Podcast
Branching Out: Growing Together
Branching Out: Growing Together – Your gateway to the world of small-scale nut and fruit tree farming, hosted by Melanie Jones from her picturesque chestnut farm in Kentucky. Join Melanie and her guests as they explore the latest trends, innovations, and personal stories from the chestnut industry and beyond.
Whether you're a seasoned grower, a curious landowner, or dreaming of rural living, this podcast offers expert advice, practical tips, and meaningful conversations to help you cultivate success.Tune in bi-weekly for insightful interviews with industry leaders, discover actionable farming strategies, and connect with a community passionate about sustainable agriculture and rural lifestyles.
At Branching Out: Growing Together, there's always a fresh perspective waiting for you.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
- Episodes
- 41
- Releases
- Monthly
- Typical length
- 37 min
- On air since
- 2023
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
41 episodes, newest first
-
37 min
Colossal Chestnut Farming: 30 Years on a Washington Orchard with Steve Jones
Season 4, Episode 7
Show notes
Steve Jones planted his first Colossal chestnut trees in 1992, after gophers ate every tree in his business partner's California orchard. Thirty years later, Steve and Patty's Colossal Orchards in Selah, Washington, has 25 acres of chestnuts and sells about half of every crop out the back door.
Host Melanie Jones asks Steve for the beginning, the messy middle and where the farm is today. In this episode:
• What to decide before you plant: commercial or hobby, distance to market, and a variety buyers want
• How long chestnut trees take to produce real income ("think 10 years in the future")
• Water rights in the West: "whiskey's for drinking and water's for fighting"
• Harvesting a 25-acre chestnut orchard with two people and used filbert equipment
• Why big grocery chains didn't buy enough, and the newspaper article that changed everything
• Why there's no U-pick, and the first weekend the farm opens its doors
• What the chestnut industry needs next: growing standards, grading and a buyer clearinghouseRead the article, with the research behind Steve's numbers: https://unitedchestnuts.com/colossal-chestnut/
Colossal Orchards: https://www.chestnutsusa.com/
Plan your own chestnut orchard with UC Academy guides: https://unitedchestnuts.com/uc-academy/ Book a Farm Tour with Orchard Blueprint and SEO analysis: https://unitedchestnuts.com/product/two-hour-chestnut-orchard-tour-seo-blueprint/
Chestnut Growers of America: https://www.chestnutgrowersofamerica.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
7 min
How to Get a Farm Number: Our FSA Office Visit (Offshoot Edition)
Season 4
Show notes
We took a trip to the local USDA Service Center and it turned into one of the most useful days of the year.
This episode walks through what FSA and NRCS actually do, how to get a farm number, why a "Highly Erodible Land" determination isn't something to panic over, and the one form standing between specialty crop growers and a $650/acre payment.
Featuring our local Kentucky USDA team: Robin Hughes, Barbara Meredith, Sandra Childress, and Hallie Armstrong (Farm Service Agency), and Fanny Ye and Robert Bean (Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Show notes and full checklist:
Check out our blog on this episode: https://unitedchestnuts.com/how-to-get-a-farm-number/
FSA office locator: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/fsa-office-locator
ASCF program details: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/assistance-specialty-crop-farmers-ascf-programA production of United Chestnuts.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
54 min
From Wall Street to Chestnut Orchards: Brett Hundley on the Long-Term Investment Case
Season 4, Episode 6
Show notes
What happens when a Wall Street equity analyst with a master's degree in natural resources turns his attention to chestnut farming? You get one of the most data-grounded, ecologically serious conversations we've had on Branching Out: Growing Together.
Brett Hundley of Agroforestry Partners spent 15 years covering packaged food and agribusiness before co-founding a fund that has now planted nearly 1,600 acres of chestnut trees in Kentucky. He's not a romantic about it — he ran the numbers, visited farms in Chile, and made a deliberate choice. In this episode, he shares exactly what he found, what surprised him, and what it means for growers at every scale.
In this episode, you'll hear:
• Why chestnuts rose to the top when Brett's team evaluated every major tree crop for the eastern U.S.
• What a research trip to Chile's commercial chestnut industry revealed — and one observation that every American grower needs to hear
• The real economics of chestnut farming: timeline, yield benchmarks, land value, and what patient capital actually looks like
• How the U.S. compares to mature chestnut-producing countries — and why being early isn't a disadvantage
• What Brett believes the domestic chestnut industry looks like in 30 years, and what role independent growers play in getting thereVisit unitedchestnuts.com for trees and resources from the Ebb Farm Lab and a community of growers ready to help. Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of Branching Out: Growing Together.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to YouThis episode includes AI-generated content.
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48 min
Starting a Chestnut Orchard the Right Way Feat. Jon & Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries
Season 4, Episode 5
Show notes
On this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, host Melanie Jones sits down with Jon and Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries in Michigan. Together, the sixth- and seventh-generation Nashes share the habits, decisions, and community values that turn a first chestnut planting into a thriving orchard — from patience and site selection to tissue culture and the brand-new Treeborne value-added line.What You’ll Learn
• Why patience is the #1 rule when starting a chestnut orchard (2:00)
• The simple 1×1×1 soil-drainage test that can save your investment (36:45)
• How six generations of know-how moved from Bill’s memory into barcodes and field maps (12:30)
• The beer-napkin origin story of Treeborne’s chestnut chips and chestnut brown ale (23:00)
• What tissue-culture Eurohybrids could mean for the next wave of growers (26:00)
• Why Jon says, “We are not a big enough industry for everyone to be their own kingdom” (44:00)Resources Mentioned
• Nash Nurseries — https://www.nashnurseries.com
• Chestnut Growers of America (CGA)
• Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA)
• Midwest Chestnut Producers Council
• Michigan State University — Dr. Dennis Fulbright, Dr. Mario Mondojando
• Treeborn — roasted chestnut chips, flour, and value-added productsIf this episode helped you, share it with a fellow grower and leave a review — it helps other chestnut-curious folks find us. Join the community at https://unitedchestnuts.com, subscribe to the weekly blog, and let’s keep growing together.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to YouThis episode includes AI-generated content.
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38 min
Sandy Russell on Chestnut Operational Maturity
Season 4, Episode 4
Show notes
Chestnut operational maturity is the difference between a hobby orchard and a resilient business. In this episode of Branching Out, I am joined by Sandy Russell to discuss the rigorous post-harvest systems required to survive a rapidly changing agricultural market. We explore why cold chain management, strict grading, and shared industry standards are absolute necessities for the modern grower.
Takeaways from this episode:
• The 90/10 rule of chestnut supply chains.
• How to avoid the financial risks of blind aggregation.
• Why small growers must adopt strict post-harvest discipline today.Listen to the full interview and join the conversation. Subscribe to Branching Out: Growing Together.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to YouThis episode includes AI-generated content.
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37 min
High-Tech Harvest: Transforming Orchards with Drone Technology
Season 4, Episode 3
Show notes
Can a drone really change the way you manage a chestnut orchard? This week, I’m sitting down with Caleb Canter from AeroAg to talk about the leap from hobbyist toys to industrial-grade tools.
We explore how autonomous flight is solving age-old problems for growers—from precision
spraying in tight canopies to mapping tree health with LIDAR. Whether you’re managing five
acres or five hundred, this conversation is a look into the future of sustainable farming.● The Battery Breakthrough: How lithium-ion tech changed the game for heavy
payloads.
● Precision in the Canopy: Why drones are often more effective than traditional tractors
for tree crops.
● Beyond Spraying: Using drones for seeding, fertilizing, and even transporting your
harvest.
● The ROI Factor: Breaking down the costs of ownership versus hiring a service.
● Navigating the Legal Landscape: What you need to know about FAA licensing and
regulations.Listen now and join the conversation at unitedchestnuts.com!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
37 min
Welcome to The Chestnut Blueprint
Season 4, Episode 2
Show notes
While much of American agriculture is stuck in debt and overproduction, a quiet revolution is growing beneath the canopy of chestnut trees. In this episode, Roger Smith of Prairie Grove Chestnut Growers joins United Chestnuts to share how his network of seven-state growers has broken free from the commodity system — and built a model where farmers are price makers, not price takers.
From “street-corner retail” to standardized genetics and cold-chain precision, Smith’s story is proof that specialty crops can rewrite the rules of farm economics. Host Kim Douglass unpacks how Smith and other innovators like Greg Miller and Mike Nave are leading the shift from survival to legacy — and why the chestnut industry’s playbook may hold the blueprint for the future of regenerative specialty farming.
Tune in if you’re ready to:
• Understand how specialty crops are outpacing commodities
• Learn practical steps to reclaim pricing power
• Hear what modern cooperatives are doing to protect grower margins
• See how small farms can scale through innovation and collaborationFor more episodes, insights, and grower resources, visit https://www.unitedchestnuts.com/ or join the United Chestnuts Community on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
8 min
Branching Out Growing Together OffShoot Edition -Messy Middle
Season 4, Episode 1
Show notes
Messy in the Middle: What It Really Looks Like to Build a Chestnut Orchard (and an Industry) What happens after the excitement of planting trees fades—but before everything feels established? In this Messy in the Middle episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, Melanie Jones reflects on the often-unseen middle phase of chestnut farming and industry-building. Inspired by the idea of the “messy middle,” this episode explores what it really looks like to grow a perennial crop—and a community—when progress is real but unfinished. From uneven harvests and learning curves to orchard decisions that don’t come with a playbook, this conversation is about staying planted through uncertainty. Melanie shares perspective from EBB Farms in Western Kentucky, parallels from other perennial crops like pistachios, and why patience, learning, and shared experience matter more than hype. This episode is for:
• Chestnut growers in the early or mid stages
• Landowners considering planting trees
• Anyone building something long-term that doesn’t offer quick feedbackChestnuts aren’t “coming back” overnight. They’re being built—orchard by orchard, season by season. This Messy in the Middle episode is part of an ongoing series within Branching Out: Growing Together, highlighting real-world, in-progress experiences from EBB Farms and the broader chestnut community. 👉 Learn more and explore resources at unitedchestnuts.com/resources
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
32 min
Roger Blackwell on Growing a National Chestnut Movement
Season 3, Episode 11
Show notes
Melanie Jones sits down with Roger Blackwell, President of Chestnut Growers of America, to talk about the momentum building in the U.S. chestnut industry. Together they explore what’s changed, what’s ahead, and how growers across the country are uniting to shape the next chapter of this remarkable tree crop.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
9 min
What the Heck is SEO (and Why Chestnut Growers Should Care) Bonus
Season 3
Show notes
🌐 What the Heck is SEO (and Why Should Chestnut Growers Care?)
Hi friends—Melanie Jones here with United Chestnuts, and today we’re breaking down a big, messy topic in a way that makes sense for farmers: 👉 SEO (Search Engine Optimization) If you're a grower who wants to sell more chestnuts, trees, or host visitors to your orchard—but don’t have time to become a digital marketing expert—this episode is for you. We’ll cover:
• Why chestnut growers need SEO—even if you’re not “online people”
• Simple ways to get your orchard found in Google, Facebook, and TikTok
• What terms like AEO and GEO actually mean (and how they help)
• How United Chestnuts is making this easy with tools, templates, and support💻 Learn more and join the movement: unitedchestnuts.com/resources 🌰 Chestnuts are coming back—and we’re building the system to support them.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
43 min
Ecdysis at EBB Farms: Inside the 1000 Farms Initiative
Season 3, Episode 10
Show notes
Today we’re out in the orchard with Nora D’Antuono from the Ecdysis Foundation, talking real‑world regenerative agriculture: soil health that sticks, biodiversity that pays back, and farmer‑led research through the 1000 Farms Initiative. We dig into tools like the BugBox and Xerinx, why insects are powerful indicators of farm health, and how community + data help farmers move from “hope” to “proof.” Recorded at EBB Farms (Western Kentucky)—the chestnut-growing testbed powered by the United Chestnuts movement. You’ll hear:
• What 1000 Farms is measuring—and why it matters to your bottom line
• Simple biodiversity practices that fit real schedules and budgets
• The role of the BugBox/Xerinx in tracking ecosystem health
• How growers are sharing data, stories, and momentumResources: unitedchestnuts.com/resources
Resources: ecdysis.bio
Connect: United Chestnuts Community (FB), Ecdysis Foundation, Blue Dasher Farm Tags: #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #Biodiversity #1000Farms #Ecdysis #Chestnuts #UnitedChestnuts #EBBFarmsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
6 min
OffShoot Edition - Reserve Chestnut Seedlings and Chestnuts Now Bonus
Season 3
Show notes
🎙️ Branching Out: Growing Together
At EBB Farms, our Grow-Bag Strategy makes all the difference. We raise each seedling in a three-gallon breathable grow bag inside protected nurseries. They’re watered daily, weeded, and carefully staked — building a dense, fibrous root system that establishes quickly once planted. Before shipping, we gently shake off the soil and send the tree dormant, so you get the very same strong, orchard-ready trees we plant ourselves. In this episode, we explain why it pays to reserve your chestnut trees early. Demand is high, and these bare root seedlings are already in motion. Learn how they’re raised, what sets them apart, and why they often show faster growth in the field. 👉 Reserve now, and be ready to plant success. Details at unitedchestnuts.com/ebb-farms
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
53 min
Regenerative Roots: Willie Huston on Farming, Music, and Land Legacy
Season 3, Episode 9
Show notes
At Pick N Grin Farm in western Kentucky, Willie Huston is doing more than raising crops—he’s cultivating a way of life rooted in observation, resilience, and joy. From silvopasture to biomimicry, mob grazing to music, Willie shares how tending the land has shaped his livelihood, his family, and his community. This episode is a reminder that restoring the earth begins with paying attention to what’s already there. What you’ll hear in this episode:
• How Willie blends chestnuts, livestock, and wildflowers into a thriving farm ecosystem
• The role of curiosity and observation in regenerative farming
• Why diversity—of crops, community, and skills—creates resilience
• The link between music, creativity, and land stewardship
• Tips for starting your own small-scale farm with purposeListen in, and let’s grow together.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
8 min
Finding Your Why: The Deeper Reasons We Grow Chestnuts Bonus
Season 3, Episode 8
Show notes
What drives you to grow chestnuts—not just in year one, but year ten? In this episode, Melanie revisits a question that keeps surfacing in our orchard, at conferences, and in every email from new growers:
“What’s your why?” Drawing from personal experience and stories from growers like Brad and Sandy Russell, we explore what happens when you follow your reasons all the way down. Plus, Melanie shares a simple, powerful reflection tool you can download to clarify your own path. In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why your “why” matters more than your business plan
• How surface reasons often evolve into deeper ones
• Real motivations that keep chestnut growers going
• What to ask yourself when things get hard
• How to use the 7-question “Find Your Why” exerciseMore Resources to Explore
• Listen to: Finding Our Why: Why Chestnuts, and Why Now
• Download theSeven Whys Reflection Tool
• Read: The Advantages of Tree Crops
• Watch: Brad + Sandy Rusell on The Branching Out: Growing Together podcastor Brad Russell on The Branching Out: Growing Together podcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
12 min
OffShoot Edition - Advantages of Tree Crops Bonus
Season 3, Episode 7
Show notes
🎙️ You’re listening to Branching Out: Growing Together, and I’m your host, Melanie Jones.
Today’s solo episode is all about starting with your why—a nod to the wisdom of Simon Sinek, and a principle we live by here at EBB Farms and United Chestnuts. Because when it comes to choosing what to grow—especially tree crops—your reason matters.
Maybe you want to improve your soil. Maybe you want to plant a long-term food source, build a family sanctuary, support wildlife, or leave a legacy that’s nutrient-rich and carbon-smart. Whatever your why, tree crops offer something powerful: a regenerative, perennial path forward. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the most common reasons people are turning to chestnut orchards and tree crops—and share how they connect to broader movements in agroforestry, food security, and land stewardship.
If you’re just starting out—or even just dreaming—this is a great place to begin. 📍 You can read the full blog and explore our other tools and resources at unitedchestnuts.com. Let’s grow something good, together.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
15 min
Land, Legacy & the Future of Farming: Small Business Lessons from Chestnuts
Season 3, Episode 6
Show notes
This Small Business Week, we’re digging deep into how chestnuts can power more than just your pantry — they can build a business.Melanie shares what she’s learned from financial advisor and grower Joel Hubbard and Propagate’s Jeremy Kaufman about building real business models around chestnut orchards. From land structure and taxes to agroforestry and next-generation planning, this episode is packed with insight for farmers, landowners, and dreamers alike.
You’ll hear:
• Why Joel believes chestnuts belong in your investment portfolio
• How Jeremy is helping farmers scale agroforestry across the U.S.
• Funding, planning, and structure tips for your chestnut orchard
• The emotional and financial power of planting for future generationsIf you’re thinking about how to grow smarter, this one’s for you.Learn more and subscribe athttps://unitedchestnuts.com and follow Branching Out: Growing Together for more interviews, field notes, and stories from the chestnut community.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
4 min
OffShoot Edition - From Episode with Dave Skinner Bonus
Season 3, Episode 5
Show notes
This offshoot episode is based on our recent conversation with Dave Skinner of Whitetal Properties, where we discuss "How to Buy Land with Purpose: Strategies from Dave Skinner."
What should you really know before buying a piece of land? In this episode, I sit down with Dave Skinner of Whitetail Properties to talk about the journey from passion to profession — and all the ways you can turn land ownership into a meaningful investment. Whether you’re dreaming of a hunting property, a chestnut orchard, or a cabin in the woods, Dave offers practical insights that will inspire you to take the next step.
You’ll learn:
• What shifted in land buying trends post-COVID
• How to choose the right real estate agent for land
• Ideas for generating income from rural property (beyond farming)
• The real ROI of land compared to traditional investments
• Why passion for the outdoors still drives the best decisionsWant to learn more about land and chestnuts? Subscribe to the podcast and visithttps://unitedchestnuts.com for resources, nursery info, and upcoming events and subscribe to the United Chestnuts YouTube channel.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
32 min
How to Buy Land with Purpose: Strategies from Dave Skinner
Season 3, Episode 5
Show notes
What should you really know before buying a piece of land? In this episode, I sit down with Dave Skinner of Whitetail Properties to talk about the journey from passion to profession — and all the ways you can turn land ownership into a meaningful investment. Whether you’re dreaming of a hunting property, a chestnut orchard, or a cabin in the woods, Dave offers practical insights that will inspire you to take the next step.You’ll learn:
• What shifted in land buying trends post-COVID
• How to choose the right real estate agent for land
• Ideas for generating income from rural property (beyond farming)
• The real ROI of land compared to traditional investments
• Why passion for the outdoors still drives the best decisionsWant to learn more about land and chestnuts? Subscribe to the podcast and visithttps://unitedchestnuts.com for resources, nursery info, and upcoming events.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
36 min
Scott Smith on Harvesting, Marketing & the Future of Chestnut Farming
Season 3, Episode 4
Show notes
Podcast Description: In this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, Scott Smith shares his journey from growing up in the chestnut industry to running a successful orchard in Michigan. We dive into the realities of modern chestnut farming, including harvesting methods, marketing strategies, and why diversification is the key to success.Episode Highlights:
• The transition from handpicking to mechanized harvesting
• How Scott built a market for his chestnuts (now in 17 grocery stores!)
• The role of grower collaboration and cultivar registration
• How breweries are using chestnuts—and what that means for farmers
• Why chestnut farming is as much about community as it is about cropsTune in now to learn how to grow, sell, and thrive in the chestnut industry.Join the conversation! Visithttps://unitedchestnuts.com for resources and follow us on social media for more chestnut farming insights.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You -
22 min
United Chestnuts & EBB Farms – Growing Together in the Chestnut Industry
Season 3, Episode 3
Show notes
In this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, we explore the evolving landscape of chestnut farming and industry collaboration through United Chestnuts and EBB Farms.🌰
United Chestnuts is expanding beyond just one farm—it’s becoming a national platform to support chestnut growers who want to focus on farming without the burden of branding and marketing. We discuss how this initiative aims to unite growers, streamline sales, and educate consumers about chestnuts.
🌱 EBB Farms continues to stand as a leading example of hands-on, chestnut cultivation. We talk about the farm’s role in both growing premium chestnuts and educating the next generation of farmers.
If you're interested in growing, selling, or simply enjoying chestnuts, this conversation is packed with insights into how we can all grow together!🔔
Subscribe for more stories from farmers, innovators, and industry leaders shaping the future of chestnut farming.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
Explore More from United Chestnuts
• Main Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com
• The Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More Episodes
• The United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth Strategies
• Shop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You
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