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Farming for Biodiversity, or, Chestnuts in My Meadow

Written by David Bingham, MD, Salem CT [click for larger photo] Bluebirds thrive in the protected environment of the fenced orchard. Photographer Hank Golet For years, I have been working to expand the biodiversity of my back yard to restore some of the balance of...

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Man Joins Effort To Save Nut Trees

CT-TACF Director Dr. David Bingham is highlighted in this local Connecticut TV broadcast in front of the Old Lyme Library. "Man Joins Effort To Save Nut Trees - News Links Story - WFSB Hartford" http://www.wfsb.com/newslinks/14110153/detail.html?taf=hart

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News from Salem and Old Lyme

By Dr. David Bingham A group of Connecticut Chapter volunteers descended on the Salem orchard on April 14th, and planted about 200 nuts before dark on a beautiful day. Fifty of the nuts were from a native American Salem tree. These nuts were harvested last fall and...

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Time for Sighting Chestnuts

There are certain routes I frequently drive in Connecticut based on certain chores or repetitive tasks ... meetings, work, chauffering kids to their sports. One frequent drive is up Route 8 from Bridgeport to Winsted. I was a little shocked last weekend while making...

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CT-TACF Featured in Hartford Courant

Today's Hartford Courant features a story by Columnist Steve Grant, focused on TACF efforts to restore the Americant chestnut. The article contains a picture and quotes by Leila Pinchot, and additional quotes by Sandy Anagnostakis. Hopefully it will provide some...

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Especially if you're under a canopy of American chestnuts... ... See MoreSee Less

Especially if youre under a canopy of American chestnuts...

Today was the last day of controlled pollinations in the southern region. Many thanks to the NC/SC Chapter members who came out to help! ... See MoreSee Less

8 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank you for your hard work!

I'm in south Arkansas. We had miniature Chestnut call chink a pin which got wiped out in the 50s. I have found two this spring 2025. They are small.

Hello, is this a chestnut tree?

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This summer, we’re aiming to produce 1,000 hand-pollinated nuts for our genomic-assisted breeding program, and each one is a vital step toward restoring the American chestnut.

Producing a single nut takes time, tools, and teamwork. From pollination to harvest, every step is a vital part of the process to ensure that each nut has the best chance possible to grow into a more blight-resistant tree.

Here’s what goes into a single $25 nut:

Pollination Bag: $5
Hand Pollination Process: $5
Harvesting the Nut: $5
Shucking & Storing: $5
Equipment & Fuel: $5
Total per Nut: $25

By supporting just one nut, you’re helping us bring the American chestnut back to our forests. Support a handful, and you’re helping to rebuild an entire ecosystem.

This nutty campaign only runs from June 3 to 23, and we’ve got 1,000 nuts to grow. Join us!
support.tacf.org/nuts
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8 CommentsComment on Facebook

Would the Chestnut tree grow well in the upper Midwest?

Question, why don’t you just plant the seeds/trees in an orchard and let nature pollinate them? That would reduce the cost exponentially and sell the seeds by the bag full? So people can then plant them in mass? Also, Why only 1000 seeds when one tree can produce more than that?

Howdy. He have four American Chestnuts together, growing opposite of several Chinese. They are about 20 years old. An interesting study.

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Is this possibly in the Chestnut family?

There are two work opportunities on June 7, 2025 for members of the WV Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.

The first is at the U.S. Forest Service property at 459 Nursery Bottom Road, Parsons. Work will begin at 10:00AM at the 'American Chestnut' sign. We will lay out spots for a 100-tree orchard that will be planted next spring. We also will weed the existing orchard and conduct other miscellaneous tasks. Bring gloves, water and lunch. A bathroom is available.

The second opportunity is at Jennings Randolph Lake north of Elk Garden in Mineral County. Forty American chestnut trees will be planted at the Roger Craig campground. Work will begin at 9:00 am. Bring gloves, water and a snack. This work is conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
If you are available to assist at either of these two work sites, it will be much appreciated.
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There are two work opportunities on June 7, 2025 for members of the WV Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. The first is at the U.S. Forest Service property at 459 Nursery Bottom Road, Parsons. Work will begin at 10:00AM at the American Chestnut sign. We will lay out spots for a 100-tree orchard that will be planted next spring. We also will weed the existing orchard and conduct other miscellaneous tasks. Bring gloves, water and lunch. A bathroom is available.The second opportunity is at Jennings Randolph Lake north of Elk Garden in Mineral County. Forty American chestnut trees will be planted at the Roger Craig campground. Work will begin at 9:00 am. Bring gloves, water and a snack. This work is conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.If you are available to assist at either of these two work sites, it will be much appreciated.
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