposure, this system produces seedlings with stronger root architecture, higher transplant success, and the ability to grow large volumes of bare-root stock in a small footprint—no land ownership required. APRBs are adaptable to both urban and rural contexts and support high-density seedling production for a wide range of species.
Our Agroforestry project team worked with collaborators around the state to build APRBs and plant seedlings this spring. Now, they are ready to harvest! Join us for a workshop near you to learn techniques for overwintering beds with or without seedlings and how to plant/heel in seedlings into a nursery area or your garden.
- October 8 in Ithaca, NY — Join us at CCE Tompkins from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- October 9 in Franklinville, NY — Join us at CCE Allegany from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- October 13 in Kingston, NY — While the APRB workshop is closed, you can join an evening talk on “Solutions Inspired by Nature” at CCE Ulster from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- October 14 in Arca, NY — Join us at CCE Columbia and Greene from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- October 15 in Brooklyn, NY — Join us at the Opportunity Hub from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- October 16 in Manhattan, NY — Join us at the New York Restoraton Project from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- October 17 in Bronx, NY — Join us at Starlight Park from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- October 22 in Staten Island, NY — Join us at the Snug Harbor Botanical Garden from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- October 24 in Queens, NY — Join us at Smiling Hogshead Ranch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- October 25 in Irvington, NY — Join us at the O’Hare Nature Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a combination mushroom cultivation and APRB workshop.
Additional topics will include strategies for seed collection and storage for planting next spring. Requirements for selling nursery stock in NYS will also be addressed along with marketing ideas. This workshop is ideal for producers seeking to diversify into a new, efficient tree seedling production system.
The sessions are led by Connor Youngerman, our Agroforestry lead. There is no charge for the workshop, however pre-registration is required.
If you are unable to join us for a workshop, but want to learn more about APRBs, we have a comprehensive fact sheet on our website. It covers the principles of air pruning, appropriate species to plant, siting, design, and more.
We also made a video on buildng your own bed, you can watch it below.
