After 36 years of observing and writing about rural Missouri, plus nearly 20 years pioneering black walnut and pecan agroforestry systems on HarperHill Farms near Butler, the timing was right to combine both experiences into a service and offer it to the public.
| Larry Harper with grafted walnut trees at HarperHill Farms. |
"I'm getting dozens of inquiries every week from people who want to know how to start an agroforestry system. There is a lot of information, but no single source, especially for proven, practical how-to-do-it guidance," says Harper. "Over the years, I have gathered a lot of that information and research. If we haven't done it at HarperHill, or don't have a handy reference, I probably know who to contact for specifics."
Harper describes the book he is writing as "the source" for practical black walnut and nut tree agroforestry information. He plans to have this guidebook in print before the year is out.
At the heart of the marketing arm of HarperHill is an alliance with Forrest Keeling Nursery at Elsberry. HarperHill is an official sales representative for the nursery and its RPM seedlings and grafted trees. The massive root system developed by RPM seedlings allows plantation owners to get nut trees into production much sooner than with traditional methods.
"We have worked with Wayne Lovelace and Forrest Keeling Nursery in developing seedlings for our plantations at HarperHill Farms. We furnished seed and grafting scionwood and they grew seedlings for us. All of our recent plantings have been RPM trees. It just makes economic sense to get into nut production as soon as possible. Time is money," says Harper.
Also in the marketing department is a web site that will feature production information coming from experiences at HarperHill Farms, plus a catalog of tools and supplies that have been proven at HarperHill Farms. Some of the initial items in the on-line catalog are: the Gardner "Master" black walnut nut cracker, Felco No. 2 pruner ("the only one to use"), polypropylene weed barrier mats, and the RPM trees. Harper expects to add many other items as arrangements with suppliers can be made. However, he says, "If we don't use it, we don't sell it!"
On the communications side, Harper will continue to contribute a regular column to Missouri Ruralist and work with Green Horizons. He also is developing marketing and public relations programs for small, entrepreneurial companies and organizations.
In the future, Harper expects sales of grafting scionwood and seed nuts from the nearly 2,000 grafted black walnut trees at HarperHill Farms to become a major portion of the business.
(Larry Harper may be contacted at: HarperHill, 908 Danforth Dr., Columbia, MO 65201. Phone: (573) 442-5326, or e-mail: lharper@tranquility.net.)