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.
Use code “yearofplenty” for 15% OFF at www.mtblock.com
MY ULTIMATE FORAGING GEAR LIST - Check it out
Leave a review on Apple or Spotify and send a screenshot to theyearofplenty@gmail.com to receive a FREE EBOOK with my favorite food preservation recipes.
Watch the Video Episode on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/HXgxNj72rGc?si=92eG2Bi5iqd3HHEX
Sign up for the newsletter:
www.theyearofplenty.com/newsletter
Support the podcast via Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/yearofplenty
Subscribe to the Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@yearofplentyvideo
Do you follow the podcast on social media yet?
IG: https://www.instagram.com/poldiwieland/
X: https://x.com/yearofplentypod
I want to hear from you! Take the LISTENER SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZW53R
Connect with Elspeth Hay:
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.