Rescuing the

American Chestnut

Our Mission

is to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range.

Our Vision

is a robust eastern forest restored to its splendor.

Chestnut Chat Series

Join us October 20 from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EDT), for TACF’s next LIVE Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session.

As part of our Annual Fall Meeting we look forward to our annual poster session and student flash talks. This year, we’re moving them into a virtual space! We will devote our October Chestnut Chat to a series of flash talks highlighting student work. A virtual poster session will follow and all are welcome to participate – student and professional alike (view the Request for Proposals). The event will be hosted by Kendra Collins, TACF’s Director of Regional Programs. We hope you will join us! 

TACF student poster sessions
Blue Jay print

This beautiful print is now available!

As any chestnut enthusiast knows, it is a Race to the Finish to harvest nuts before the blue jays and squirrels. Maine Chapter President Mark McCollough painted this piece after being inspired by naturalist Bernd Heinrich’s observations of blue jays harvesting and caching American chestnuts throughout his woodlot in western Maine. All proceeds will benefit TACF conservation programs. A limited number of these 9 3/4″ x 12 3/4″ signed giclée prints are available through November 15. Learn more here.

TACF 40th Anniversary logo

Join the celebration!

The American Chestnut Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary! We invite you to join us at one of the many chapter festivities this year. Non-members are welcome to attend.

TACF 40th Anniversary celebrations

Science Strategies

Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol
United for Restoration

The American Chestnut Foundation takes a holistic approach toward chestnut restoration, utilizing a three-pronged research strategy known as 3BUR (Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol United for Restoration). These research tracks are meant to be integrated through collaborations that are mutually beneficial, so we can explore all avenues to reach the common goal of saving and restoring this species as quickly as possible.

Support Our Research

How to identify an American chestnut tree

Learn how to identify American chestnuts and send us a sample for identification.

Support The Restoration

How to receive American chestnut seeds & seedlings

Learn how to get American chestnut seeds and seedlings from TACF.

Latest News

New Documentary Release

New Documentary Release

The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is excited to announce the release of CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut, a documentary about the grassroots efforts of passionate citizen scientists and researchers working to restore this ecologically and economically significant tree species.

read more
Teaching Pollination Techniques to Enthusiastic Volunteers

Teaching Pollination Techniques to Enthusiastic Volunteers

The Tennessee Chapter held a very successful one-day pollination workshop on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the beautiful Chestnut Ridge Orchard in Middle Tennessee. The workshop was a hands-on opportunity to learn and practice techniques to make controlled crosses for TACF’s breeding program.

read more

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🌟The 15th West Virginia Chestnut Festival will be held in Rowlesburg, WV (Preston County) on Sunday, October 8, 2023.

🌟What to expect:
A full breakfast is served in the historic Rowlesburg School (now the Szilalgyi Center) from 9:00 -11:00 am.

Events, from 9:30 am-4:00 pm include roasted chestnuts in the Cheat River park along with vendors selling chestnut furniture and chestnut seedlings. Also, there will be honey products, arts and craft vendors, food and the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia Bird Exhibit.

The West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation will host a meeting on the second floor of the school from noon until 2:00 pm. Following the chapter meeting, there will be a technical session from 3:00 - 4:30 pm with featured speakers Cassie Stark, TACF's Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator and Dr. Lewis Cook, WV chapter board member.

🎥During the day, TACF's documentary film, CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut will be shown on the hour in a second-floor classroom of the school.

The gala banquet begins at 5:30 pm in the school auditorium; tickets are $15.00. Featured are the Madrigal Singers of Preston High School and a chestnut-themed dinner. The premier of the WV chapter documentary film, "The Once and Future Tree" will be shown during the banquet. Robert Tinnell and his film students at the Douglas Education Center in Monessen, PA documented the memories of older individuals who recalled the demise of the American chestnut.

All events are open to the public. Come and join us as TACF celebrates its 40th year, having been founded in 1983. Six members of the national organization will be in attendance, so any and all questions related to chestnut can be answered.
More details with the link in comments⬇️⬇️
... See MoreSee Less

🌟The 15th West Virginia Chestnut Festival will be held in Rowlesburg, WV (Preston County) on Sunday, October 8, 2023. 

🌟What to expect: 
A full breakfast is served in the historic Rowlesburg School (now the Szilalgyi Center) from 9:00 -11:00 am. 

Events, from 9:30 am-4:00 pm include roasted chestnuts in the Cheat River park along with vendors selling chestnut furniture and chestnut seedlings. Also, there will be honey products, arts and craft vendors, food and the  Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia Bird Exhibit. 

The West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation will host a meeting on the second floor of the school from noon until 2:00 pm. Following the chapter meeting, there will be a technical session from 3:00 - 4:30 pm with featured speakers Cassie Stark, TACFs Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator and Dr. Lewis Cook, WV chapter board member. 

🎥During the day, TACFs documentary film, CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut will be shown on the hour in a second-floor classroom of the school. 

The gala banquet begins at 5:30 pm in the school auditorium; tickets are $15.00. Featured are the Madrigal Singers of Preston High School and a chestnut-themed dinner. The premier of the WV chapter documentary film, The Once and Future Tree will be shown during the banquet. Robert Tinnell and his film students at the Douglas Education Center in Monessen, PA documented the memories of older individuals who recalled the demise of the American chestnut. 

All events are open to the public. Come and join us as TACF celebrates its 40th year, having been founded in 1983. Six members of the national organization will be in attendance, so any and all questions related to chestnut can be answered.
More details with the link in comments⬇️⬇️Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

1 CommentComment on Facebook

wvchestnutfestival.com Click for more details!

What a beautiful tribute to Carl Absher, longtime Virginia Chapter member, supporter and doer and total Chestnut enthusiast. ... See MoreSee Less

What a beautiful tribute to Carl Absher, longtime Virginia Chapter member, supporter and doer and total Chestnut enthusiast.Image attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

Prayers for him and his loved ones.

Simon Zimmerman

Condolences to all who knew Carl.

How can we get some chestnuts to plant ?

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Upcoming Events

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The TVA Orchard in Muscle Shoals AL is ready for harvest. Swing by to help out and take some chestnuts home! The TVA orchard has been a staple of the […]

6:30PM - 8:30PM

Thursday September 28 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Assembly Room on Bentley Drive in Harwinton. Presented by the Harwinton Public Library and Harwinton Land Conservation Trust. Join us […]