Episode 202 - Rick Hartlieb is co-owner of Castanea Farms in Robesonia, Pennsylvania.

Rick Hartlieb and his wife Jen are natives of Berks County, Pennsylvania, where their home farm is located. First-generation farmers, their story begins 25 years ago when they were both in the FFA program through the Conrad Weiser Area School District. Rick pursued a forestry program through Penn State University, where he attained an Associate of Science degree in Forest Technology at Penn State’s Mont Alto Campus. He then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry at Penn State’s main campus.

Rick’s work started with chestnuts as a volunteer with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation in 2005. In 2008, Rick started his forestry career as a Service Forester with the Department of DCNR (Conservation and Natural Resources) Bureau of Forestry covering Berks, Lancaster, Chester Counties.

For ten years from 2014-2024, Rick was the assistant manager for resource stewardship in the William Penn District. In 2024, Rick moved into the district manager role.

Rick and Jen’s farm story began in 2017, when they were looking for a farm setting to raise their family. They purchased a farm with a collection of 100-year-old chestnut trees, now called Castanea Farms. Chestnuts are their main crop.