Autumn Olive is a favorite among foragers for its abundant, nutrient packed fruit. It is reported to have seventeen times the anti-oxidant lycopene than tomatoes. Unfortunately, it is also a very aggressive non-native weed that is severely damaging natural areas. Anyone who enjoys foraging should watch this video to understand the need for a balanced approach to its enjoyment and control. The solution might be aggressively harvesting the fruit in season, and removing the plants afterwards. We explain our process and show areas which have been treated and areas which have not.

Oak Haven is a 60-acre private woodland in Southwestern Ohio near Cincinnati. Jim and Julie Varick both have degrees in Botany and over thirty years of experience in managing natural areas. They enjoy sharing their enthusiasm for the natural world and would like to build relationships with like-minded people to share knowledge and resources.