Branching Out: Growing Together

United Chestnuts
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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.

  1. 3D AGO

    Starting a Chestnut Orchard the Right Way Feat. Jon & Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries

    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 — nashnurseries.comChestnut Growers of America (CGA)Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA)Midwest Chestnut Producers CouncilMichigan State University — Dr. Dennis Fulbright, Dr. Mario MondojandoTreeborn — roasted chestnut chips, flour, and value-added products If 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 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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You This episode includes AI-generated content.

    48 min

  2. APR 4

    Sandy Russell on Chestnut Operational Maturity

    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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You This episode includes AI-generated content.

    38 min

  3. MAR 17

    High-Tech Harvest: Transforming Orchards with Drone Technology

    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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You

    37 min

  4. FEB 5

    Welcome to The Chestnut Blueprint

    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 commoditiesLearn practical steps to reclaim pricing powerHear what modern cooperatives are doing to protect grower marginsSee how small farms can scale through innovation and collaborationFor more episodes, insights, and grower resources, visit 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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You

    37 min

  5. JAN 30

    Branching Out Growing Together OffShoot Edition -Messy Middle

    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 stagesLandowners considering planting treesAnyone 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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You

    8 min

  6. 10/09/2025

    Roger Blackwell on Growing a National Chestnut Movement

    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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You

    32 min

  7. 09/20/2025 ·  BONUS

    What the Heck is SEO (and Why Chestnut Growers Should Care)

    🌐 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 TikTokWhat 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: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You

    9 min

  8. 08/29/2025

    Ecdysis at EBB Farms: Inside the 1000 Farms Initiative

    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 lineSimple biodiversity practices that fit real schedules and budgetsThe role of the BugBox/Xerinx in tracking ecosystem healthHow 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 #EBBFarms Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support. Explore More from United Chestnuts Main Website: unitedchestnuts.comThe Branching Out Podcast: Listen to More EpisodesThe United Chestnuts Blog: Industry Insights & Growth StrategiesShop Ebb Farms: Direct from Our Orchard to You

    43 min
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About

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.

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