Author Archives: Biologicalenrichment

Unknown's avatar

About Biologicalenrichment

I started a farm in the early 1980’s called Oikos Tree Crops. It was once a 13 acre pasture and overtime became a forest. Today I am dedicated more than ever to finding, preserving, creating and disseminating a wide variety of food plants. 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 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

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Making of a Forest

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

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The No Spray Apple

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

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Glorious, Exalted and Most Powerful Beans

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

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Comments Off on How Deep Do Your Roots Go

Oh, it’s vigorous

There is probably no other word used more freely than vigorous to describe a desirable attribute of a plant found in cultivation. Here are a few plants that show their vigorous nature no matter what nature throws at them. This … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Oh, it’s vigorous

A Gap in the Field

My father and his friend and business partner purchased a 400 acre Christmas tree farm in the early 70’s that needed a lot of work. One area that was previously harvested was filled with thick grass and dense woody shrubs … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A Gap in the Field

There is No Substitute

Every now and then I find an article that tries to connect in some way a little known crop plant to a major crop in modern agriculture. I think it is only natural to do that. I see it more … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on There is No Substitute

Pine Nut Ecology and Economy

Pine nuts are expensive. You just can’t grab a handful to chow down without thinking there goes five dollars. I know they are saved for sprinkling on salads or making pesto. There they sit on the same shelf as the … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , | Comments Off on Pine Nut Ecology and Economy

What Are Our Plan(t)s For the Next Thousand Years

When I was teenager my first job was a janitor. My postal career dad took on a second job at our church of which I helped every weekend on Saturday. When you got there in the morning, you always checked … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , | Comments Off on What Are Our Plan(t)s For the Next Thousand Years

That Buckeye Biogas Dilemma

I got a call a few years ago from someone working on biofuel production. I think he lived in Spain if I remember correctly. He was doing a research project specifically related to Aesculus, the horsechestnut genus, and its possibility … Continue reading

Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on That Buckeye Biogas Dilemma