Base Camp North

03/08/2026

Another great day of gathering!

Black huckleberries and black elderberries are finally ripe, so it was a productive day in the field. I also found a healthy stand of witch hazel and even discovered a few new American chestnut trees just down the road!

It's exciting to see so many native plants thriving after all the recent rain.

Every new find gets saved in the Base Camp North Plant Scout app with GPS location, photos, notes, and reminders so I can return at the right time each season. After a few years, you end up with an incredible library of productive native plant locations.

If you're into foraging, seed collecting, native plants, or wildlife habitat, check out the app:
🌿 https://scout.basecampnorthpa.com/

What have you been finding that's starting to ripen in your area?

26/07/2026

Gathering season is officially here! 🌿

Today I added three new native seed collections to the Base Camp North Shop:
• Beach Plum Seeds
• Black Cherry Seeds
• Black Chokeberry Seeds

This is one of my favorite times of year. I spend countless hours hiking and scouting for healthy, productive native plants. I only harvest what I need to ensure I have seed for next year's nursery, and the extra seed is cleaned and made available through the shop.

One thing that makes this process so much easier is the BCN Plant Scout app. Every time I find an outstanding tree or shrub, I save its location, add photos and notes, and set reminders for the best time to return and collect seed. After a few seasons, you've built your own personal map of reliable seed sources instead of trying to remember where that perfect tree was.

I honestly wouldn't want to scout without it anymore.

🌱 Browse the latest native seeds:
https://shop.basecampnorthpa.com

📱 Check out BCN Plant Scout App:
https://scout.basecampnorthpa.com/

What native seeds are you gathering this season?

Identify plants, save GPS locations, track seed sources, organize field observations, and return when trees, berries, nuts, and native plants are ready to harvest.

23/07/2026

Garlic Harvest Day! 🧄

One of my favorite times of the growing season. We pulled our hardneck garlic this morning, and the bulbs are looking great!

Now they'll spend the next few weeks curing in a cool, shaded, well-ventilated space before they're cleaned and stored. Freshly harvested garlic should never be washed—just gently brush off the loose soil and let nature do the rest.

Growing your own food is always rewarding. Here's to another successful harvest at Base Camp North!

23/07/2026

🌿 A Project Years in the Making... BCN Plant Scout is Here! 📱

I'm excited to announce that BCN Plant Scout is now available for both iPhone and Android!

The idea for this app came from a simple frustration: I couldn't find an app that did what I needed.

There are plenty of apps that can identify plants, but I wanted something that would also help me remember where I found them and remind me to come back when the seeds, berries, nuts, or fruit were actually ready to collect. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors collecting native plants and seeds for Base Camp North, that was the missing piece.

So... I decided to build it.

BCN Plant Scout helps you:

🌱 Identify plants with AI
📍 Save exact GPS locations
📝 Record field notes and observations
🌰 Track trees, berries, nuts, seeds, and cuttings
🗺️ Return to your favorite plants when they're ready to harvest

Whether you're a forager, hunter, native plant enthusiast, forester, land manager, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, I hope this app becomes a useful tool for your adventures.

📲 Download BCN Plant Scout today:

🍎 Apple App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bcn-plant-scout/id6784878818

🤖 Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basecampnorth.bcnplantscout

🌐 Learn more:
https://scout.basecampnorthpa.com/

Thank you to everyone who tested early versions, shared feedback, and encouraged me along the way. This is just Version 1.0, and I already have a long list of new features planned. I can't wait to keep improving it with your feedback.

— Josh
Base Camp North

22/07/2026

Chestnut Update from the Greenhouse

Our Korean XL Chestnut seedlings are thriving!

These container-grown trees have put on excellent growth this season and are developing strong, healthy root systems in our deep propagation trays. Starting with a healthy root system gives these trees the best chance for rapid establishment after planting.

Whether you're planting for:
• Wildlife habitat
• A homestead or food forest
• Future chestnut production
• A beautiful shade tree
..these chestnuts are an outstanding choice.

We're excited to watch them continue growing throughout the season, and we can't wait to get them into your hands this fall!

Reserve yours today at:
https://shop.basecampnorthpa.com/shop/product/Korean%20XL-chestnut-bareroot

Thank you for supporting Base Camp North and helping us grow more trees, one seedling at a time.

22/07/2026

It's Gathering Season!

One of my favorite times of the year has arrived. The woods, fields, and hedgerows across Northeastern Pennsylvania are beginning to fill with ripe native fruits.

This week's harvest included Beach Plums, Black Cherries, and Black Chokeberries (Aronia). Each has its own purpose—whether it's making jams and jellies, supporting wildlife, growing future trees, or collecting seed for propagation.

Many of the seeds we gather today will become the seedlings and trees that Base Camp North offers in the months and years ahead. There's something rewarding about seeing the full cycle, from wild harvest to healthy young trees.

If you're out exploring, keep an eye on the edges of trails, old fields, and woodland openings. You might be surprised by what's ready to harvest right now. As always, gather responsibly and leave plenty behind for wildlife and for the plants to reproduce naturally.

What are you finding this season in NEPA? Share your favorite wild harvests in the comments!

02/07/2026

Base Camp North created an app for identifying and tracking plants and trees you want to gather from later.

🔗 https://scout.basecampnorthpa.com/

It's in closed testing now, and you can join and start using it today. Find a plant, take a picture, and it'll be identified — then add notes and save it. Later, log into the dashboard to review your saved finds and plan your return trip to gather them.

Visit the website to join via Android or iPhone. All feedback welcome!

13/05/2026

🌱 BASE CAMP NORTH SPRING CLEAN OUT SALE 🌱

It’s time to clear benches, empty trays, and make room for the 2026 collecting season!

For a limited time:
🔥 30% OFF EVERYTHING in the Etsy shop 🔥

Seeds, native trees, propagation material, wildlife plants, and more — all marked down while supplies last.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a native garden, adding trees to your property, or stocking up on seeds for next season, now’s the time.

✅ Native & hardy species
✅ Wildlife-friendly plants
✅ Homestead & permaculture favorites
✅ Hand collected in Pennsylvania

Shop here:
Base Camp North Etsy Shop - https://basecampnorthpa.etsy.com

Thank you to everyone supporting this small Northeast PA nursery. Every order helps us keep collecting, growing, and expanding for another season. 🌲

Shop items by BaseCampNorthPA.

02/05/2026

We had some extra lumber after building out beds… so we kept building.

Turns out a lot of folks around here really like these raised planters 👍

We build them about 36” tall so there’s way less bending over — makes planting, watering, and harvesting a lot easier.

This U-shape setup can add ~96 sq ft of growing space to your backyard or patio. Great for veggies, herbs, or just getting something productive going.

If you’re local and interested, shoot me a message — we can build one for you too.

📍 Effort, PA
🚚 Delivery available