🎙 Welcome to Branching Out: Growing Together! 🌱🌰

In this episode, we’re diving into the financial side of farming and entrepreneurship with Joel Hubbard, CPA—a seasoned expert in accounting, tax strategies, and business financial planning. But Joel isn’t just a numbers guy—he’s also a passionate chestnut grower and the owner of Georgia Chestnuts, where he’s actively contributing to the growth of the chestnut industry. 🌰🌿

Joel brings valuable insights on how growers, landowners, and small business owners can navigate taxes, manage cash flow, and build long-term financial stability. Whether you're starting your orchard, expanding your farm, or just trying to make sense of the numbers, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you grow—both financially and sustainably.

🌎📈 Check out the previous episode of Branching Out with Joel Hubbard in the podcast playlist.

Hit like & subscribe and let’s get into it! 🎧👇 #BranchingOutPodcast #ChestnutFarming #GeorgiaChestnuts #UnitedChestnuts

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Life is full of twists and turns, but those unexpected moments often hold the greatest opportunities for growth. In this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, we explore how to navigate career pivots, personal challenges, and the unpredictability of life with resilience and adaptability.Through deeply personal stories, you’ll discover:

• How to embrace unexpected opportunities and turn setbacks into stepping stones.
• Lessons from farming: adapting to life’s natural rhythms and letting go of control.
• How personal challenges, like loss and an ADHD diagnosis, can lead to profound growth.
• Why progress isn’t linear—but it’s always possible with persistence and flexibility.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with wisdom on creativity, self-discovery, and the power of showing up—even when the path forward looks uncertain.

Listen now and join us as we continue branching out and growing together!

➡️ Learn more at unitedchestnuts.com
📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment below!

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In this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, we dive into the growing opportunities in U.S. chestnut farming with Jessica Shade from USDA NIFA. Discover how programs like the Specialty Crop Research Initiative are driving innovation and collaboration between growers and researchers. Jessica shares actionable insights on funding, industry challenges, and how you can play a part in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation!

🌐 Learn more: SCRI Website

🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes on sustainable farming and agricultural innovation.Let me know if you’d like additional adjustments!

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In this episode of "Branching Out Growing Together," we sit down with Kathy Dice, co-founder of Redfern Farms, to explore the transformative potential of chestnut farming. Learn about the benefits of chestnuts as a sustainable crop, the role of agroforestry in combating environmental challenges, and the power of community in farming. From the challenges of startup farming to integrating livestock and wildlife, Kathy shares invaluable lessons for anyone passionate about agriculture and sustainability. Tune in for expert tips, delicious chestnut recipes, and a vision for the future of farming!

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Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farms joins Melanie on the Branching Out: Growing Together podcast live from Chestnut Growers of America and Northern Nut Growers annual conference.  

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An exciting new addition to the chestnut-loving community! Melanie Jones, a partner at United Chestnuts, and her husband Brad host the "Branching Out" podcast. 

The first guest is Roger Blackwell, President of Chestnut Growers of America and the Michigan-based chestnut cooperative Chestnut Growers, Inc.

Melanie explains, "We launched the podcast to support our industry's growing interest in learning, connecting, and sharing industry-related stories and information from different perspectives. The timing is ideal for this." Subscribe to the weekly blog at unitedchestnuts.com and consider joining the United Chestnuts Community group on Facebook. United Chestnuts sells chestnut trees and chestnuts, of course!

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

Join Melanie Jones, the host of the Branching Out podcast, in a captivating conversation with James "Mike" Nave. Uncover the secrets, challenges, and passion behind chestnut cultivation. Subscribe now for more insightful episodes on tree cultivation and horticulture.

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

In this podcast episode with Michael Parks, Melanie, and Michael engage in a lively discussion about the chestnut community and the importance of educating consumers about chestnuts. They highlight the need for ongoing education, noting that there is still much work to be done to increase awareness and consumption, especially among various cultural groups.

They discuss the balance of supply and demand in the chestnut market, emphasizing the complexities of this discussion and much more.

How do you feel about the balance between low-tech and high-tech solutions in your work as a chestnut farmer? 

How do you currently sell your chestnuts without relying heavily on technology? 

How do you approach sustainability in your farming practices? 

Melanie Jones, a partner at United Chestnuts, and her husband Brad host the "Branching Out" podcast. Melanie explains, "The podcast—available on YouTube, Spotify, Audible, and iHeartRadio—supports our industry's growing interest in learning, connecting, and sharing industry-related stories and information from different perspectives.

Subscribe to the weekly blog at unitedchestnuts.com and consider joining the United Chestnuts Community group on Facebook. United Chestnuts sells chestnut trees and chestnuts, of course!

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

Join host Melanie Jones as she interviews Brad Russell, a former corporate professional who made the bold decision to leave his career at Walmart and pursue chestnut farming full-time. Brad shares how he balanced both worlds before making the leap, the challenges he faced scaling up his farm, and how he turned his passion for agriculture into a thriving business. Tune in to discover how you too can create new opportunities from your land.

What you'll learn:

• Why Brad left his corporate job for farming.
• The grit it takes to scale a farm.
• Inspiration for turning passion into opportunity.

Resources:Website: https://unitedchestnuts.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitedchestnuts 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitedchestnuts/ 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Branching-Out 
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6QfQsz4sZNihYpZqS7Fkj2?si=837019faacb04efa 

Learn more about Brad Russell and Chestnuts In the Ozarks: https://www.chestnutsintheozarks.com/ 

Follow Chestnuts in the Ozarks: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chestnuts-In-The-Ozarks-102362755869909 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/chestnutsozark

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In this episode of Branching Out: Growing Together, our host, Melanie Jones sits down with Amy Miller, COO of Route 9 Co-Op, to discuss her fascinating childhood on a chestnut tree farm in Appalachian, Ohio. Raised by academic parents amidst a large Amish community, Amy's story is a compelling blend of cultural diversity, agricultural innovation, and a steadfast commitment to sustainability. Tune in to learn how her upbringing influences her current work and future endeavors in specialty crop research and environmental sustainability.

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