10/08/2026
Why Chestnuts?
We are often asked this question. After purchasing property in 2016, we did some searching for potential agricultural products for our farm in Mid-Missouri (while still living in Iowa). The land was rented for cattle at the time, so that lease continued until Spring 2017. Meanwhile, we found information from The Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri about chestnuts as a farm commodity. We had previously experienced and enjoyed chestnuts while living in Vienna, Austria. Roasted chestnuts, or Maroni, are a staple of Vienna Christmas Markets. A chestnut grower’s workshop in Letts, IA hosted by Tom Wahl & Kathy Dice of Red Fern Farm, Roger Smith of Prairie Grove Chestnut Growers, and Mike Gold from The Center for Agroforestry solidified our interest in chestnuts.
Our time at the farm in 2017 was initially devoted to preparing to host friends and family for a viewing of the solar eclipse, considering that the property was in the line of totality. Following the eclipse, work began on the orchard at Solar Crossing Farm. We planted the first trees in the Fall of 2017. More trees were added in subsequent years, so that the orchard now has about 140 chestnut trees. The trees are Chinese Chestnut (𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘢) mostly sourced from Forrest Keeling Nursery in Elsberry, MO along with a dozen trees sourced from Red Fern Farm in Wapello, IA. The orchard contains seedling trees along with grafted cultivars of Sleeping Giant, Peach, Qing, Homestead, and Benton Harbor.
Our first small chestnut harvest followed our relocation to the farm in 2023. As the trees mature, each year the amount of chestnuts harvested doubles from the previous year. A goal for our orchard is that chestnuts from every tree are collected daily, most days morning and evening, so that nuts are quickly moved into refrigerated storage. We aim to produce high-quality chestnuts with wonderful flavor and freshness. Contact us if you want to purchase nuts or include roasted chestnuts into an event.
