2025 harvest help

It is beginning to feel like chestnut season. Even though the burrs are only golf ball size and it is still summertime weather, we have a distinct uptick in queries. "When are the chestnuts ready for sale?" If the season proceeds as usual, we expect to open for online sales in early October. We will get the nuts into our local stores as soon as they are cured and sweet in September. Although we are never sure about quantity and weather, we hope to open for pick-your-own after the 2nd week in October. We will set specific dates as the time gets closer.

Our chores increase as we get closer to harvest. We start mowing and cleaning the orchard floor, making sure the wagons are in shape, setting up the sorting line and sanitizing the coolers. And most urgently, we develop our list of harvest help. Take a look at the Harvest Help wanted page and join us!

Opportunities to visit the orchard We enjoy hosting groups and individuals who are interested in permanent, organic agriculture (and chestnuts). Harvest season is the most interesting. Our harvest helpers not only get to enjoy the trees and the fall weather. Towards the end of harvest in mid-October, we try to open up for pick your own, depending upon the size of the harvest and the weather. For any of these opportunities, please contact us. Visits must be by appointment only--but we hope to see you! More information at Pick Your Own.

Our History: Charlie started planting chestnut trees on the 20-acre field in 1995, following organic practices from the beginning. Chestnut Charlie’s has been certified organic since 1998. Being organic is Charlie’s uncompromising condition to farming—that he contribute no synthetic chemicals to the environment. The tree project is surrounded by conventional corn/soybean farms so we planted and maintain a buffer/shelterbelt of mixed tree species around the perimeter boundary. Our tree project now has approximately 1200 nut trees under organic culture within the protective buffer.