Author Archives: Biologicalenrichment

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About Biologicalenrichment

I started a farm in the early 1980’s called Oikos Tree Crops. It was once a 13 acre pasture and with the help of many worldwide plants became a forest. Today I am dedicated more than ever to finding, preserving, creating and disseminating a wide variety of food plants via seeds that I harvest at my farm. I explore new plants and healthy ways to raise them. I currently focus my attention on my seed repository while providing seeds and bring these new discoveries to the public at large. My farm is one of the oldest and most diverse maintained tree crop plantings in the U.S. using many plants from around the world as a form of global agroforestry applied at a local level. Every plant grown on my farm is grown from seeds. I use the tree crop philosophy as a means to expand the use of perennial, woody tree and shrub crops raised from seed without the use of chemical and high energy inputs.The two story agriculture is alive and well at Oikos Tree Crops. This blog highlights ecological enrichment as a means to improve human health and raise awareness of the possibilities of creating a healthy earth and a wealthy farmer. My story is told by describing my 50 years of farming and life experiences surrounding agriculture filled with my love of nature and my constant search for a greater diversity beyond the cultivar on a global stage.

The Edible Lily

I have always found it fascinating to read about the use of wildflowers as food plants. In particular, I wondered how anyone could make a go of harvesting lily bulbs to any degree for food. You hear stories of many … Continue reading

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The Earth Pea

One of the most interesting perennial crops I grow is the earth pea, Lathyrus tuberosus. It reminds me in many ways of the highway pea that is so common along roadways used as a soil stabilizer and nitrogen fixer. As … Continue reading

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The Shape of Oaks To Come

I’ve always like the description of the oak genus as young as evolving. When horticulturists make selections from oak trees they are strictly ornamental in nature and usually columnar in shape. It is old and devolving in terms of our … Continue reading

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The Brassica Forest Comes Alive

About a decade ago, I began growing tree collards from cuttings and seeds from The Tree Collard Project in California. I also purchased seeds of other types of brassica from Chris Homanics, Joseph Lofthouse and Southern Seed as well as … Continue reading

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Too Little Too Late

Extreme environmental changes will require a major shift on how and where we grow certain human edible crop plants. Although human edible corn makes up less than five percent of all corn, it is still important to think of it … Continue reading

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Wild Tomatoes are Out of Control

Every now and then people will discover wild colonies of domesticated food plants like tomatoes. Some are accidental pitches by motorists but some have been around for many generations and have adapted to their new homes self seeding and creating … Continue reading

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The Making of a Forest

It’s a great joy to plant trees. It is a type of activity that is always rewarding. You need to bring with you a sense of wonder and patience and wait for the outcome. When I planted these northern pecans … Continue reading

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The No Spray Apple

What would happen to the apple if we decide collectively not to spray anymore? Every good experience that we have with the apple would change for the worst. The flavors we know and appreciate would disappear. To create a new … Continue reading

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The Glorious, Exalted and Most Powerful Beans

Every year in the spring I go through my small bins of seeds and figure out what I am going to plant. I have no plan so the choices are wide open. I like that idea. It reminds me of … Continue reading

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How Deep Do Your Roots Go

When I first started my nursery and began hand harvesting field grown trees, I knew I was going to need a variety of tools for the job. One of the shovels I purchased from Hawken Tools was manufactured by the … Continue reading

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