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 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.

Things of Unknown Origin and Beauty Some of Which Are Unsolved

Enjoy. Kenneth Asmus

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The Grass Was Smushed in Great Quantity

On my way to classes in my first year in college I would always pass by the student union. Out in front overlooking the president’s home on a sloped hill covered in thick grass with sycamore trees was a small … Continue reading

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The Edible World Part 3

When the vegetation management power line people came to my house a few years ago, I asked if people freak out when they show up. The foreman said that once a person decided to stop the carnage by throwing himself … Continue reading

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The Edible World Part 2

This sign from my families farm in the mid 1960’s highlights an activity at our farm enjoyed by many in our part of Michigan. You would get a bucket and go out in our 140 acre swamp and find wild … Continue reading

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The Edible World Part 1

One of the great benefits of having a nursery was to inspire others to create gardens filled with unique and delicious fruits and vegetables. Most of the plants I grew were not available by other nurseries or produced by a … Continue reading

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The Chinese Mountain Yam: New Crop-A Better World

This particular crop plant is one of the best tubers I have grown at my farm. The mild flavor and smooth texture along with its easily digestible carbohydrates make it an ideal candidate for a new tuber crop not available … Continue reading

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Butternut and Its Kin

The butternut trees I collected nuts from for my nursery were difficult to find. Every now and then I would spot one from my truck as I drove through a rural area. I would contact the owner and make plans … Continue reading

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Creating Order in a Random World

The plants I chose to grow at my farm was based on my personal experiences. There were many more or less random events of people contacting me with seeds or accidentally finding plants as I went through my daily life. … Continue reading

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The Vigorous Life of Pruning

In the winter, I do a lot of pruning. There are no yellow jackets to avoid. The plants are dormant which is ideal and it is much easier to maneuver and identify shrubs and trees that seed in under my … Continue reading

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Turning The Parking Lot Soil Into a Forest

Having an open field is a rare event at my farm so I had to come up with a cost effective means of covering the soil after the polyhouse removals. In total five houses are being taken down and used … Continue reading

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