Planting 100 Chestnut Trees

[@Clothis64]

Cutting trees, planting trees, is giving a nice balance to your life (not to mention the pleasure of eating fruit) 😁

[@metaspencer]

You said it. It's pretty much trees trees and more trees around here these days :)

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

I watched another KZbinr plant chestnuts a few years ago. He didn't have tubes for all of them and only the ones with tubes survived. So must be a good idea. Thanks for two videos in one day. A rare treat!!

[@metaspencer]

We're hopeful that the orchard works out but only time will tell

[@marcusmustard8285]

Nice video. Thanks for posting.

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for checking it out

[@williamrehberg2546]

Ain't nothing like some good ole tree planting! Living down here in the South, I've spent many a late winter/early spring day riding a tree planter behind a tractor setting out pine seedlings...after the first thousand or so it gets old!🤣🤣🤣

[@metaspencer]

I've only seen videos of those tree planters ... the first thousand! wow that's wild

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

Nice work

[@metaspencer]

Thanks buddy

[@gregbrown9271]

Lot of work but very satisfying☘️🌲

[@metaspencer]

Absolutely. Great to hope for the future with trees

[@johnsommerfeld6889]

I'm sure they will do well there especially with all of the love they will receive from you and Melissa!

[@metaspencer]

I sure hope you're right! :)

[@6ftS]

I was just wondering what makes chestnut trees so special and rather than asking you I googled it and what I found really amazed me. So I will not ask why you chose chestnuts, because regardless of your answer, your planting them will make the world a better place. Thanks for doing something that is bigger picture in essence, and inspirational to say the very least. - "Chestnut leaves have up to 95% tannin and high amounts of Vitamin K. Teas made from the leaves are a cure for respiratory diseases such as whooping cough, and mixed with thyme makes a powerful medicinal syrup that is used to treat cough, diarrhea, backache, and intoxication." "The timber is strong and durable, and can be used for construction, furniture and long poles. Chestnut wood is also used for burning and for producing charcoal. Chestnut trees are cultivated in orchards for fruit production." "Chestnuts are lower in calories than many other types of nuts. They are a good source of amino acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, phenols, and vitamin C. You'll also find a variety of vitamins and minerals in chestnuts, such as: Vitamin C." "Mature American chestnuts have been virtually extinct for decades. The tree's demise started with something called ink disease in the early 1800s, which steadily killed chestnut in the southern portion of its range." "Chestnut signals a time of taking on the responsibility of being a provider for ourselves, our family and our community. Chestnuts belong to the Fagaceae family of trees, which include beech and oak. All three genera are generous providers of life-sustaining gifts"...

[@metaspencer]

You said it buddy ... trying to be part of this effort to bring back chestnuts, and I'm cautiously optimistic that it'll work out :)

[@6ftS]

@@metaspencer Holding thumbs. I thought the project was a bit nuts... but in the end it turned out to be a fruitful exercise

[@sporranheid]

Great comment. I was curious too. Thank you. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✌ (Meant to be a Scotland flag but for some reason it doesn't show up properly. Bah.)

[@lorenar4695]

Beautiful!

[@metaspencer]

We definitely had some fun out there :)

[@southernrebel159]

Thank you brother, another great "How You" video. And I'm glad to see the ground crew showed up for you today. It always seems like a nicer video when the ground crew is with you. Anywho, y'all take care and may Father YHVH God bless y'all.

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for checking it out, buddy! Yeah, good times out there for sure

[@lizzieholland]

So beautiful to watch you guys work together to make something for the future. Excellent team work. ❤

[@metaspencer]

Thanks for that! Yeah, it was definitely a special project to put together :)

[@jeffschroeder9089]

Living the dream!!

[@metaspencer]

On the good days I guess! :)

[@marklazarus2584]

Finally ground crew shows up.

[@metaspencer]

Exactly! Just when I was thinking to myself "gotta fire that ground crew" :)

[@nhmountains5683]

Hey Spencer, I’m going to be adding wood chips in a circle around the tubes. 3-4” deep. The mulch will keep them moister and help with cold winters. Once they rot down the trees will be happy. I doubt you’d have to water them if you do that. I’m using Treepro tubes this year. If you had a 2-3 year old pile of chips that could make a big difference

[@metaspencer]

My chip pile isn't that old but it's mixed with dirt, so I'm hoping it works ... those chips will also keep the weeds down, which is nice

[@metaspencer]

Those TreePro tubes look pretty good. What kind of stakes you using? I'm thinking of switching to rebar :)

[@lorenmeyer5290]

Great job guy's!

[@metaspencer]

Thanks Loren!

[@angelachelette3737]

We manage to germinate about 40-50 per year and get them planted. Can't handle more than that at a time! Good on you!

[@metaspencer]

Oh that's so cool that you're growing from seed. That's our longterm plan :) great to hear

[@C...G...]

you tubing tree tubers! 👍😀

[@metaspencer]

tubes-squared :)

[@mrknittle532]

I got the Miracle Tubes this time around. I'm hoping they perform as well as they say. Melissa's analysis of how they work was spot on, though. BTW, you're showing your 'back in the day' with those 'burns...lol.

[@metaspencer]

Mr Knittle! My backburner plan is to import a roll or two of that plastic for next year and make the tubes ... will keep you posted if it works out! :)

[@mrknittle532]

@@metaspencer I don't have as much land as you do and most of what I'm planting are shrubs, so it was easier for me just to buy them. Tree Pro had a good deal for my needs.

[@CoolGen10]

Nice work. Are you going to harvest walnuts in a few years?

[@metaspencer]

That's the hope ... if we can keep the trees alive, that is.

[@polderfischer8565]

Nice day out there doing a fine job! I personally prefere to put some woodchips on the soil in the end to protect the soil from beeing dried out rapidly. Thanks for showing!

[@metaspencer]

We put mulch down at the end to retain moisture, and it is hardwood derived. I'm hoping it works as well as wood chips.

[@polderfischer8565]

@@metaspencer Oh, okay. That will work. Greetings

[@JamesWilliams-vs2od]

2 videos within 24 hours!! Wow. When I first saw that y’all were planting trees, I told my wife that this sure is odd, because this guy cuts trees down for a living lol

[@metaspencer]

haha ... yeah, two sides of the same coin.

[@hollandduck79]

Hello from the Netherlands. thanks for the video Melissa and Spencer . Sincerely Hollandduck

[@metaspencer]

Thanks buddy!

[@GinaKayLandis]

Ha! You guys are beasties, dominating the tree game from baby trees to old decrepit scary trees! What a great video, got to see Melissa and her humor, Spencer shoveling like a madman too. Just the beauty of a sunny day, working in the soil, on your own land. Exquisite! Thanks for sharing your springtime planting scenario! Tip: if you plant pecan trees for your next batch of nut trees, they are a bit pricy - but the payoff is sweet in all kinds of ways! Have a great weekend!

[@metaspencer]

We've been thinking about pecan trees! thanks for the kind words and support :)

[@ddalton692]

🌲 Congratulations Wonderful investment for future You two work together great! Continued blessings for you both

[@metaspencer]

Big thanks!

[@nhmountains5683]

Awesome Spencer. I hope I inspired you with the chestnut talk on that job last year. You should have some nuts in 4-5 years. I had a tree that was planted in 2016 that produced 15 pounds last year. Keep in mind chestnuts do not line wet feet so definitely don’t over water. What varieties did you plant? Now you need to get some heirloom apples from Cummins Nursery next spring and you’ll be all set.

[@metaspencer]

You absolutely inspired us to go the chestnut route. After reading up on it a bit (probably not enough!) I got a few varieties from a nursery here in NY that seems to specialize in resistant yet locally productive varieties. I'm forgetting the names but we did 4 or 5 varieties to see what works best. If things go well I'm hoping to propagate them, but that's a ways off and I've got some learning to do! So far we're behind on apple trees: just planted 6 last year and none so far this year. But our berry planting is coming along!

[@nhmountains5683]

Cummins Nursery is a stones throw from you and us having a 35% off sale now on apples and other fruit trees like plums.

[@jonanderson5137]

All hybrids now, the true chestnut tree is done for.

[@metaspencer]

yep, you said it

[@sporranheid]

Any idea how much hard work your forebears put into clearing that land for farming? 😜 Always seems weird to mix plastic with nature, but short of building a ridiculous deer fence, what else are ye going to do? This is great in all ways; a variety of chestnuts planted, realistic spacing, teamwork, etc, etc. Hats off.

[@metaspencer]

We've farmed our land in various ways over the years, but mainly with heavy machinery ... this project has been a lot more hands-on

[@garageworker]

Did they finally make a blight resistant chestnut? I might have to plant some. If your zone always for it, I’d suggest a Halls Hardy Almond and a contender peach tree. Both have been great for me, I got them from gurneys.

[@metaspencer]

I'll take a look at those trees you mention -- thanks for the tip. The chestnuts we planted are supposed to be blight resistant varieties, but we'll have to see how it goes.

[@ohnodevo]

@@metaspencer I was just about to ask the same question. Are these some sort of hybrid American Chestnut or chinese, etc? Great job, btw.

[@metaspencer]

@@ohnodevo Yup, hybrids ... doing good so far :)

[@SteampunkSteve]

They will make fine forest. You mentioned there are a few varieties. Is a blight resistant American Chestnut among them?

[@metaspencer]

Everything we planted is supposed to be blight resistant, but only time will tell. It's been hard to determine if they're derived from the American chestnut originally or partially, but I think so

[@littlemogocreek]

What's the success rate like on 100 trees Spence? You mentioned you do this every year..would be interesting to know how they've all gone. Great job by the way Team.

[@metaspencer]

With Norway spruce bare root stock we get 95% … white pines 80% … birches 0% … willows 50/50 so it’s varied a lot based on a ton of factors

[@michaelmoran6861]

Is the Russian author to go along with all the Poles? 😂 Good on you planting all those trees. The yin and the yang of trees.

[@metaspencer]

The Poles! haha ... After all that work she put a big dent in the novel but reports to still have 3 hours to go on the audiobook :)

[@blockadeboyz]

Yes… but I don’t see an open fire… what the!!!!

[@metaspencer]

hahahaha ... we'll have to torch one up ASAP! :)

[@blockadeboyz]

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… wait for the appropriate holiday… lol.

[@jacobbuckley8232]

Why chestnut trees? why do they just look like a dead stick? This your property?

[@metaspencer]

Chestnut trees were very common before the blights that wiped them out in the early 20th century, so we're hoping to help bring them back. As for how they look it's because they're just year-old started twigs ... I hope they survive

[@angelachelette3737]

People love them. Wildlife loves them. They are beautiful. Can't ask for more!

[@awtyhrh]

🎉