Clay started Dougwood in 2025 after years of foraging and growing agroforestry trees. He grew up in hickory abundant forests along the Susquehanna River of central Pennsylvania and graduated from Berea College in Kentucky with a BS in sustainable agriculture. Clay prioritizes improved tree genetics and soil ecology for growing nutrient dense tree crops. He has established agroforestry gardens on private and public lands across the east coast and enjoys planting in guilds for resiliency and biodiversity. Clay’s apprenticed under accomplished nurseryman Akiva Silver of Twisted Tree Farm and heritage seed saver Kay Baxter of the Koanga Institute in New Zealand. In 2025, he gathered hundreds of gallons of bitternut hickories that he pressed into 20 gallons of delicious oil. When he’s not gathering hickories or growing trees, you’ll often find him weaving a basket, woodworking, or working on other folkcrafts.