Got a bit of Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket? Like to do your bit for the environment? Take a look through the following bulletin I just received about the chance to own your very own truffle oak in the Dordogne – might just get you fresh truffles in the years to come as well…
My name is Alex Lowe & I moved to the Dordogne with my family in 2002.We bought a ramshackled old building with a large plot of land in the beautiful Coly valley in Perigord noir. It is an area renowned for its black Truffles or black diamonds of Perigord.
I was originally trained as a landscape gardener & on a visit to a trade show I came across a nursery which specialises in producing Truffle trees. They had discovered an Oak tree which produces extraordinary harvests of Truffles (up to seven kilos in one season).The nursery was able to clone the tree produce Truffle trees.
I decided to learn more so I sent a sample of our soil for laboratory analysis to see if was suitable for growing Truffle trees, after a long months wait the test results finally arrived, the soil was pronounced ideal for a Truffiere with no treatment needed at all. I had already discovered that our land would be ideal for a Truffle tree plantation because there have been no trees present for many years & therefore no fungi to compete with the truffles & also the soil is very well drained with an ideal ph & an open aspect.Our soil is very light & friable which means it should be easy to harvest the truffles with out damaging them which makes a big difference to the selling price.
Truffle production has declined hugely in France but there is a huge demand & therefore truffles command enormous sums of money, hundreds of euros the kilo.
The trees I intend to plant are of course expensive but of very good quality, three year old Oaks, Quercus pubescens & Qurcus ilex.The first trees will be planted in jan/feb 2010 & they will be given special cork mulch mats to keep down the weeds & tree guards.The 2 hectare plot will have to be entirely fenced to keep out wild Boar & Deer. Once planted the plot will have to be mown, cultivated & irrigated & the trees pruned to maintain optimum health.
It can take at least 4/5 years for the first truffles to be produced & there is no guarantee that any particular tree will ever produce truffles, all that can be done is to give the best trees the best possible conditions.
My plan is not new but very simple & potentially profitable; I intend to put the trees up for adoption at 100 euros a tree & then 50 euros a year for their upkeep.I have space for around 1000 trees each on its own 4×5 meter plot; all truffles produced on this plot will belong to the adoptee. When the truffles start to be produced the adoptee will have the choice of selling their truffles or having them posted to their address.
This arrangement will carry for the life of the plantation around 40/50 years unless the maintenance payments are not kept up.
People will be very welcome to come & visit the plantation & their trees, & help with the harvest with specially trained dogs or just have a picnic by the beautiful river Coly which borders the plantation.
Contact if interested:
See website at Adopt a Truffle Tree for details and contact information
We have a truffle oak in the garden,and for the last twenty odd yrs we have had a local truffer come round with is pig,we share the truffs that the pig finds.But never the 7kls,more or less 2kls is the amount.
Truffle is a complicated business that is usually handled by those who have a family tradition of growing and selling truffles.
The main risk of this business is truffle thieves that dig your field while you’re not at home. Therefore, those who want to grow truffles should not be avid travelers.
I wish you the very best of luck as I think you will need it.
Try mushrooms.
As I said 7 kilos is exceptional, but if the trees gave 2kg which is unlikely imagine the return on the investment at around 500 to 1000 euros a kilo for about 40 years.
Our truffle plantation is totally overlooked by our property & will be well fenced
I shall also put Geese there they make exceptional guard dogs
I have some French friend in the area who have been involved for generations in the Truffle business, they have trained dogs & a lot of knowhow
I welcome all comments.
I know how to turn lead into gold. Send me €1000 and I may tell you.
Ooh, you’re a cynical bunch. For a lot of people I would think it’s worth the gamble – doesn’t cost much to try and it would be pretty cool to be sent truffles from your own tree. I reckon 2kg a year would be more than enough for most of us!
wish I could be sure of getting two kilos a year per tree, few ounces would be nice. Look up robin pepinieres & also ,the truffle tree,
all I can say is that the soil test on my land was just about perfect for Truffle oaks, & that my land is almost perfect, ie flat , open sunny , overlooked by our property, with light friable soil
The only reason I want to share it with people is that I cannot afford to do it myself.
I dont think its expensive, but I agree it is a gamble but not one that would break the bank.
I,ve seen truffles for sale today for more than 3000 dollars the kilo
appreciate comments just wish people would write more.
I would welcome anybody to come & visit & see for themselves that this is no scam
Good luck to you Alex.
I really do hope it works out for you.
thanks Johhny, I appreciate it
first 50 Truffle trees arrived, but had to spent a few days fencing the field as a lot of Sanglier present.
Will have website soon with photos etc.
Sounds like a lot of work Alex, do you have to dig all the holes by hand or do you have a digger? Or someone who comes in and plants them for you…?
Hi Boris, I plant all the trees by hand & place a mulch mat around the base & protection around the trees.
It is a lot of work but I was a landscape gardener & have planted thousands of trees!
can recommend a good Acupunturist
Nice blog.
Have you tried these guys: http://www.PlantationSystems.com, they’re the top guys around for truffle cultivation- I’m sure if you worked with them they’d even get your project on their mailing lists etc (I get their newsletter and its fascinating, albeit with a strong US/UK slant)
We’re at 1000ft above sea level in the Yorkshire moors, but we’re planning on trying a few summer truffle trees here- although the winds are very strong!
thanks,
hillfarmer
Thanks Hillfarmer,
nice spot the Yorkshire moors, thanks for your comment i,ll have a look.
My first truffle trees are doing well especially the holly oaks
regards
Alex
got my first truffle hound will put photos on website.
its a Labrador cross something that got in during the night
but a very good dog all the same
Training begins very soon & will post photos on my websit coly truffiere
Hi,
This is a really interesting story. We have also been looking into truffle growing. I had no idea that the metier had declined so much in France – I guess like many of the fantastic old competences it will receive a new birth in the future.
What is the deal with Plantation Systems? Do they take a cut of profits in return for their help? As I can see it is the soil chemistry that plays a huge role in truffle growing…like so many things in nature, balance is so important.
Regards
Ritchie
Hi Ritchie,
The soil is obviously the most important aspect to Truffle production.
If they are already growing in the vicinity it is obviously a good sign.
They say you can adjust the soils ph etc but I don,t think you can alter the local microclimate.
Something that I think is important is that our land has had nothing added ie herbicides/pesticides or fertilizer for at least nine years.
Good luck with your research
regards
Alex
Thanks for the response Alex.
It appears as though there are important stages to go through
A stable climate is useful I guess. The rain shouldnt be a problem if the soil/medium drains quickly. I have a few ideas on how to do it.
Let me know how you get on…will you post here again?
Ritchie
Hi Ritchie,
It is very important to have your soil laboratory tested before wasting any money & the lab I used was Lca, 17074 La Rochelle
05 46 4345 45
regards
Alex
Ps I can put you on to nurseries that supply certified truffle trees but they are easy to find on computer.
Thanks Alex,
I will get in touch when we near our move.
A new article for you!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/8098728/Secret-sex-life-of-truffles-revealed.html
Makes an interesting read no?
Thanks Ritchie it is an interesting article!
Best of luck with your project Alex and I hope you are successful. We had a wonderful few weeks down in Aups last year and witnessed the actual process of successful truffel search using trained dogs! Amazing to watch. I have a hunch that with global warming we may be in luck in Brittany in twenty years what with our wonderful oak trees and wild boars! Fingers crossed!!
Hi Alex. Where can I get some truffle trees to start my own truffle business?
thanks Poul, recenly taken to a friends truffle plantation & watched a border collie find about a kilo in fifteen minutes.
Hi Leo you can find them easily on the internet but make sure you have your soil tested as they are expensive
Look up Robin pepiniere
Hi Alex
I’ve read through all your comments regarding your cultivation of truffles and its been over a year since your last post, has the business managed to move forward and if so have you a web site I can take a look at. I to have been interested for some time in the truffle plantation business and would be keen in taking a look at your set up, if possible