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.

Bean Flowers

Yesterday while trying to capture insects working my bean flowers via photography , I remembered the college professor that I took an Entomology class from Western Michigan University in 1975. The whole class went out one night to a nearby … Continue reading

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One Plant-One Human-One Idea

If you have ever planted a cover crop of rye, you soon realize how much this powerhouse of a plant can do in such a short period of time. It is such a simple thing yet has immense environmental benefits. … Continue reading

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The Deer Solution

For many years on my way into town, I would drive by a farm that raised sheep. The pasture was very neat looking and was often cropped to the ground. Like a neatly mowed lawn with isolated thistle plants popping … Continue reading

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Michigan Oranges

Not too long ago, the USDA sent me a newsletter that contained a snippet of nursery catalogs from the early 1900’s. It is interesting to see the drawings and written descriptions of plants used in gardens at this time. This … Continue reading

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Pawpaw

I always felt the pawpaw was the Sasquatch of fruit. I read about it in college. Later several people told me they had seen it. My botany teacher told me of a huge colony. I think someone showed me a … Continue reading

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What Happened To Corn?

If someone came back from a 9000 year journey and saw corn today this might be their first question. What did happen to corn? It is funny to me as this question came to me last year from a colleague … Continue reading

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Wild Plums On The Move

One of the great joys of growing seedling fruit is not knowing what is going to be the end result. You are using a tree as you would find it in the wild in an untended situation and putting it … Continue reading

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Capturing Vitality and Vigor While Pursuing Diversity

There is a huge array of vines that are used in permaculture for food production. Some of these perennial crops are rarely grown yet are very easy to grow and use. Part of the reluctance of planting them is due … Continue reading

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Furry, Cute and Venomous Meets Crispy, Snackable and Delicious

Some of the most secretive plants are the most common. We pass by. We see it.  Yet, our consciousness does not reflect it as a discovery of anything significant.  I saw this trifoliate vine twining around an American hazelnut bush … Continue reading

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A Raspberry Takes Many Forms

You got to respect them.They are a tad thorny and hard to walk through. They are a bit overwhelming at times yet bring you closer to wild fruit nirvana more than any fruit. They can fourish where few fruits can … Continue reading

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