Skip to content
Volunteerby Bloom Farm
A gravel path into the woods at Bloom Farm

About

Why Volunteer?

To a grower, a volunteer is a plant that comes up on its own from seed. Across Berks County, wild hickories, chestnuts, and other nut trees have been doing this for generations, growing along fencerows, at the edges of fields, and deep in woodlots. Most go unnoticed, but a few carry traits worth studying and passing on.

We can’t find them alone. Every tree you log helps us map where they grow so we can follow up with closer observation. Volunteer trees, found by people who volunteer them.

Why this matters

Native nut trees feed people and wildlife, and they are suited to this place. The best wild trees, the ones with big, reliable crops, are where better orchards begin. Bitternut hickory, also called yellowbud hickory, is our first focus. Finding the standouts takes many eyes over many seasons, which is why every sighting and every return visit counts.

About Bloom Farm

Bloom Farm is a regenerative chestnut farm in the Oley Valley of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Since 2023 we have been restoring a historic 18th-century tree farm, growing food in ways that also restore the land around it.

Visit bloomfarm.com

Third Place Processing

Third Place Processing is where we receive nuts. When you bring a harvest, we weigh it, check the nuts, and pay you on the spot.

Address
91 Nuss Rd, Bechtelsville, PA 19505
Drop-offs
Weekdays, 9 am to 6 pm, by appointment

Selling your nuts

Some of the trees you find may produce nuts we want to buy. If that’s the case, we’ll reach out about purchasing your harvest. Finding trees is always free and open to anyone. Selling is an option for those who want it.

How selling works
Log a tree

Photo credits

Landscape photos by Bloom Farm.