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Branching Out: Growing Together

Branching Out: Growing Together

Written by: Melanie Jones
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 Branching Out: Growing Together – Your gateway to the world of small-scale nut and fruit tree farming, hosted by Melanie Jones from her picturesque chestnut farm in Kentucky. Join Melanie and her guests as they explore the latest trends, innovations, and personal stories from the chestnut industry and beyond.

Whether you're a seasoned grower, a curious landowner, or dreaming of rural living, this podcast offers expert advice, practical tips, and meaningful conversations to help you cultivate success.Tune in bi-weekly for insightful interviews with industry leaders, discover actionable farming strategies, and connect with a community passionate about sustainable agriculture and rural lifestyles.

At Branching Out: Growing Together, there's always a fresh perspective waiting for you.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.Copyright Melanie Jones Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Branching Out Growing Together OffShoot Edition -Messy Middle

    Branching Out Growing Together OffShoot Edition -Messy Middle
    Jan 30 2026
    Messy in the Middle: What It Really Looks Like to Build a Chestnut Orchard (and an Industry) What happens after the excitement of planting trees fades—but before everything feels established? In this Messy in the Middle episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, Melanie Jones reflects on the often-unseen middle phase of chestnut farming and industry-building. Inspired by the idea of the “messy middle,” this episode explores what it really looks like to grow a perennial crop—and a community—when progress is real but unfinished. From uneven harvests and learning curves to orchard decisions that don’t come with a playbook, this conversation is about staying planted through uncertainty. Melanie shares perspective from EBB Farms in Western Kentucky, parallels from other perennial crops like pistachios, and why patience, learning, and shared experience matter more than hype. This episode is for:
    • Chestnut growers in the early or mid stages
    • Landowners considering planting trees
    • Anyone building something long-term that doesn’t offer quick feedback
    Chestnuts aren’t “coming back” overnight. They’re being built—orchard by orchard, season by season. This Messy in the Middle episode is part of an ongoing series within Branching Out: Growing Together, highlighting real-world, in-progress experiences from EBB Farms and the broader chestnut community. 👉 Learn more and explore resources at unitedchestnuts.com/resources

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
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    8 mins
  • Roger Blackwell on Growing a National Chestnut Movement

    Roger Blackwell on Growing a National Chestnut Movement
    Oct 9 2025
    Melanie Jones sits down with Roger Blackwell, President of Chestnut Growers of America, to talk about the momentum building in the U.S. chestnut industry. Together they explore what’s changed, what’s ahead, and how growers across the country are uniting to shape the next chapter of this remarkable tree crop.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
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    32 mins
  • What the Heck is SEO (and Why Chestnut Growers Should Care)

    What the Heck is SEO (and Why Chestnut Growers Should Care)
    Sep 20 2025
    🌐 What the Heck is SEO (and Why Should Chestnut Growers Care?)

    Hi friends—Melanie Jones here with United Chestnuts, and today we’re breaking down a big, messy topic in a way that makes sense for farmers: 👉 SEO (Search Engine Optimization) If you're a grower who wants to sell more chestnuts, trees, or host visitors to your orchard—but don’t have time to become a digital marketing expert—this episode is for you. We’ll cover:
    • Why chestnut growers need SEO—even if you’re not “online people”
    • Simple ways to get your orchard found in Google, Facebook, and TikTok
    • What terms like AEO and GEO actually mean (and how they help)
    • How United Chestnuts is making this easy with tools, templates, and support
    💻 Learn more and join the movement: unitedchestnuts.com/resources 🌰 Chestnuts are coming back—and we’re building the system to support them.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support.
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    9 mins
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