United Chestnuts

06/08/2026

I had a hip replacement last week. The recovery has been remarkably smooth and I’m feeling especially grateful for the sense of purpose that keeps me going.

A big part of that is our mission to expand chestnuts across U.S. farms. Conversations like this one with Brett Hundley of Agroforestry Partners remind me why this work matters and give me extra motivation to get up, do the PT, and keep moving forward.

If you’re curious why I care so much about chestnuts, here’s the episode and article that have been fueling a lot of that inspiration.

Chestnut farming offers real ecological and economic rewards. Discover why growers are choosing this crop — and whether it's right for your land.

05/16/2026

Naming your farm sounds simple… until it’s not 😅

We pulled together a few ideas to make it more fun—shoutout to Willie, Ellis, Dave, and Joe for sharing your story. If you’re naming (or renaming), this might help.

Also in the UC email—subscribe at unitedchestnuts.com if you’re not already.

https://unitedchestnuts.com/naming-your-farm/

Naming your chestnut farm: what EBB Farms, Pick n Grin, Mountaineer Chestnuts, The D, Legacy Farms teach about choosing a name!

05/13/2026

Thinking about grafted vs. seedling chestnuts? Our quick guide breaks down the tradeoffs—predictability, time to yield, genetics, and what's best for your goals. Read it and decide the right path for your orchard:

Grafted vs seedling chestnut trees: Tom Wahl, Greg Miller, and Ron Revord weigh yield, risk, and the future of clonal systems. Listen now.

05/02/2026

Six generations of chestnuts. One unforgettable conversation.
This week on Branching Out: Growing Together, we sat down with Jon and Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries — a father and son still figuring out, together, what makes a family farm last.

Full episode + show notes at unitedchestnuts.com

What would you ask the Nashes if you had thirty minutes in their orchard? Tell us below 👇

Starting a chestnut orchard? Jon and Bill Nash share six generations of Michigan know-how on patience, site selection, and community.

04/30/2026

Here's what's branching out this May!

Today we're rolling out everything coming your way — one new podcast episode featuring Jon and Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries and a few reads for chestnut growers, researchers, and anyone curious about what it really takes to grow well.

Whether you're three trees in or thirty years deep, there's something here for you. Save this post so you don't miss what drops next.

Subscribe at unitedchestnuts.com — and tell us below: which one are you most excited for? 👇

04/25/2026

We talk a lot about the potential of chestnuts—the soil we’re building, the carbon we’re sequestering, and the markets on the horizon. But we’ve been thinking lately about the operational discipline it’s going to take to actually get us there.

We’re at a point where we have to choose between being neighbors who compete or a category that cooperates. From protecting our data from big ag-tech to ensuring our shells have real market value, the path forward is about moving through the messy middle together.

Wed love for you to read this and let me know where you stand. Are we ready to set the standards ourselves?

Learn how chestnut farm income can grow through operational discipline and the revenue opportunities in growing perennials.

04/24/2026

Chestnut lovers!

04/17/2026

The Asian Ambrosia Beetle is waking up. These tiny pests (the size of a grain of rice) are one of the most lethal threats to young chestnut trunks. Once they bore in, the damage is often irreversible.

Don't wait for the wilt. Our new 2026 Management Guide gives you a clear, proactive defense plan.

Inside this guide:
The 70° Trigger: How to predict the exact flight window.
Spot the Signs: Identify "toothpick" frass tubes early.
The Spray Protocol: Exact timing and mix for bark protection.
The 4-Inch Goal: Why reaching this size is the "finish line" for safety.

Download your playbook here: https://unitedchestnuts.com/product/ambrosia-beetle-chestnut-management-guide/

04/16/2026

Ellis and Sam are dreaming up chestnuts for West Virginia, and it’s the kind of Farm Tour that leaves Brad and me deeply fulfilled in our mission.

They came to EBB Farms to explore how their family land could shift from “what it’s always been” into a chestnut-powered future—soil covered, trees working, legacy alive. The best part of these visits is the spark: big questions, brave ideas, that sense we’re helping shape a family’s path forward—and soon, United Chestnuts Academy will be right there to support the learning and mission every step of the way.

04/13/2026

Getting trees in the ground is an act of hope. But getting the nuts off the trees and into a high-value market? That takes a plan.

I’ve been thinking a lot about something Sandy Russell said on the podcast recently: "The breaking point isn't the crop itself; it's the operations behind the crop." It’s a tough truth, but a necessary one. If we want our small farms to thrive, we have to stop viewing post-harvest techniques as "trade secrets" and start building a shared standard.

If you missed the episode, check it out now: https://unitedchestnuts.com/perennial-crop-revenue/