In the early 1990's, I started working with a forester to develop a strategy to improve my private 80 acres of property in Marquette County, Michigan. One of his recommendations was to establish oak trees to provide a valuable food supply for wildlife and to grow a valuable timber for future selective harvests. He recommended planting the oak trees by seed (acorns). This would be easier and more cost effective than purchasing and transplanting oak seedlings.
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From the beginning |
Where we are now |
Ideas floated through my head trying to figure out the best way to plant the acorns on my property after it had been selectively logged. I developed an all-in-one tool that removed a plug of earth, directed an acorn into the hole, and then replaced the earth plug on top of the acorn. I planted thousands of acorns on my property with great ease using this tool that I referred to as the "acorn planter". My friends and family encouraged me to patent the tool, however, the "acorn planter" prototype sat idle in the basement of my cottage for many years.
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Northern Michigan University (NMU) is located in my hometown of Marquette, Michigan. Several years ago, NMU launched a collaborative effort between the Univeristy and the public called Invent@NMU. It encouraged people with ideas to come forward to see if their ideas could be developed. The old "acorn planter" prototype got dusted off and I started working with Invent@NMU. The staff and field experts were impressed with the product, a patent was obtained, and the Squirrel emerged. I hope to bring this product to others so that they may improve their forest lands by planting nut bearing trees.
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