Virginia News

Volunteer Now!

Current Opportunities to Volunteer!

Working with the Public

Plantings are planned for Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna on May 3 and at Mount Vernon at a date in the spring to be determined.  We are looking for a few volunteers to help with (a) planting the trees, (b) monitoring the seedlings until they get established, (c) developing interpretive material to tell Garden visitors the chestnut story, and (d) organizing the ceremony surrounding the planting.  If you have time and interest, please contact VA TACF at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav or (540) 364-1922.

Working with Nature*

Opportunities abound for help in planting, pollinating and monitoring American chestnut trees in our orchards.  For more information, and to volunteer, contact us at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav or (540) 364-1922.

*Risk Advice.  Many activities in support of VATACF put volunteers into close contact with nature.  This poses a number of potential risks volunteers need to consider.  These include exposure to insects, poisonous plants, snakes, difficult terrain and strenuous activity.  VATACF expects volunteers to inform and protect themselves against these risks and cannot accept responsibility for failure to do so.

Behind the Scenes

Staff the VATACF Office.  Multiple volunteer opportunities exist to help staff the Virginia Chapter of TACF office in Marshall, VA.   The duties involve learning enough to answer questions from visitors to the office and over the phone, helping to manage volunteer activity, as well as performing related clerical duties in support of VATACF’s mission to restore chestnut trees to Virginia.  These volunteer opportunities are part-time and hours can be flexible to meet your schedule.  You will have the fun of meeting and working with committed volunteers and interested members of the public and learning about the science and organizational efforts in support of VATACF’s mission.  For information, or to volunteer, contact Kathy Marmet at moc.liamg@temramyhtak.

Communications Assistants Wanted!  VATACF is looking for one or more persons to assist in enhancing communications within our diverse and rapidly growing organization.  Volunteers will help maintain the VATACF web site (vachestnut.org), help write announcements and notices, locate photos and illustrations and help manage VATACF’s use of social media.  Special opportunities exist for persons with skill in producing videos for the web.  The work can be conducted at our Marshall, VA, office or from any location with internet service.  The work requirements are flexible and can be organized to fit your schedule.   Volunteers will have the satisfaction of  working with modern technologies and helping to organize and energize the reintroduction of the chestnut tree to American forests.  For more information, or to volunteer, contact us at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav.

Video Editor and YouTube Guru.  VATACF wants to produce short video productions on a variety of topics to be used for training volunteers and educating the public about a variety of aspects of restoring the American chestnut tree.  If you have skills in video production, including filming, editing and creating YouTube videos, then we have an important role for you to fill.  Work schedules can be organized to fit your needs.  You will gain experience in producing and editing high quality video productions and enhancing VATACF’s educational and training program.  You will have the satisfaction of seeing your work on the internet and in use in field trainings all around the Commonwealth.  For more information, or to volunteer, contact Norman Reid ten.sehguh@diernjta.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Don’t see anything that fits?  We have many more needs than we have listed here.  Match your interests and skills with our needs by filling out the online volunteer interest form.

We will get back to you to work out something that meets your interests and our needs!

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Selecting the best and roguing the rest 🌱🌳These trees were planted 8 years ago, and by carefully choosing which trees to keep and which to remove, we’re creating space for stronger growth and healthier stands. Selected trees will be genotyped for our Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) program and could play a key role in future breeding efforts.
#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #Castanetum #ScienceInTheField
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Selecting the best and roguing the rest 🌱🌳These trees were planted 8 years ago, and by carefully choosing which trees to keep and which to remove, we’re creating space for stronger growth and healthier stands. Selected trees will be genotyped for our Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) program and could play a key role in future breeding efforts. #AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #Castanetum #ScienceInTheField

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

Of the 25 first gen Chinese chestnut tress I planted, two survive to produce here in western Pennsylvania. That was ~35-years ago.

A seedling seed orchard: Over time, this combines selecting trees for blight resistance and thinning out (rouging) the susceptible genotypes. This works to produce an orchard seed source. Some reliable resistance, at a spacing favorable for seed production.

Pershendetje po qe se shikoni te arsyshme mund te bashkpunoim ne fushën e pyltaris. Kam gjitha mundesit dhe kam fjith dokometacionin e nevojshem

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🌰 "The evolving story of New Jersey’s chestnuts" by Alison Mitchell
Check out this article that features insights from our North Central Regional Science Coordinator, Lake Graboski, and also highlights New Jersey Nut Farms’ separate hybridization efforts—showing the range of work underway to bring back the American chestnut.

Click the following link to view the full story: www.newsbreak.com/south-jersey-media-302714994/4444458578919-the-evolving-story-of-new-jersey-s-c...

#americanchestnuts #nature #chestnuts #restoration #conservation #quote #article #explorepage
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🌰 The evolving story of New Jersey’s chestnuts by Alison MitchellCheck out this article that features insights from our North Central Regional Science Coordinator, Lake Graboski, and also highlights New Jersey Nut Farms’ separate hybridization efforts—showing the range of work underway to bring back the American chestnut. Click the following link to view the full story: https://www.newsbreak.com/south-jersey-media-302714994/4444458578919-the-evolving-story-of-new-jersey-s-chestnuts #americanchestnuts #nature #chestnuts #restoration #conservation #quote #article #explorepage

15 CommentsComment on Facebook

I have one of the original American chestnuts growing on my land.. it grows to about 12 feet tall and it dies. it comes back from the root and does the cycle again. it's done this for the last 63 years.

I've got a half dozen proven American chestnut trees in the country park across the street. 60 + feet and bear nuts every year by the ton. the nuts seem to be sterile. no saplings ever. .

How far our we from a chestnut that grows past 20 years

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Learn more about this remarkable standing American chestnut in the article “We The People: How Iowa Is Part of the Effort to Save the Rare American Chestnut Tree.” Courtesy of Grace Vance and KCRG.

Visit: www.ktiv.com/2026/01/12/we-people-how-iowa-is-part-effort-save-rare-american-chestnut-tree/

#americanchestnut #chestnuts #restoration #conservation #explorepage
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70 CommentsComment on Facebook

Georgia has a stand of chestnut trees in a secret location. Can they borrow some pollen from this tree to add to their breeding collection? They need a varied gene pool for the future.

A guy named Bill Deeter has just recently observed that trees that have crown gall seem to be warding off the blight. Im really hoping that this will bring back the longevity of the American Chestnut

My Neighbors have a vet old chestnut tree - they have contacted several conservation groups about getting a sapling of a second . So it would produce chestnuts once again-

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A month ago, our President and CEO, Michael Goergen, got to visit the New York Botanical Garden and see the original documentation of chestnut blight taken from a tree in the Bronx Zoo. Feeling a sense of inspiration from the experience, Michael wrote, "Holding that bark brings both grief and resolve. Grief for what was lost. Resolve for the work ahead.

Because for the first time since 1905, we are no longer documenting decline.
We are documenting return.

The American chestnut is not a memory. It is a restoration mission and The American Chestnut Foundation is building the tools and partnerships to finish what Merkel, Murrill, and others could not.

Seeing the original blight records didn’t make the work feel more challenging. It made it feel inevitable.

Restoration is the next chapter. We get to write it."

#explorepage #americanchestnut #history #chestnuts #learn #nature #forestry #trees #blight #restoration #conservation
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A month ago, our President and CEO, Michael Goergen, got to visit the New York Botanical Garden and see the original documentation of chestnut blight taken from a tree in the Bronx Zoo. Feeling a sense of inspiration from the experience, Michael wrote, Holding that bark brings both grief and resolve. Grief for what was lost. Resolve for the work ahead.Because for the first time since 1905, we are no longer documenting decline.We are documenting return.The American chestnut is not a memory. It is a restoration mission and The American Chestnut Foundation is building the tools and partnerships to finish what Merkel, Murrill, and others could not.Seeing the original blight records didn’t make the work feel more challenging. It made it feel inevitable.Restoration is the next chapter. We get to write it.#explorepage #americanchestnut #history #chestnuts #learn #nature #forestry #trees #blight #restoration #conservationImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Whoo hoo! Sorry, you were not the first to know this. The Chestnut Lady.

Our New England Regional Science Coordinator, Deni Ranguelova, made an appearance on the podcast "Across the Fence" to discuss the American chestnut tree and why we are working to restore them.

Check out the podcast on Youtube at youtu.be/c9EeOc5WIaE?si=80CQtoY4-qeQhjtI

#americanchestnut #chestnuts #podcast #history #restoration #conservation #nature #forestry #explorepage
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook

So like Covid?

This was all because someone in upstate Delaware thought it would be a good idea to grow a Chinese chestnut in their yard so they could show it off to their friends.

😂

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