Dwarf Ginseng — Panax trifolius
While American ginseng finds itself endangered in the wild from commercial exploitation and overharvesting, it’s smaller cousin dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius) remains locally abundant, under-utilized,...
View ArticleThe Diggers of Groundnuts
The Way of the Groundnut In the pre-colonial history of eastern North America, much of what we know of indigenous lifeways prior to the arrival of Europeans is lost or forgotten. In the wake of this...
View ArticleAncient Giants
Uncovering the stories of giant trees of the past is an exercise in grief. What more is there to say? The following are stories and pictures of some of the ancient giants of our eastern forests....
View ArticleIn Defense of Stiltgrass
Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is a much-maligned “invasive plant,” but I don’t believe it deserves this reputation. Call me crazy, but personally, I love stiltgrass. And why not? She is...
View ArticleThe American Hazelnut
It is intimidating to begin writing about the hazelnut. Venerated for centuries in Europe as bestowing wisdom, knowledge, and health upon those who eat it, I can instinctively understand why. Hazelnuts...
View ArticleSpring growing updates 2019
Spring is here, and what a wonderful time to be alive. The woods are awake with a chorus of flowers, the sun is shining, the days are warm, the roots are ready to be dug, the spring waters are cool,...
View ArticleThe Burn Garden
Over the past few years fire management and cultural burning have developed as a fascination in me. As a child I was always a bit of a pyro-maniac, but pairing such a Promethean yet utterly human urge...
View ArticleHealing the Divided States of America
My heart is heavy. All across this country our black brothers and sisters experiencing oppression on the front lines are in deep grief and righteous anger. Those killed at the hands of police — George...
View ArticleOwasco Agroforestry
Following the annual meeting of the NY Nut Grower’s Association on October 17th, Carl Albers told me to check out the bottom of Lake Owasco since I was interested in shellbark hickory. Shellbark...
View ArticleThe Story of “Keystone” Shellbark Hickory
One of my elders in the nut growing community was a man named Parker Coble of Gettysburg. Over the course of his life he had accomplished many things: he was a track and field runner, a teacher, school...
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