Live Frugally or Die Broke

Fond Memories
When I was a child, I remember playing in the grove behind our house. My brothers and I would build forts, play games, and hunt for treasures. We would stay outside and play all day. My mom would beg us to come in, when the sun went down. Dinner was always getting cold, when I had to wash up. I remember one evening when we were exploring the far reaches of the grove. We found something odd wedged in between some branches. I picked the object up and noticed it smelled rich and tangy. It had the color and texture of a lime but it was rock hard. I brought a basket full of the harvest home with me and proudly showed my mother. I couldn’t wait to eat them. She seemed shocked at what I discovered and asked where I had found them. She clutched my hand and we walked to the meadow I had first noticed the fruit. Later she showed my father and the three of us surveyed the forest. We had found five very tall and beautiful black walnut trees. I found out later they can be worth a fortune, if they are in the right condition.

Worth A Shot
The odds of this plan working are slim yet possible. Black walnut trees are often very sturdy and particularly valuable. The wood is prized for it’s unique qualities. The taller and straighter the trunk, the more lucrative the lumber can be. A property in Michigan sold eight trees, worth over $50,000. I have no idea what the trees behind my families grove are worth. I imagine someone would be able to sell them later and fund their retirement with the proceeds. I enjoy gardening and may integrate a few black walnut saplings into my planting this year.

Take Special Care
If you do decide to give this idea a try, there is some additional information I can give. I found this nursery catalog with information on pricing. I noticed it would cost slightly under $13 for the seedlings. Additionally they should be planted as far away from human activity as possible. If loggers notice the tree had possible interaction with foreign objects, they will abandon the opportunity. As far as special nurturing requirements, I don’t think there are any. After a few years of careful watching, they should be well enough. I would advise keeping your treasure a secret as much as possible. The black walnut trees are often stolen, because people don’t realize how much they are worth. Criminals unfortunately understand the profit all too well. Although it takes roughly sixty years for the trunk to become large enough to harvest. It possibly has a much better return than a savings account, CD, or mutual fund would.