Finding Your Why: The Deeper Reasons We Grow Chestnuts

Finding Your Why: The Deeper Reasons We Grow Chestnuts

From Branching Out: Growing Together by United Chestnuts

July 31, 2025 · 8 min · Season 3 · Episode 8

About this episode

In this episode, Melanie explores the deeper motivations behind growing chestnuts and shares a reflection tool for listeners.

What drives you to grow chestnuts—not just in year one, but year ten? In this episode, Melanie revisits a question that keeps surfacing in our orchard, at conferences, and in every email from new growers: “What’s your why?” Drawing from personal experience and stories from growers like Brad and Sandy Russell, we explore what happens when you follow your reasons all the way down. Plus, Melanie shares a simple, powerful reflection tool you can download to clarify your own path. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your “why” matters more than your business plan How surface reasons often evolve into deeper ones Real motivations that keep chestnut growers going What to ask yourself when things get hard How to use the 7-question “Find Your Why” exercise More Resources to Explore Listen to: Finding Our Why: Why Chestnuts, and Why Now Download the Seven Whys Reflection Tool Read: The Advantages of Tree Crops Watch: Brad + Sandy Rusell on The Branching Out: Growing Together podcast or Brad Russell on The Branching Out: Growing Together podcast Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/branching-out-growing-together--5924771/support . Explore More from United…

People in this episode

Host: Melanie

Topics covered

  • chestnut growing
  • personal motivation
  • agriculture
  • self-reflection
  • grower stories

Keywords

  • chestnuts
  • motivation
  • growers
  • reflection tool
  • agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United Chestnuts

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