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Spring Chestnut Planting at Wigwam Brook

Are you looking for a way to welcome spring to CT? Please join the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for planting at a brand new orchard site! On Saturday, May 8th CT-TACF will plant several American chestnut breeding lines (several hundred trees) at the newly-established Wigwam Book Orchard in Litchfield, CT. This orchard is on property owned by the Litchfield Hills Audubon, with support from CT-TACF. In 2009 a test planting was established on-site, which was very successful and allowed new orchard managers John Baker and Tom Traver to gain valuable experience growing chestnut. Thanks to a WHIP grant from NRCS, in the past month a deer fence has been installed and blue bird boxes are planned for installation later this spring.

Now that the orchard managers and the site are ready, it's time to plant the orchard! Planting of roughly 200 nuts is planned to start at 10:00 am on Saturday May 8th and will run into the early afternoon. The rain date is Sunday May 9th, same time. Wigwam Brook is located on Lipeika Road, off Route 254 and about a half mile from the Route 118 intersection in Litchfield. For more information, please contact Tom Traver at (860) 274-3928. We hope to see you there!



Kendra Gurney

TACF New England Regional Science Coordinator

802.951.6771 x1350 (o)

802.999.8706 (m)

gro.fca@ardneK

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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

14 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. .

Resilience.

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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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69 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
... See MoreSee Less

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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4 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.

😂

New year, new opportunities! Now’s the perfect time to get involved with the American chestnut. 🌱

Check out our January & February events and join the movement!

Visit out events calendar for more info on each event

#americanchestnut #events #volunteer #pennsylvania #castaneapa #Maine #rhodeisland #pennstate #chestnuts #explorepage
... See MoreSee Less

New year, new opportunities! Now’s the perfect time to get involved with the American chestnut. 🌱Check out our January & February events and join the movement!Visit out events calendar for more info on each event#americanchestnut #events #volunteer #pennsylvania #castaneapa #Maine #rhodeisland #pennstate #chestnuts #explorepageImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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