Rural System, Inc.
 Sustained rural lands; sustained profits




The Rural System Pinetum
The Nutpine Groves

Based on an inquiry by Penny Frazier (Novmber, 2003) the Pinetum was conceived and modest efforts begun on designing the enterprise.

The Latin word Pinetum means pine grove or plantation where pine trees are cultivated. (Latin: arbor = tree; pinus = pine tree). Unlike well-known forest stand composed of pines, the pinetum is much like an apple orchard or pecan grove. Pine trees are planted, cultivated, and managed to produce a product. That product is pinenuts, the seeds found in the cones. Pine nuts are also known as pinyon nuts, pinon nuts, pignolias, and pignolis.

Rural System staff, with expert help and probably with help of an expert system will select a species suitable for the area with good growth potentials and abundant nut production. This is evidently a demonstration of a lasting concern for and investment in the region. It is an emphasis on a high-valued crop (like tobacco) of international (potential export) interest. Returns from pinenuts will require more than 7 years (but the soil will be prepared and the land will have other uses during that period).

Potential plantations (from Rhora's list, see below):

It is fairly clear that very intensive site preparation for one or more Pinetum will be needed on the clay soils of the Virginia Piedmont. The timing may be excellent since time from preparation to first fruit may be as little as 7 years.

Innoculants ( (Mycorrihizal fungi) ) are useful and seem needed by some species. Species differences in needs or suitability have been reported. Special work in this area may be needed. Wildlife dispersal of these spores has been investigated and we may make further contributions in this area of study and practical application of such knowledge.

See Picopines.

Unlike pine production elsewhere in the region that concentrates on wood production from the tree bole, the pinetum concentrates on rapid growth to reach a full canopy exposed to the sun and then abundant cone production for the nutritious, tasty nuts used in salads and in cooking.

The pinetum strategy is part of a longterm strategy, one of diversifying products, concentrating on high valued products, giving attention to international tastes, and providing annual income from alternative uses of beautiful land while the production of nuts continues.

Options include:

  1. Franchise groves under a common management and marketing premise
  2. Recipe promotion and meals for restaurants, also for local special lunch uses
  3. Processing center for regional cone collection and processing of nuts into an alternative product (see similar system for walnut nutmeat processing)
  4. Publications about the Pinetum, the conditions, the profits, the purpose related to the land, pest control, and alternative uses of the same land.
  5. Computer maps of precise planting areas (used by us)
  6. Pest protection (gray and fox squirrels and chipmunks Tamias); cone seed insects (possibly of regional interest for Loblolly seed orchards)
  7. Deer damage control in early stage
  8. Tours of the operation and product sales
  9. Wildfire control demonstrations
  10. Songbirds of the Pinetum lists and birding specials with Avi
  11. Fog drip and dew analyses and publications
  12. Research foundation proposals
  13. Affiliations with local parks, urban forests, and arboretum
  14. Exploring alternative uses of the products (local pine seeds for the pet trade (hamsters and pet birds)
  15. Exploring aphrodisiac myths
  16. Exploring health relations (Can a person with health allergy or gastero- difficulties eat pinenuts?)
  17. Exploring other Pinetum development and contract cone gathering (local pines) and seed extraction and processing.
  18. Exploring optimum profits from cone debris.

Advertising e.g.,

From My Dear Chef:
There are several varieties of pine nut. The most common pine nuts, at least in Europe, are seeds of the Italian Stone Pinenut, Pinus pinea, and the Swiss Stone Pine, Pinus cembra. In the U.S., seeds of the Mexican Nut Pine, Pinus cembroides, are also marketed. The most effective pinenuts come, however, from Chilgoza Pine or Noosa Pine, Pinus gerardiana. This pine grows in the northwestern Himalayan Mountains from Afghanistan to Tibet at elevations between 2000 and 4000 metres above sea level. The seeds are cylindrical and up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. One tree can bear up to 25 cones, each cone producing up to 100 seeds.
www. Pinenut.com

Rhora's Nut Farm and Nursery
Liston Pinenuts
The Lovett Pinetum Charitable Foundation



Equipment and related staff and activities will be shared with the work on walnut groves and the Walnut Group.

Native Nevadan story of the origin of the pinenuts.

Gaining annual income from the land will be the challenge as with other forests and it includes - scheduled plantations, scheduled intermediate harvests, planned recreational uses of the land (picnic area; ampitheater),owl area, and hiking trails and fire breaks.

A membership provides recipes, and small amounts of pine nuts sent regularly to avoid spoilage, publications, photographs, relations to the Memorial Group, special music events in the Pinetum. etc., links to western groups with similar interests in pinenut (BLM and native people groups), and purchase of a family tree (with bronze plaque).

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1/4 cup (30g)
Amount per Serving

Calories 190
Calories from Fat 140 with % Daily Value

Total Fat 15g , 24%
Saturated Fat 4g , 18%
Cholestorol 0mg , 0%
Sodium 0mg , 0%
Total Carbohydrate 9g , 3%
Dietary Fiber 4g , 14%

Sugars 1g
Protein 4g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 0%
Iron 6%

Above Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Calories needed: 2,000
Other needs
Total Fat Less than 65g
Saturated Fat Less than 20g
Cholestorol Less than 300mg
Sodium Less than 2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate 300g
Dietary Fiber 25g

For average pinenuts, Calories per gram:
Fat 9 , Carbohydrates 4 , Protein 4

Substantial Research and Studies have been done and can be exploited for immediate applications:

Annotated Bibliography of the Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystem in the Intermountain West

Aldon, Earl F. and Loring, Thomas J. 1977.Ecology, uses, and management of pinyon-juniper woodlands

Springfield, H.W. 1976.Characteristics and management of Southwestern pinyon-juniper ranges: The status of our knowledge RP-160

Weigand, J. 2002. The American Southwest: case study, p. 65-74 inE.T. Jones, R.J. McLain, and J. Weigand, editors, Nontimber forest products in the United States, Univ. Press of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas, 445p.

A fine example of value added, sustainable products.http://www.juniperridge.com/index.htm

Study whitepine seed cleaning.

Note from Frazier: In December, 2003 the first lb. of Nevada pine nuts went for $25.77, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2368045277&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOAS:US:3

Perhaps you will share ideas with me
about some of the topic(s) above at
RHGiles@RuralSystem.com.

Maybe we can work together
... for the good of us all
... for a long time.
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