The Hardy Woods Podcast

Episode 8: The American Chestnut

The story of the American chestnut tree is a great reminder of just how much forests can change in a short time. Chestnut was once the dominant tree across much of our continent, providing food, shelter, and economic opportunity to generations of Appalachians. So where did the chestnuts go? And will they ever come back? We are joined this week by Cassie Stark of the American Chestnut Foundation, and Zoe Bergman of the Virginia Department of Forestry to learn all about this once ubiquitous tree, how we came to nearly lose it from the landscape, and what is being done to restore it.

Episode 7: Intentional Forest Management

Keeping hardwood forests healthy and productive requires intentional management and on-the-ground expertise. We are talking this week with Joe Rossetti, of the Virginia Department of Forestry's Hardwood Initiative. Learn about the management practices that the department employs and some innovative incentives that are helping expand the program's impact.

Episode 6: Bats!

It's not Halloween, but it's a great time to learn about bats and their habitats. This week, we talk to Leslie Sturges of Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia to find out all about these flying mammals, the challenges they face, and how we can help them.

Episode 5: Invasive Species

What even is an invasive species? While many species  that we have across the landscape are non-native, some are particularly harmful to native ecosystems.  Getting these invasives under control is a persistent and increasingly challenging task. While daunting,  there is a broad array of solutions for landowners looking to do their part. In this week's episode of The Hardy Woods Podcast, we dive into the past, present, and future of invasive species with Zoe Bergman of the Virginia Department of Forestry to talk about how we got here and what we need to do to save our native ecosystems.

Episode 4: White Oak & Whiskey

Is bourbon a forest product? Most of the flavor of bourbon comes from the wooden barrel it's aged in. By law, bourbon must be aged in a new charred white oak barrel, but like with all oaks, regenerating white oak is becoming increasingly challenging. Fortunately, industry has taken notice and has formed the White Oak Initiative, a diffuse group of stakeholders ranging from academics, industry professionals, and government, to head off this issue and bring white oak regeneration back to our eastern woods. On this week's episode of The Hardy Woods Podcast, we talk to Dr. Jeffery Stringer of the University of Kentucky to talk about white oak's role in landscape and what it means for the wine and spirits industry.