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AL – Pollination Workshop
June 17, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Due to the possibility of rain, we have bumped back this event to Saturday! Please join us at the TVA Orchard in Muscle Shoals, Alabama for a morning pollination demonstration and workshop to learn the basics of chestnut breeding.
The workshop is a hands-on opportunity to learn the techniques we use for controlled crosses in the TACF breeding program. We’ll cover all the steps for finding and identifying an American chestnut tree, how to recognize the male and female flowers, emasculation and bagging, pollen collection and handling, labeling, and record-keeping, and the intimate details of hand pollination.
The training will begin early to avoid the heat at 8:00 AM on SATURDAY, 6/17. But feel free to come at any time. We expect to be done by nine.
You should bring: whatever you’d feel comfortable in standing outside for a period of time. Sensible shoes are a must! Dress for the weather and don’t forget to bring plenty of water and a snack. This is an all-ages event. Everyone is welcome. No experience is necessary.
Rain Date: If we experience inclement weather, we will email you in the event of a date change.
We hope to see you there!
Location:
The planting is located at the following GPS Coordinates:
Directions to the orchard coming into Muscle Shoals on US72 ALT:
- US72 Alt to Hwy 157 in Muscle Shoals
- Take a Right (North) at Hwy 157 (Wilson Dam Road). There is a Shell Station on the right-hand corner.
- Continue North on Hwy 157 Wilson Dam Road past E 6th Street, Avalon Ave, and E 2nd Street.
- About 0.9 miles north of the intersection of Wilson Dam Rd and E 2nd Street, enter the left turn lane and turn left (west) into an unnamed paved road. This road is immediately across from the Occidental Chemical Plant on the east side of Wilson Dam Road. You’ll see a chain link gate across this road at the entrance to some TVA maintenance shops.
- After turning on the asphalt road, immediately turn left before the TVA chain link gate onto a rough gravel road. This road runs under the TVA transmission lines and meanders. Heavy vegetation on both sides of the road.
- After about 0.8 miles on the gravel road, past a couple of locked gates on the right, the road turns right into the TVA orchard (no gate). You should see the blue sign for the orchard after you turn in.
RSVP: jamie.vanclief@acf.org
