In this episode of the Year of Plenty Podcast, we’re joined by Elspeth Hay — writer, public radio host, and author of Feed Us With Trees. Elspeth takes us deep into the overlooked world of edible trees, exploring how they’ve sustained humans for millennia and why they hold the key to building a more resilient food system today. From acorns and chestnuts to hazelnuts and maples, this conversation uncovers the ancient wisdom and modern science behind tree-based foods and agroforestry.
Topics We Cover
- The inspiration behind Elspeth’s book Feed Us With Trees and why she believes trees belong at the center of our food future.
- Acorns as a staple food: how they’ve been processed, eaten, and valued across cultures.
- Chestnuts and their importance across Europe and North America, including their culinary revival.
- Hazelnuts as both a wild foraged nut and a promising perennial crop.
- Differences between perennial tree foods and annual crops — and what that means for resilience.
- The role of trees in storing carbon and sustaining long-term food supplies.
- Why many tree-based foods disappeared from mainstream diets and what it takes to bring them back.
- Indigenous knowledge and cultural traditions surrounding oaks, chestnuts, and other nut trees.
- Stories of modern farmers and projects reintroducing edible tree systems into agriculture.
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