Our Farm
We planted our first chestnut trees in 2004, but it was 2006 when we planted the bulk of our orchard. We apply the agroforestry practice of alley cropping. Thus, our rows of trees are spaced far enough apart that we can cut and bale hay in the “alleyways” of pasture grasses growing between rows of trees. We also maintain wide buffers of tall prairie grasses and forbs around the outside of our orchard. All together this creates diverse habitats that attract a lot of wildlife including songbirds, owls, hawks, wild turkeys, rabbits, deer and the occasional fox or coyote. When the mature chestnuts are dropping from the trees, we often have to scramble to stay ahead of the deer that enjoy the chestnuts as much as we do.
We also maintain wide buffers of tall prairie grasses and forbs around the outside of our orchard. All together this creates diverse habitats that attract a lot of wildlife including songbirds, owls, hawks, wild turkeys, rabbits, deer and the occasional fox or coyote. When the mature chestnuts are dropping from the trees, we often have to scramble to stay ahead of the deer that enjoy the chestnuts as much as we do.
Our location in rural Boone County, Missouri, midway between Centralia and Columbia, has been fortunate. We are in close proximity to experts at The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri (https://centerforagroforestry.org/). Their faculty and staff include world-class experts on planting, growing, harvesting, marketing, and cooking chestnuts. Their workshops, seminars, publications, technical advice, and words of encouragement were essential in guiding us on our adventure to raise chestnuts.
