If you grow tree crops, you’re betting on a future you won’t fully see. You might spend years planting, pruning, and protecting young trees before they hit their middle age, all while hearing that the climate in 2050 may look nothing like the climate you grew up with. It’s natural to wonder: “Am I pouring … Read more
In the Growing From Seed articles, I mentioned growing seedlings the first growing season in an air pruning bed. I’ve had pretty good success in developing a strong, fibrous root structure the first year by growing seedlings with this method. This material list is if you wish to build a 2’x8’x 10” deep bed. There’s … Read more
Hicans represent an intriguing option for agroforestry practitioners seeking to expand nut production into regions where traditional pecans struggle. These naturally occurring hybrids between hickories and pecans combine the cold hardiness and adaptability of hickories with the thinner-shelled nuts more typical of pecans. While less well-known than their parent species, hicans offer unique advantages for … Read more
For many small landowners interested in agroforestry, chestnuts are one of the most attractive tree crops available. They produce a high-value food crop, grow quickly compared to most nut trees, and provide a powerful wildlife draw. Among the chestnut options available in the United States today, the Dunstan chestnut is probably the most widely marketed … Read more
In researching some of the chestnut cultivars in the UMCA “Descriptions of Chestnut Cultivars for Nut Production in the Eastern and Midwestern United States”, I saw that someone named ‘E.A. Riehl’ was listed in these. Imagine my surprise that his farm was in Godfrey, Illinois, just up the bluff from Piasa Harbor. Our family had … Read more
As we continue planning our black walnut operation — with half an acre dedicated to nut production and half an acre set aside for timber — the timber side is likely going to be Purdue HTIRC Timber Select seedlings and Purdue #1 seedlings, but which cultivar should we plant on the nut production side? After … Read more
There are some plants that were popularized based on good intentions, and some that genuinely have almost all good qualities, and no serious negatives. Some are ecological disasters wrapped in good intentions, and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is exhibit A. When we bought our property, autumn olive was already here—hundreds of stems colonizing every wooded … Read more
Elderberries seem like they should be easy. They’re native, they grow wild in ditches and fence rows. How hard could it be to plant a few improved cultivars and get a crop? Harder than it looks, as I learned. I planted nine elderberry bushes across two years—six Pocahontas in 2024 and three Bob Gordon in … Read more
There are shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) trees all over our property. They’re beautiful trees—distinctive peeling bark, golden fall color, nuts that squirrels go crazy for. I’ve walked past them many times and thought, “is there a good use for these, since they are so numerous?” So I started a little research. It’s not that shagbark … Read more
“Why aren’t you planting American chestnuts?” Many people in the US have never seen a chestnut. If they see some being served or for sale at an event, they may assume these are American chestnuts. But, the time for that to be true is probably off into the future. American chestnuts are an interesting story, … Read more