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CHESTNUT HARVEST SCHEDULE

CHESTNUT HARVESTING
September 16th through September 23

Due to time constraints on my schedule this year, my time this harvest season will be limited.  If anyone would like to help harvest burs during the last two weeks of September, please let us know.  We will be focusing on wild trees where we will need more representation in our GCOs, but we could also use nuts to give to TACF for fund raising or research projects from the other known nut producing trees.  Tree locations include Suffield, Thompson, Bristol, and Mystic in addition to the locations listed below.  If anyone else would like to help, please let us know by replying to this email along with times of availability or contact me directly at moc.liamg@tuntsehcttawsj.

Saturday, September 17th, 9:00 AM  Wyantenock SF in Warren. Meet at the parking area on Rt 341 (across from 182 Woodville Rd.).

12:00 AM. Nassahegan SF in Burlington.  Meet at the end of Miller Rd. Burlington.  This area is difficult to walk across the harvest slash, but help is needed to carry ladders to the trees.

3:00 PM  Birge Pond, Bristol.  Meet in the parking area at Birge Pond on Ambler Rd.

Sunday, September 18th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM- Old Lyme Library and Nehantic State Forest Goodwin Trail in East Lyme. Meet at 2 Library Lane, Old Lyme at 9:00 AM and after quickly collecting the burs that we had manually pollinated this past summer, we will travel to the Parking area at the end of Holmes Rd in East Lyme.  We will hike about 2-3 miles on a loop to collect burs from several nut-producing trees along the way.  The forest road is generally easy to travel, but one steep foot path and off trail hiking will be encountered.

Monday, Spetember 19th, 10:00 AM Lambtown Rd, Mystic – We will be investigating a report of flowering chestnut trees in the area of the powerline cut and harvest any burs we can find on the trees there.

Tuesday, September 20th,  7:45 AM, McLean Game Refuge, Granby – Meet at the parking area on Rt. 202 .  Harvest being done by Eversource.  Possibly going to Cider Mill Rd after to harvest with Eversource there as well.

Thursday, September 22nd, 10:30 AM Renbrook School, West Hartford – Harvest being done by Eversource.

12:00 PM, Suffield, North Stone St Powerline cut

Friday, September 23rd, 6:00 PM ELCCT Powerline cut on Willis St, Bristol.  Meet at the parking area just inside the gate on Willis St.

Location of sites and times are still being determined and will continually be updated on this website.

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There’s nothing quite like the first signs of life in the nursery; our chestnut seedlings are officially emerging! After weeks of careful stratification, planting, and patience, we’re starting to see those first tender shoots break through the soil. Early seedling emergence is a critical stage, showing us that germination was successful and that strong root systems are beginning to establish beneath the surface. These seedlings will be used for our Recurrent Genomic Selection program, including future seed orchards, progeny tests, small stem assays, phytophthora root rot screening. Here’s to healthy growth, strong roots, and a thriving season ahead! #AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ConservationScience ... See MoreSee Less

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Meadowview for the Win!🏆

Grafting is one of the tools we use to conserve large, surviving American chestnut germplasm and ensure it isn’t lost. By grafting scion from important trees onto compatible rootstock, we can preserve valuable genetics and share this germplasm across regions. This work allows exceptional trees to live on in multiple locations, supporting research, restoration, and collaboration while safeguarding the diversity of the American chestnut for the future.

#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ConservationScience
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Our Director of Science, Jared Westbrook, was interviewed by Ira Flatow, founder and host of Science Friday, for their podcast. The episode is now available: www.sciencefriday.com/segments/restoring-american-chestnut-tree/

On Science Friday, Jared discusses the multiple approaches taken to improve blight resistance in American chestnut trees, TACF’s recurrent genomic selection program as our main engine for restoration, and what successful restoration looks like.

#americanchestnut #sciencefriday #science #restoration #explorepage #conservation
... See MoreSee Less

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.

Today we’re highlighting Hattie Carthan, who fought against the impacts of redlining and disinvestment by mobilizing her Bed‑Stuy community to restore its trees and protect a landmark magnolia. Her legacy shows that restoration starts with us, an idea at the heart of our work to revive the American chestnut.

Read more about Hattie Carthan: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/

#blackhistorymonth #americanchestnut #treestagram #explorepage #nature
... See MoreSee Less

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.Today we’re highlighting Hattie Carthan, who fought against the impacts of redlining and disinvestment by mobilizing her Bed‑Stuy community to restore its trees and protect a landmark magnolia. Her legacy shows that restoration starts with us, an idea at the heart of our work to revive the American chestnut. Read more about Hattie Carthan: https://tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/ #blackhistorymonth #americanchestnut #treestagram #explorepage #natureImage attachmentImage attachment

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So trees DO grow in Brooklyn again?!

Our air pruning bed was constructed in early 2025 and has since been growing hybrid chestnuts that play an important role in our grafting work. Air pruning beds allow us to grow strong, well-branched root systems and make it easy to access high-quality rootstock for grafting. MRF staff are currently grafting using the root stock from trees that were grown in this air pruning bed, so stay tuned to learn more about it next week!

#americanchestnut #restorationinprogress #chestnutresearch #forestrestoration #meadowviewresearchfarms #conservationscience
... See MoreSee Less

Our air pruning bed was constructed in early 2025 and has since been growing hybrid chestnuts that play an important role in our grafting work. Air pruning beds allow us to grow strong, well-branched root systems and make it easy to access high-quality rootstock for grafting. MRF staff are currently grafting using the root stock from trees that were grown in this air pruning bed, so stay tuned to learn more about it next week!  #AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ConservationScience
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