{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Ox Heights","home_page_url":"https://oxheights.com","description":"Ox Heights","author":{"name":"Ox Heights"},"items":[{"id":"a-cold-spring-is-a-chestnut-farmers-best-friend","html_content":"

It's April 2nd and there is 18 inches of snow on the orchard floor, 0.3 inches of freezing rain on all the trees, and the early outlook for our 2026 chestnut harvest is as excellent as ever. What???

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/a-cold-spring-is-a-chestnut-farmers-best-friend","title":"Is a cold spring the chestnut farmer's best friend?","date_modified":"2026-04-03T20:01:00Z"},{"id":"growing-chestnut-trees-from-chestnuts---testing-approaches","html_content":"

Tree farmers might just be the most optimistic people I know. Think about it: they press a single nut into the soil and make a quiet, powerful bet—that they’ll be here in 30 years, that the tree will thrive alongside the...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/growing-chestnut-trees-from-chestnuts---testing-approaches","title":"Growing chestnut trees from chestnuts - testing approaches","date_modified":"2026-03-18T00:50:15Z"},{"id":"can-a-chestnut-farm-support-a-family","html_content":"

My dad once told me that the only reason to have a business is to make money. I guess the same could be said for farms. Of course, growing high quality and tasty food is rewarding, but at the end of the day, \"everyone's...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/can-a-chestnut-farm-support-a-family","title":"Can a Chestnut Farm Support a Family?","date_modified":"2026-02-01T17:00:00Z"},{"id":"how-to-get-transplanted-asian-pine-nut-trees-to-survive-and-grow","html_content":"

We absolutely love trees that produce food. Why? Quite simple - plant it once and harvest food for generations!

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/how-to-get-transplanted-asian-pine-nut-trees-to-survive-and-grow","title":"Survival and Growth of Asian Pine Nut Trees - A Farm Experiment","date_modified":"2026-01-19T14:34:24Z"},{"id":"2025-ox-heights-farm-production-report","html_content":"

Yep, I know...annual reports are boring to read and even more boring to write. But they provide a record of what the farm produced in a given year that is useful to review in the future and provide to people interested ...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/2025-ox-heights-farm-production-report","title":"2025 Ox Heights Farm Production Report","date_modified":"2025-12-31T16:04:02Z"},{"id":"great-lakes-great-chestnuts","html_content":"

I think it's easy to forget how great the Great Lakes really are. These inland seas contain 20% of the available freshwater on the earth and big enough to create their own climate! Being downwind of the Lakes Superior, ...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/great-lakes-great-chestnuts","title":"Great Lakes = Great Chestnuts","date_modified":"2025-12-13T20:34:20Z"},{"id":"the-most-profitable-tree-at-ox-heights-is-not-what-you-think","html_content":"

Guess what - the most profitable tree on the farm is not chestnuts, it's not peaches, it's not veneer sugar maple - its fir trees that plant themselves and require no care. Confused...well, I am too. Read on for the rest...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/the-most-profitable-tree-at-ox-heights-is-not-what-you-think","title":"The most profitable tree at Ox Heights is not what you think...","date_modified":"2025-11-23T16:17:55Z"},{"id":"2025-chestnut-harvest-stats---with-a-comparison-to-previous-years","html_content":"

Chestnut harvest 2025 is in the books and the last 'official' nut was picked up on November 2nd. While we still will glean some chestnuts off the orchards in November, the harvest in 2025 is for all intents and purposes...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/2025-chestnut-harvest-stats---with-a-comparison-to-previous-years","title":"2025 Chestnut Harvest Stats - With a Comparison to Previous Years","date_modified":"2025-11-04T13:02:00Z"},{"id":"midseason-chestnut-harvest-update---2025","html_content":"

We are about halfway through chestnut harvest - which spans the entire month of October here in far Northern Michigan. We've been blessed with pleasant weather and lots of help from our kids and and friends. We also have...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/midseason-chestnut-harvest-update---2025","title":"Midseason Chestnut Harvest Update - 2025","date_modified":"2025-10-17T10:52:28Z"},{"id":"pressed-for-cider---pressed-for-time","html_content":"

With chestnuts falling as I write, we managed to squeeze in time for a family tradition - pressing apple cider.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/pressed-for-cider---pressed-for-time","title":"Pressed for Cider - Pressed for Time","date_modified":"2025-10-06T01:12:35Z"},{"id":"wild-rice-or-fish-how-about-both","html_content":"

Wild rice is the grain that grows on water.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/wild-rice-or-fish-how-about-both","title":"Wild Rice or Fish? How about both?","date_modified":"2025-09-23T01:19:28Z"},{"id":"2025-north-star-chestnut-crop-looks-exceptional","html_content":"

One month and counting until peak chestnut harvest! Nuts will start shipping out in about 45 days! Pre-order yours today!

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/2025-north-star-chestnut-crop-looks-exceptional","title":"2025 North Star Chestnut Crop Looks Exceptional","date_modified":"2025-09-09T01:41:51Z"},{"id":"peach-harvest-update---why-a-variety-of-varieties","html_content":"

Did you know that Ox Heights has 8 varieties of peaches? I have a hard time remembering them all: Rising Star, Reliance, Red Haven, Blazing Star, Glohaven, Sweet Star, Loring, and Glowing Star. Why so many varieties an...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/peach-harvest-update---why-a-variety-of-varieties","title":"Peach Harvest Update - Why a variety of varieties? ","date_modified":"2025-08-23T12:47:00Z"},{"id":"friends-with-trees-in-a-distant-land","html_content":"

Have you ever met a friend that lives a similar life with similar obsessions but in a completely different place in the world? That happened to us and the story started about a decade ago. The most recent chapter of the...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/friends-with-trees-in-a-distant-land","title":"Friends with Trees in a Distant Land","date_modified":"2025-08-15T12:12:56Z"},{"id":"firewood-from-heaven","html_content":"

\"Manna from Heaven\" is idiom referring to an unexpected and welcome gift, benefit, or piece of good news. In the Book of Exodus, when the Israelites faced starvation in the desert, God provided manna as a daily food sour...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/firewood-from-heaven","title":"Firewood from Heaven?","date_modified":"2025-07-25T00:47:03Z"},{"id":"millions-of-peaches","html_content":"

A band named The Presidents of the Unities States of America released the song named \"Millions of Peaches\" in 1996. The music video has been viewed 5.4 million times (apparently silly songs are more interesting than far...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/millions-of-peaches","title":"Millions of Peaches - How we thin fruit on peach trees","date_modified":"2025-06-22T22:47:15Z"},{"id":"suckers---love-and-hate-but-mostly-hate","html_content":"

Chestnuts are notorious for their ability to resprout from the stump. In some parts of the world, chestnuts are coppiced to produce biomass or wood products as seen in this image below.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/suckers---love-and-hate-but-mostly-hate","title":"Suckers - Love and Hate (but mostly hate)","date_modified":"2025-06-02T00:49:50Z"},{"id":"from-nut-to-tree-to-field","html_content":"

In December, we stratified chestnuts in peat moss in hopes they would germinate in the spring and grow into a chestnut tree (see the full story here).

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/from-nut-to-tree-to-field","title":"From Nut To Tree To Field","date_modified":"2025-05-13T13:01:55Z"},{"id":"can-you-fix-dead","html_content":"

I recently told a friend, \"You can't fix dead.\"\nYou can fix a car, repair a house, even heal a broken bone. But when something is dead, that's that.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/can-you-fix-dead","title":"Can you fix dead?","date_modified":"2025-04-20T17:08:36Z"},{"id":"the-ice-storm-apocalypse-of-2025","html_content":"

Where do we start? Do we start with... 'I'm writing this in a cold house powered by a generator and been without power for 9 days'...or maybe...'what two words strikes fear into a tree farmer's heart? Answer = Ice storm...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/the-ice-storm-apocalypse-of-2025","title":"The Ice Storm Apocalypse of 2025!","date_modified":"2025-04-08T00:33:26Z"},{"id":"trim-down-to-build-up","html_content":"

Late February and early March is spent giving our trees their annual haircut. Here are the tools of our trade.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/trim-down-to-build-up","title":"Trim Down to Build Up","date_modified":"2025-03-15T12:46:28Z"},{"id":"update-pine-nut-transplant-survival","html_content":"

Remember when...well, let's say April 2024 when spring was springing, birds were singing, and the grass was greening up?

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/update-pine-nut-transplant-survival","title":"Update: Pine Nut Transplant Survival ","date_modified":"2025-02-07T01:29:51Z"},{"id":"how-cold-is-it-where-you-are","html_content":"

Everyone's talking about the 'Siberian' cold, so I guess we will too!

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/how-cold-is-it-where-you-are","title":"How cold is it where you are?","date_modified":"2025-01-20T17:35:22Z"},{"id":"family-farming---the-most-complicated-job-in-america","html_content":"

An argument should be made that FARMING is the most complicated profession in America. Just think of what it takes to be a successful farmer... understanding the soil, the seed, the plant, the water, animal health, anim...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/family-farming---the-most-complicated-job-in-america","title":"Family Farming - the most complicated job in America?","date_modified":"2025-01-11T16:00:00Z"},{"id":"getting-squirrelly---finding-tasty-chestnuts-at-new-years","html_content":"

Our Thanksgiving and Christmas was white, but after a few days in the 40s, we have transitioned to a green and brown look to end 2024.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/getting-squirrelly---finding-tasty-chestnuts-at-new-years","title":"Getting Squirrelly - Finding tasty chestnuts at New Years?","date_modified":"2024-12-29T23:13:49Z"},{"id":"winter-solstice-doldrums","html_content":"

I remember hearing that it is not a coincidence that the Holidays coincide with the winter solstice. The Holidays give us something to look forward to. Otherwise, and sometimes in spite of the Holidays, the long nights ...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/winter-solstice-doldrums","title":"Winter Solstice Doldrums ","date_modified":"2024-12-19T01:20:17Z"},{"id":"thank-you-and-last-chance-for-chestnuts","html_content":"

We are pleased to report that we are SOLD OUT of our limited run of large European and large Chinese chestnuts.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/thank-you-and-last-chance-for-chestnuts","title":"Thank you and last chance for chestnuts","date_modified":"2024-12-07T13:50:22Z"},{"id":"planting-a-seed-for-2025","html_content":"

If you resist the short-term urge to eat all your chestnuts, there is a long-term 'enjoyment' option available to those with a green thumb - stratify the nuts over the winter and plant them as trees during the spring.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/planting-a-seed-for-2025","title":"Planting a seed for 2025","date_modified":"2024-12-03T03:00:07Z"},{"id":"new-thanksgiving-tradition---chestnut-stuffing","html_content":"

To be honest, we've never incorporated chestnuts into our Holiday celebrations. That all changed today! I've heard from several friends that Thanksgiving in their homes isn't Thanksgiving unless there is chestnut stuff...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/new-thanksgiving-tradition---chestnut-stuffing","title":"New Thanksgiving Tradition - Chestnut Stuffing","date_modified":"2024-11-29T01:47:07Z"},{"id":"part-2-chestnut-farm-shortlist-before-snow-flies","html_content":"

Protecting our chestnut, English walnut, hazelnut, apple, pear, and peach trees from rodent girdling during winter is currently priority #1 on the farm (its going to start snowing on Tuesday)!. As we posted a couple day...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/part-2-chestnut-farm-shortlist-before-snow-flies","title":"Chestnut farm shortlist before snow flies. Rodent protection","date_modified":"2024-11-25T00:56:10Z"},{"id":"farm-shortlist-before-the-snow-flies","html_content":"

Northern Michigan is expecting a hard shift to winter weather which is likely to give us a White Thanksgiving. White Thanksgivings are not uncommon for us in Northern Michigan and is a reason why our ground never freeze...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/farm-shortlist-before-the-snow-flies","title":"Chestnut farm shortlist before the snow flies","date_modified":"2024-11-23T14:42:55Z"},{"id":"2024-post-chestnut-harvest-update","html_content":"

The chestnut trees are just starting to go dormant and have begun shedding their leaves. We've noticed that the chestnuts hold on to their leaves longer than any other tree on the farm. The color in the chestnut leaves...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/2024-post-chestnut-harvest-update","title":"2024 Post Chestnut Harvest Update","date_modified":"2024-11-10T00:13:10Z"},{"id":"2024-chestnut-harvest-stats","html_content":"

We are happy to report that chestnut harvest 2024 is officially in the books! After 319 hours shared among Abby, Nick, 5 kids, 4 neighbors, and 2 friends, we officially picked up 8,079 lbs of chestnuts. For context, th...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/2024-chestnut-harvest-stats","title":"2024 Chestnut Harvest Stats","date_modified":"2024-11-07T01:15:58Z"},{"id":"harvest-2024-launch-of-north-star-chestnuts","html_content":"

We have exciting news to share! Number 1, the chestnuts are falling!!!

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/harvest-2024-launch-of-north-star-chestnuts","title":"Harvest 2024 & Launch of North Star Chestnuts","date_modified":"2024-10-11T12:00:33Z"},{"id":"keep-the-water-flowing","html_content":"

A favorite childhood book of mine was \"Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie\". I feel a little like I'm in my own story this late summer/early fall called \"Keep the water flowing, Abby\". Our wet growing season had ended rather ...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/keep-the-water-flowing","title":"Keep The Water Flowing","date_modified":"2024-09-13T13:47:23Z"},{"id":"peaches-and-summer-projects","html_content":"

Year 3 of our peach project and we have yield!

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/peaches-and-summer-projects","title":"Peaches and Summer Projects","date_modified":"2024-08-15T11:48:54Z"},{"id":"4th-of-july-pollen-works","html_content":"

The firework show last night might have been spectacular, but the orchard show during the day has us more excited!

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/4th-of-july-pollen-works","title":"4th of July Pollen-Works","date_modified":"2024-07-05T18:24:33Z"},{"id":"late-june-2024","html_content":"

Flowers on the chestnut trees are now easily visible.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/late-june-2024","title":"Late June 2024","date_modified":"2024-06-21T17:14:56Z"},{"id":"full-time-farming","html_content":"

This time of year the to-do list is a full time job as spring growth ramps up and pests start to make their appearance. Many of these tasks involve a careful eye on the weather. Catching the right rain for fertilizer app...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/full-time-farming","title":"Full Time Farming","date_modified":"2024-06-04T13:28:01Z"},{"id":"ox-heights-spring-time","html_content":"

The Chestnuts are always the last to wake up, but they are now starting to stretch their leaves.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/ox-heights-spring-time","title":"Ox Heights Spring Time! ","date_modified":"2024-05-13T12:57:05Z"},{"id":"planting-un-planting-replanting","html_content":"

Sometimes you just get so excited to finish a project you wished that a few more minutes of critical thinking had taken place...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/planting-un-planting-replanting","title":"Planting, Un-planting & Replanting","date_modified":"2024-05-03T19:28:12Z"},{"id":"the-pine-nut-adventure-begins-now","html_content":"

I think many of us are familiar with the pine nuts in pesto, hummus or topping a salad. Our latest SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) project involves these tasty nuts in a intercrop silvopasture system....

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/the-pine-nut-adventure-begins-now","title":"The Pine Nut Adventure Begins Now","date_modified":"2024-04-17T13:39:36Z"},{"id":"what-do-you-do-with-a-warm-winter","html_content":"

I'll admit, this winter has been a little perplexing. Our normal winter routine of ice-fishing, skiing and a general break from the orchard was derailed. Low and no snow conditions has helped us get ahead of some spring ...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/what-do-you-do-with-a-warm-winter","title":"What do you do with a warm winter?","date_modified":"2024-03-20T18:11:48Z"},{"id":"a-chestnut-chat-merry-christmas","html_content":"

I had the pleasure of chatting with Melanie Jones of United Chestnuts as she captures the different facets of the chestnut industry in the US. For anyone interested, our conversation can be heard on her blog here.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/a-chestnut-chat-merry-christmas","title":"A Chestnut Chat & Merry Christmas","date_modified":"2023-12-25T22:36:00Z"},{"id":"harvest-continues-in-november","html_content":"

November has been perfect, as the weather cooled slowly and I'm very pleased with how well the trees have gone to sleep. The leaves turned brown and now have blown free from the trees.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/harvest-continues-in-november","title":"Harvest Continues in November","date_modified":"2023-11-30T13:38:38Z"},{"id":"recap-of-2023-chestnut-harvest","html_content":"

October 29th was our final walk through to collect nuts for 2023. Wind and rain brought the last few to the ground for collection.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/recap-of-2023-chestnut-harvest","title":"Recap of 2023 Chestnut Harvest","date_modified":"2023-10-31T12:43:25Z"},{"id":"colossal-tax","html_content":"

Happy Fall! The nuts are poised to drop to the ground and I anticipate harvest to be well on the way this weekend.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/colossal-tax","title":"Colossal Tax","date_modified":"2023-09-28T11:23:02Z"},{"id":"firsts-on-the-farm","html_content":"

This past weekend was an exciting series of firsts for the farm.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/firsts-on-the-farm","title":"Firsts on the Farm","date_modified":"2023-09-18T17:35:45Z"},{"id":"grafting-wins-and-losses","html_content":"

First of all, a save the date. If you are interested in the projects on our farm we will be hosting a field day on October 7th. This event will be in conjunction with the Presque Isle Conservation District. More details ...

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/grafting-wins-and-losses","title":"Grafting Wins and Losses","date_modified":"2023-08-04T17:41:48Z"},{"id":"july-on-and-off-the-farm","html_content":"

After hovering on the edge of drought, it means that pictures like below come with some bragging rights.

","url":"https://oxheights.com/blog-since-2018-1/f/july-on-and-off-the-farm","title":"July on and off the Farm","date_modified":"2023-07-21T16:26:27Z"}]}