Chestnut Grove

When Walker Homestead first acquired the farm, this area was home to our pasture-raised pigs, who spent their days rooting through the grasses and enjoying life outdoors. In 2021, we began planting our chestnut grove—a gift not just for today, but for generations to come.

Chestnut trees have nourished people for thousands of years. Long before wheat and potatoes became staples, chestnuts were known as the "bread tree." Their sweet, nutritious nuts could be roasted, dried, or milled into flour, providing food for families throughout Europe and Asia. They also fed wildlife and livestock, making them one of the world's most valuable food-producing trees.

America once had its own giant—the American chestnut. Towering over eastern forests, these magnificent trees numbered in the billions until a devastating blight in the early 1900s nearly erased them from the landscape. Their loss changed forests, wildlife, and farming forever.

Today, chestnut growers are helping write a new chapter by planting blight-resistant varieties that bring this remarkable tree back to our farms and tables. We have planted Peach Chinese Chestnut trees on the property, that will reach 30-50 feet, provide large, sweet nuts, excellent for roasting. 2026 will be our first harvest!