Finding Your Why: What Keeps Chestnut Growers Going

Finding Your Why: What Keeps Chestnut Growers Going

Planting chestnut trees is a long game. And when the weeds are high or the burs are empty, it’s your “why” that keeps you grounded.

In this episode, Melanie Jones returns to a foundational question for every grower: What’s driving you to do this? She shares insights from her own journey, along with lessons from growers like Brad and Sandy Russell, who bring clarity, joy, and grit to their work on the land.

Why Your “Why” Matters More Than Your Business Plan

A business plan is important—but your why is what makes the plan worth pursuing. Especially in chestnut farming, where results take years, your reason for starting will shape every decision you make.

Melanie explains how growers who lead with purpose tend to be more adaptable, more connected to the land, and more willing to weather the inevitable challenges.

Surface Reasons vs. Deeper Truths

Often, a grower’s initial reason is practical:

• “I want passive income.”

• “I heard chestnuts are low maintenance.”

• “I’m tired of mowing hayfields.”

But those reasons often evolve. What starts as a side hustle becomes a calling. What begins as curiosity becomes commitment.

This episode invites you to follow your reason all the way down—and see what you uncover.

Real Motivations From the Chestnut Community

Melanie shares themes she’s heard from growers across the country:

• “I want to restore the land my grandfather left me.”

• “I believe perennial crops are the future.”

• “I want my kids to grow up with their hands in the soil.”

• “I want to build something I’ve never seen before.”

You’ll hear how Brad and Sandy Russell connect their farm to a deeper life rhythm—and how staying connected to their “why” fuels every season.

A Tool to Help You Go Deeper

In this episode, Melanie introduces the Seven Whys Reflection Tool—a downloadable worksheet that helps you dig deeper. It’s simple: ask yourself “why?” seven times in a row. With each answer, go further.

This tool can help you:

• Clarify your motivation

• Find your voice

• Communicate better with partners, customers, and yourself

• Re-center when the work feels overwhelming

📝 Download the Seven Whys Worksheet

When Things Get Hard, Return to This

Orchard setbacks will come. Nature isn’t always cooperative. But growers who return to their why bounce back stronger. They’re able to pivot, refocus, or rest—not quit.

This episode is both an invitation and a grounding point. If you’re tired, stuck, or just beginning—this is a great place to pause and reflect.

🔗 Related Resources

🎧 Listen: Finding Our Why – Why Chestnuts, and Why Now
📝 Checkout the blog to find your own Seven Whys Reflection Tool
📖 Read: The Advantages of Tree Crops
📺 Watch: Brad + Sandy Russell on the Podcast
🌰 Visit the EBB Farms store

Final Thought

Your “why” will change over time—and that’s okay. What matters is that you stay in touch with it. This episode is your reminder that the root of your work isn’t just trees—it’s purpose.

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