Go nuts (in Maryland!)

It’s mid-October, and Sharon and Eugene “Mickey” Zehner are planting saplings before the ground gets too hard. This family-inherited farm is an orchard. However, instead of growing apples or peaches, it’s chestnuts and hazelnuts!

This new venture, EZNUTSZ Orchard, hasn’t been easy. Nut farming is somewhat rare in Maryland, meaning the Zehners have faced challenges like pests and inconsistent growth with little help. Undeterred, they’ve relied on a mix of online resources, formal classes, and a lot of good old-fashioned trial and error.

The real joy for this operation comes at the local farmers’ markets, where they sell nuts direct to consumers. While the classic image is of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Mickey and Sharon prefer to eat them raw. Customers are sometimes surprised by the taste of the raw chestnut, describing it as sweet and crunchy.

On this 28-acre farm, the difficulties could easily make the Zehners quit. But for Mickey, quitting isn’t an option. It’s about a deep commitment to the land his family has held for generations, and these nut trees are a key part of it.

“This is my grandfathers farm, and I just figured we’d try to keep it a farm as long as I can,” says Mickey. #MemberSpotlight