Connecticut News
Chestnut Allelopathy
By James Egenrieder [reprinted with permission] There was a short but very interesting interview on NPR (public radio) on November 8, 2005 that quickly caught my attention. This interview was part of the daily All Things Considered program; the interviewee was...
Nearly Extinct American Chestnut Trees Brought to Life …
...on the Grounds of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History It once graced eastern forests from Maine to Georgia and its beauty and strength were legendary. Its nuts fed forest wildlife and became a cash crop for many of the families living in the...
Vegetative Propagation and Grafting
A few months ago I saw this response to a readers question about vegetative propagation by Hill Craddock at the University of Tennessee, which I reproduce here with his permission. As a detailed decription of his experiences I thought it a valuable resource that...
Low Tech Irrigation
As we developed plans for several of our research orchards in CT, one of the missing links in our infrastructure were flexible systems for irrigation and delivery of fertilizer. E-mails to the various nut grower forums and Chapter mailng lists returned a wealth of...
NRCS Soil Survey Tool
I just learned of a great new on-line tool from the NRCS. It just went up at the end of last year, and is a bit difficult to use at first, but can be of great interest to chestnut growers, particularly those who are still in the planning stages. Although the chestnut...
Connecticut Flower Show
From Thursday though Sunday, February 23rd through 26th, the CT Flower show is Hartford's big event. A "momentary bloom" in winter's last icy grip, the show provides an opportunity for the chapter to reach throngs of gardners who might not otherwise attend a...
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Are you looking for funding to support your American chestnut research?
External small grants offer recipients a variety of benefits such as professional development and an expanded network. Grant activities contribute to the continuous renewal and development of faculty and staff, to the education and motivation of students, and achievement of our mutual interest — restoration of the American chestnut.
This is a small grants program. TACF does not ordinarily fund projects in excess of $10,000, but more than one person can receive a grant. Contact us to be added to our email notices for this program.
We are currently accepting submissions from now until September 28, 2026. Submissions will be reviewed by the Restoration Science Committee on October 16, 2026.
2026 Call for Proposals: tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RFP-Small-Grants-Program.8.10.26.pdf
Submission link: forms.monday.com/forms/6ff0cc12fe05ca92c879d36ba6838e05?r=use1
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What a wonderful day at TimberFest! 🌰
We enjoyed connecting with visitors and sharing TACF's mission alongside others who are passionate about forestry and conservation. One of the day's highlights was the unveiling of a chainsaw-carved statue exhibit crafted from trees brought down by Hurricane Helene.
As an organization who's national office is rooted in western North Carolina, it was especially meaningful to see these trees incorporated into an exhibit that honors both the impact of the storm and the resilience of our region. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about American chestnut restoration and the future of our forests.
#AmericanChestnut #ForestRestoration #Forestry #Conservation #WNC #Explore
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Was this at the Cradle of Forestry?
We love our Bonner Scholars!Thank you, Bonner Scholars!
As we head into the fall semester, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank our wonderful Bonner Scholars for their time, hard work, and dedication to Meadowview Research Farms last spring semester! We are especially grateful to Gabbie and Maddy who graduated from Emory & Henry this past spring, who each served with The American Chestnut Foundation for more than two years. Their commitment and contributions have made a lasting impact on our research farm, and we are so thankful for all they have done! We also want to recognize Carson, who joined us last spring and has been an important part of our team. We’re excited that Carson will be continuing to serve with us this semester.
Thank you, Gabbie, Maddy, and Carson, for all of your hard work and for being such an important part of the Meadowview family. We wish Gabbie and Maddy all the best in their next adventures, and we’re excited to have Carson continuing on with us!
And an additional thanks to Meadowview Research Farms' Tree Improvement Scientist, Lucinda Wigfield, for her outstanding coordination and supervision of this important student group!
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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The mysterious voice in this video might be onto something... 👀🌰
Looking for a research project idea? The American chestnut has plenty of unanswered questions waiting to be explored.
If your project touches on chestnut restoration, genetics, blight, ecology, biotechnology, history, or another chestnut-related topic, consider sharing your work at the TACF 2026 Symposium Poster Session.
Give your research an audience beyond the classroom and connect with others working to restore the American chestnut.
For more information visit: tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Poster-Session-RFP.pdf
#americanchestnut #humor #students #StudentResearch #forestry
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Inside this American chestnut box is a Dolly Parton song that no one will hear until 2046.
Dolly Parton's "Dream Box" will remain sealed until her 100th birthday. Made from American chestnut wood, it stands as a tribute to her uncle and mentor, Bill Owens.
Many know Owens as an important influence on Dolly's songwriting. Fewer know that he was also a tireless advocate for restoring the American chestnut, a tree once thought lost from eastern forests.
Inside the chestnut box is a song Dolly wrote to be released as her last: "My Place in History."
There is something fitting about that. A song about the place we leave behind, preserved in a box made from a tree once thought lost that generations of people have worked to bring back.
Like so much in conservation, Bill Owens' legacy is not only what he accomplished himself, but what he passed on: knowledge, passion, and a connection to those who came after him.
Forests endure because people choose to carry them forward. So do legacies.
When that box is finally opened in 2046, I hope to be listening to "My Place in History" beneath the shade of an American chestnut; one that Bill Owens helped bring back.
#AmericanChestnut #ForestRestoration #DollyParton #Conservation #Legacy
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Hope I live to 92 to hear it and if I do, I hope my brain knows what I’m listening to!
Gosh, I'm going to have to reincarnate to hear this in 2046! Hoping to be born in Appalachia, maybe as a squirrel....
I'll be gone in 20 years. I'm mid 70s now. I understand her wanting to wait, but wouldn't it have been better for her to just name a number, like 5 years beyond her date of death or something like that, so that people who knew her, remembered her, would appreciate it more? 20 years from now my kids will be in their 70s, and they may or may not remember her. My grandkids won't have a clue. And they'll be middle-aged! Kind of a shame. She must have had her reasons however ❤️😭