Overview

I'm engaged in rural economic development through research and education on development of non-timber forest products, as well as online education (distance learning) in public horticulture. Agroforestry, which I am involved in, is a sustainable approach to rural/forest land use, including my research and extension in forest mushroom cultivation, and development of online resources for agroforestry.

Research Focus

My research focus is on how environmental and cultural factors affect gourmet and medicinal forest mushroom production.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I conduct workshops and other activities for training forest owners in non-timber forest products including mushroom cultivation. Many activities are centered on the MacDaniels Nut Grove, an agroforestry research and demonstration center adjacent to the Cornell campus that we've developed in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources and Cornell Plantations.

Instruction Focus

I teach HORT 400 (Principles of Plant Propagation), HORT 415 (Principles and Practices of Agroforestry), and HORT 420 (Nursery-Crop Production). I am also responsible for horticultural distance learning courses in organic gardening, plant propagation and other topics.

Additional Links

• Horticulture Distance Learning Courses
• How, When and Why of Forest Farming
• Lab images
• MacDaniels Nut Grove
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

Selected Publications

• M Wells, C Mazza and KW Mudge. 2006. Organic Gardening, http://hosts.cce.cornell.edu/hortdl/og.htm, Jan 26, 2006.
• Mudge, KW, and M Wells. 2006. Propagation by Cutting and Layering, http://hosts.cce.cornell.edu/hortdl/, Jan 26, 2006.
• Mudge, KW, LE Buck, P Treadwell, L Shepherd, and E Gallagher. 2006. How When and Why of Forest Farming, http://hosts.cce.cornell.edu/hwwff/, Jan 26, 2006.
• Lim, W, K Mudge, Weston, L 2007, Utilization of RAPD markers to assess genetic diversity of wild populations of North American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), Planta Medica, 73:73-76. Lim, W., K. Mudge, et al. 2006. "Effect of Water Stress on Ginsenoside Production and Growth of American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolium. HortTechnology 16(3): 517-522.
• Mudge, KW. 2006. How When and Why of Grafting for Gardeners http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hort494/mg/events/registration.html, Jan. 26, 2006.
• Hennigan, K. and Mudge, K.W. 2004. Effect Of Interactivity And Learning Style On Developing Hands-On Horticultural Skills Via Distance Learning. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 641:85-92 (http://www.actahort.org/books/641/641_11.htm)
• Mudge, KW, Wansang Lim, J P Lardner and R L Beyfuss, 2004,Effects of Population and Age on Ginsenoside Content of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.), Acta Hort. (ISHS) 629:161-166
• Mudge, KW, K Hennigan, and P Podaras. 2003. Use of Tropical Hibiscus for Instruction in Grafting, HortTechnology 13(4):723-728

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