By Blake Jackson
Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) native plant specialist Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, Ph.D., recently joined more than 500 growers, landowners and native plant enthusiasts at Forrest Keeling Nursery’s annual field day in Elsberry, Missouri.
The event brought together people interested in conservation, agroforestry, landscaping and opportunities to grow native plants as specialty crops.
Forrest Keeling Nursery focuses on producing native trees and plants for conservation and other agricultural and landscaping uses.
Navarrete-Tindall was invited to share information about LU’s work with native edible trees and plants through the university’s Native and Specialty Crops Program.
“I was invited as one of the guest speakers to talk about what we do at Lincoln with native edible trees and other native edible plants,” said Navarrete-Tindall, a state Extension specialist who leads the university’s Native and Specialty Crops Program.
Through LU Cooperative Extension, Navarrete-Tindall works with communities and producers throughout Missouri. Her outreach focuses on how native plants can be cultivated, marketed and incorporated into agricultural systems while also contributing to healthy ecosystems.
“People are really interested in learning about native plants,” Navarrete-Tindall said. “They produce food for us while also supporting pollinators and other wildlife.”
During the field day, she discussed several native food-producing plants, including pawpaws, persimmons, wild plums and elderberries. She also highlighted native nut-producing trees, such as bur oak and hazelnut, and explained how these crops could provide specialty-market opportunities for Missouri farmers.
“Forrest Keeling Nursery wants people to see how others are growing these plants, what they can do with them, how to grow and maintain them and which ones may be profitable for producers,” Navarrete-Tindall said.
Kim Lovelace, owner of Forrest Keeling Nursery, said the presentation helped demonstrate how native fruit and nut crops can serve both environmental and agricultural purposes.
“You helped us see native fruit and nut crops as both ecological contributors and viable opportunities for Midwest farms,” Lovelace said.
Participants also toured the nursery, where they observed pawpaws and persimmons and learned about Forrest Keeling’s Root Production Method (RPM), which promotes healthy root development before plants are transplanted.
Navarrete-Tindall also explained agroforestry and companion planting, showing how native trees can be integrated with other crops to diversify production and maximize available farmland.
Her educational outreach continues at the Missouri Chestnut Festival on October 10, 2026, where she will discuss the history and uses of native edible plants in Missouri.
Photo Credit: lincoln-university-of-missouri
Categories: Missouri, Education