Building a Sustainable Nursery
Chestnut: Cultivation, Uses, and Culinary Delights
Welcome back! 😌
The results are in: the wood uses section is here to stay. In this edition I've added a section on chestnut economics toward the end of this post, where there will be a comment button for you to cast your vote:
👍🏼 = I love the economics section
👎🏼 = I skipped it
Your feedback is essential for the newsletter's success. Thanks for your support!
With that said let’s get to it.
In this edition, I'm excited to highlight a plant that holds great potential for regenerative agriculture: chestnuts.
There are 13 castanea species worldwide with four of those species having major commercial potential here in the US.
American (Castanea dentata)
Japanese (C. crenata)
Chinese (C. mollissima)
European (C. sativa)
A) Main areas of chestnut distribution in the world and B) in Europe research gate
For a deeper understanding of these species, check out this insightful article here.
Plant Profile Video
Don’t miss this plant profile video on the American chestnut here.
Tree of the Week - American Chestnut
The American Chestnut: A Work in Progress
Restoring the American chestnut to its former glory is a monumental task. The American Chestnut Foundation is making strides to develop blight-resistant lines, but sourcing seeds or trees remains a challenge. If you have leads, please share in the comments!
Due to the difficulty in obtaining American chestnuts, I've primarily focused on Chinese dominant hybrid varieties. However, I've faced considerable challenges in stratifying these seeds.
Over the past three years, mold has been my nemesis. After switching from peat moss to sand, I've seen some improvement, but I still lost a few seedlings to mold. Last year, I managed to win the battle, only to have my crop raided by a hungry Sammy squirrel!
Such is the unpredictability of growing chestnuts. 🤷🏻♂️
* This picture, taken in the mid- to late 19th century, gives an idea of just how large and profuse the American chestnut tree was in Eastern U.S. forests. There are now only 100 or so that remain. (Courtesy photo American Chestnut Foundation) article
Historically, the American chestnut was a staple in the diet of many cultures across the Eastern US. However, due to the devastating chestnut blight, which wiped out nearly a quarter of the trees east of the Mississippi in just 50 years, it is now considered functionally extinct.
Interestingly, old specimen continue to send up suckers. While some can produce, they often succumb to the blight once more. These suckers remain the sole source of true American chestnut genetics.
Chestnut Economics
Did you know the global chestnut market hit $3.7 billion in 2023? It’s also projected to grow to $4.9 billion by 2032! That’s a big deal, right?
What’s cool about chestnuts is they’re not like other tree nuts. They really thrive in the Eastern U.S. and can be a fantastic gluten-free staple. Nutritionally, they’re kind of like corn or brown rice, which makes them super versatile.
Now, if you look at the world stage, the biggest producers of chestnuts are China, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
In 2022, the total global production was about 2.13 million metric tons—wild, right? And get this: China produces 80% of all the chestnuts out there, mostly for its own consumption.
Estimates say that here in the U.S., we’ve got about 95 million acres that would be perfect for growing chestnuts, but we’re only contributing less than 1% to the global market. We’re talking only around 4,200 acres in production!
And we consume about 7.5 million pounds of imported chestnuts every year, which is about 3,400 metric tons.
That seems like a lot, but when you break it down, it’s less than 0.1 pounds per person—way lower than that of China, Korea, or Europe.
Many growers report a high demand for fresh nuts that isn’t being met. Chestnuts present an excellent opportunity to diversify your farm as a cash crop, especially in locations where corn, soy, or brown rice may not thrive, like sloped areas.
The main folks enjoying chestnuts in the U.S. are first generation immigrants and New Americans who come from cultures where chestnuts are a big deal—think Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Plus, people who are into regenerative agriculture, health-conscious eaters, and vegetarians/vegans are starting to embrace chestnuts more too.
Read more about chestnut economics here.
Current Propagation Methods and Notes
I’m still refining my techniques for starting chestnuts from seed. After battling mold, I transitioned to sand for stratification based on insights from Akiva Silver's abundant propagation course and it has proven beneficial. Now, I’m focusing on protecting my seedlings from squirrels.
Notable Cultivars
Here are some cultivars you might consider:
Qing
Sleeping Giant
Shing
ACE (American, Chestnut, European hybrids)
Scion wood should be available from Cliff England Orchard and Nursery
Delicious Recipes to Try
DIY flour
How To Make Sweet Chestnut Flour
Muffins
AWESOME!~~ Gluten Free ~~Chestnut Flour Muffins
Chestnut crackers
Easy & Healthy Crackers with Chestnut Flour | Gluten free & Vegan
Pancake/Crepe
Chestnut Pancakes - Paleo, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Sugar Free
Pasta
How to make chestnut tagliatelle without them crumbling! | Pasta Grannies
Bread
Chestnut Bread | Paleo, Keto, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Peanut-Free
Cake
CHESTNUT RECIPE,| Chestnut bread,| Chestnut flour cake,| Castagnaccio alla Toscana,|
Cookies
The BEST Chestnut Cookies ever!
Fritters
Chestnut Fritters - how to make them from scratch
Chestnut Soup
French Cream of Chestnut Soup (Potage aux Marrons)
Scone recipe
Wood Uses
Community Engagement
As I continue to develop the Backyard Berry nursery and newsletter. I hope to get your input! What topics or sections would you like to see in future newsletters?
For instance, in this edition I added a section on the economy of chestnuts. Cast your votes in the comments!
👍🏼 to keep the section on economy
👎🏼 Nah I don't find it all that interesting
Thank you for joining me on this journey into the world of native plants, sustainable practices, and the joys of cultivating our local flora.
I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions!
Much love
Many blessings
Travis
👍 I'm really new to all this, but are you familiar with Steve Hartman out of Bowling Green for American Chestnut seeds? I'm attempting to stratify ten because I'm cheap!
👍🏼 for sure like the economics section. Maybe could even add a pic of the wood detail??