BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The American Chestnut Foundation - ECPv6.17.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://tacf.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The American Chestnut Foundation REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20230312T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20231105T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240427T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240427T140000 DTSTAMP:20240404T193657Z CREATED:20240131T155311Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240404T193657Z UID:10001926-1714213800-1714226400@tacf.org SUMMARY:Maryland Chapter Spring Meeting DESCRIPTION:The Maryland Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is excited to invite you to our annual Spring Meeting. This is a fantastic opportunity to:\nHear from leading experts\n· Dr. Douglas E. Norris (Johns Hopkins): gain insights into tick-borne disease\n· Bruce Levine (TACF Chapters Committee Chair): get an update on the latest advancements in chestnut blight research\nEnjoy a delicious lunch\nNetwork with fellow chestnut advocates\nMeet and talk with the Maryland chapter Board Members\nTake home a FREE potted chestnut seedling (limited quantities are available) These seedlings are from a completed research project and offer a unique connection to the restoration effort. Choose between pure American Chestnuts from long-surviving trees or hybrids with partial resistance.\nHelp restore a piece of American history! Learn about the progress we’ve made in bringing back the American Chestnut\, and how you can contribute to this vital\nMission.\nRSVP is appreciated but not required.\nWe look forward to seeing you at the Gaithersburg Regional Library\, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave\, Gaithersburg\, MD 20879\nApril 27\, 2024\, beginning at 10:30 am\nSincerely\,\nKarl F. Mech\, Jr. President of MD-TACF\nkarlmechjr@gmail.com URL:https://tacf.org/event/maryland-chapter-spring-meeting-4/ LOCATION:Gaithersburg Regional Library\, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave\, Gaithersburg\, MD\, United States CATEGORIES:Maryland,The American Chestnut Foundation END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240501T193000 DTSTAMP:20240404T164607Z CREATED:20240404T164516Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240404T164607Z UID:10001955-1714588200-1714591800@tacf.org SUMMARY:CT-TACF Presentation on Restoration of the American Chestnut sponsored by the Berlin Land Trust DESCRIPTION:Join Fred Behringer\, Vice President of the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for an informative talk about the American Chestnut tree. The American chestnut was a reliable provider of food and shelter for wildlife as well as Native and Early Americans until an introduced blight fungus decimated the species in the early 20th century.  Learn about the history of the American chestnut\, it’s decline and the efforts currently underway to try and restore this keystone species back to the forests of Connecticut. URL:https://tacf.org/event/ct-chapter-presentation-on-restoration-of-the-american-chestnut-sponsored-by-the-berlin-land-trust/ LOCATION:Berlin-Peck Public Library\, 234 Kensington Road\, Berlin\, CT\, 06037\, United States CATEGORIES:Connecticut,The American Chestnut Foundation END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240504T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240504T140000 DTSTAMP:20240422T194526Z CREATED:20240422T193851Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240422T194526Z UID:10001963-1714813200-1714831200@tacf.org SUMMARY:Montreat Native Plant Sale & Arbor Day Celebration DESCRIPTION:Come join us in celebrating Arbor Day at the Montreat Native Plant Sale & Arbor Day Celebration!  The Carolinas Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation will be showing a screening of the documentary “Clear Day Thunder- Rescuing the American Chestnut” at 12:15pm.  There will be lots of opportunities for fun and learning to fill your day! \n\nNative Plant shopping!\nSpring Tea Party\nLocal strawberries from TC Farms/ PG Produce\nEnjoy snacks and ice cream or build a burger at the Huck\nLearn how to create your own Fairy Garden\nThe Nature Center will be open\nMontreat Treasured Trees – Meet the Black Mountain group. Sign up for a Montreat walking tour!\nChildren’s Activities offered by Montreat College\nInformation from Bearwise\, Firewise\, Montreat Landcare Committee\, Wildlife Habitat Certification\, The American Chestnut Foundation\, and more!\n\nSchedule of Events \n\n9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Native plants and plants that thrive here for sale\n9:45 a.m. — Arbor Day Proclamation\n10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon — Treasured Tree Hike leaving from Moore center field\n11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon — Spring Tea Party on Moore center field\n12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. —Screening of the documentary\, “Clear Day Thunder-Rescuing the American Chestnut” underneath Moore Center\n\nDirections to location – Moore Field\, Lookout Rd.\, Montreat NC (across the street from the Anderson Auditorium parking lot).  Follow Hwy 9/Montreat Road through the Gate into Montreat\, where the road becomes Assembly Drive. Continue on Assembly Drive about 9/10 of a mile\, then turn right on Lookout Rd. Moore Field will be on your left\, just blow the banks of Lake Susan. Ample parking is across Lookout Rd in the Anderson Auditorium lot. \n \n  URL:https://tacf.org/event/montreat-native-plant-sale-arbor-day-celebration/ LOCATION:Moore Center Field\, Lookout Road\, Montreat\, NC\, 28757\, United States CATEGORIES:Carolinas ORGANIZER;CN="Montreat Landcare Committee":MAILTO:info@montreatlandcare.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240504T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240504T150000 DTSTAMP:20240409T165320Z CREATED:20240409T163906Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240409T165320Z UID:10001956-1714824000-1714834800@tacf.org SUMMARY:NC- Lunch & Learn + special screening of CLEAR DAY THUNDER at The Cradle of Forestry DESCRIPTION:FIND Outdoors\, the Cradle of Forestry\, and The American Chestnut Foundation invite you a Lunch & Learn plus special film screening event: CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut at the Cradle of Forestry. \nFIND Outdoors and the Cradle of Forestry play a significant role in preserving America’s forestry heritage and promoting sustainable land management practices for future generations. Additionally\, it is believed that historically the Cradle site contained American Chestnut Trees and the Pinchot Wood Slab Exhibit on site features an American Chestnut Tree slab that was showcased at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition\, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. \nEntry fee for the Cradle of Forestry is $4-$8 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Event Schedule:\n\nLunch & Learn – (12:00 pm-12:45 pm) Jamie Van Clief will offer a presentation to anyone joining us during lunch to learn more about the mission of TACF. Anyone is invited to bring a picnic lunch to the Cradle of Forestry and join the discussion about the restoring mission of TACF. Session to be held in the Perkins Room.\nFilm Screening – (1 pm-2 pm) Indoor auditorium\, film is 51 minutes in length.\nQ&A with TACF staff with Jules Smith (2 pm-2:45 pm) Indoor auditorium.\n\nLocation: Cradle of Forestry\, the entry fee is $4-$8\, the Cradle of Forestry is open 10 am-5 pm\, TACF and FIND Outdoors will be there all day with their table displays to talk to visitors. Film goers are welcome to visit the Cradle of Forestry from open to close\, 10 am-5 pm. URL:https://tacf.org/event/lunch-learn-screening-cradle-of-forestry/ LOCATION:The Cradle of Forestry in America\, 11250 Pisgah Highway\, Pisgah Forest\, NC\, 28768\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NC-Clear-Day-Thunder-Cradle-of-Forestry.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240511T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240511T130000 DTSTAMP:20240425T142309Z CREATED:20240425T141718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240425T142309Z UID:10001966-1715418000-1715432400@tacf.org SUMMARY:VT-NH Chapter Annual Meeting DESCRIPTION:Please join us for the Annual Meeting of the VT/NH Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation on Saturday\, May 11\, 2024\, from 9-1 at the Tracy Memorial Library\, 304 Main Street\, New London\, NH. \nAnnual business meeting is 9-10 (all members welcome). \nThe program is from 10-1\, including lunch. \nProgram topics include: \n\nPlanting strategies while waiting for a blight-tolerant transgenic tree to replace Darling 58\,\nA presentation by Consulting Forester\, Charlie Moreno\, from southern NH on his experience and recommendations for out-planting chestnut trees on private land\,\nA panel discussion with the New London Conservation Commission (a long time TACF member)\, led by President Bob Brown\, about the concept of the VT/NH Chapter resourcing local conservation commissions with planting materials\, supplies and expertise.\n\nFollowing lunch\, Bob and the New London Conservation Commission will take interested attendees to see their local efforts\, including chestnut plantings from previous years. \nWe hope you will join us! RSVP if you plan to attend so we can arrange for lunch. RSVP to: Evan Fox at Efox407@gmail.com. URL:https://tacf.org/event/vt-nh-chapter-annual-meeting/ LOCATION:Tracy Memorial Library\, 304 Main St\, New London\, NH\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Vermont / New Hampshire ORGANIZER;CN="Evan Fox":MAILTO:efox407@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240515T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240515T140000 DTSTAMP:20240514T190449Z CREATED:20240425T170235Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240514T190449Z UID:10001967-1715767200-1715781600@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA - Hike to See Large American Chestnut at Devil's Marbleyard near Glasgow DESCRIPTION:NOTICE: This hike has been canceled due to weather. We hope to try again at some point in the future! \nJoin TACF Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fitzsimmons to see a large surviving American chestnut at Devil’s Marbleyard in Glasgow\, VA! \nCome out to Glasgow\, VA for a strenuous (yet rewarding!) 3-mile roundtrip hike to see “the most metal American chestnut” affectionately named “Keith Richards.” The tree is shaggy and blighted\, but successfully fighting off the fungus! \n*Note\, this hike includes traversing boulders\, please keep this in mind. \nDetailsWhen: Wednesday\, May 15th10:00AM until ~2:00PM \n*RSVP here to join us! Participation limited to 20 people* \n \n RSVP\n \n \n \n \n \n Meeting place: Parking lot at Belfast Trail:Petite’s Gap Road\, Glasgow\, VA37.57116347568343\, -79.49166527512308View link to hike on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/devils-marbleyard-via-belfast-trail?u=i&sh=jek9no URL:https://tacf.org/event/hike-large-american-chestnut-at-devils-marbleyard/ LOCATION:Devil’s Marbleyard\, Petites Gap Rd\, Natural Bridge Station\, VA\, 24579\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Keith-Richards-lsa-va-sara.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Sara Fitzsimmons":MAILTO:sara.fitzsimmons@tacf.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240517T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240517T130000 DTSTAMP:20240613T162214Z CREATED:20240423T175954Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240613T162214Z UID:10001964-1715945400-1715950800@tacf.org SUMMARY:Chestnut Chat: European Chestnuts Before and After Blight DESCRIPTION:European Chestnut: Impressions of Natural Stands Before and After Blight\n \n \n \n \n \n Join us on May 17\, 2024\, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT)\, for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A stand of old-growth European chestnuts in the Caucasus Mountains of Europe before chestnut blight in the 1990s.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Fred Paillet from the University of Arkansas will discuss a fascinating mystery in the distribution of the European chestnut: was it native to Western Europe or brought in by the Romans? If it was native\, how did it survive glacial advances? Join Fred as he recounts his firsthand experience with the European chestnut tree in the Caucasus Mountains and Mount Etna\, and how it has been impacted by the arrival of chestnut blight on the European continent. \n \n \n \n \n \n HOW TO PARTICIPATE (via Zoom Webinar) \nPre-registration is required to attend this event. Pre-register here. After registering you will receive a unique URL link to join the event on the day of the chat. You can also add the event to your calendar from the webinar registration approval page. The meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow an audio and video test. \n \n Pre-Register Here\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Fred Paillet and His Work\nOne question that haunts European chestnut is whether it was native to Western Europe or brought in by the Romans. The issue is confounded by the great extinction of trees like hickory and hemlock by the repeated advance of ice sheets north of the Alps. I know of one convincing pollen study that does show chestnut present in the mesic foothills of mountains in northern Spain in the previous interglacial (Eemian) when the climate was similar to the Holocene. But it is unclear how the tree would have survived through the much drier times of glacial maxima. One analogy might be sycamore maple (A pseudoplanatus) which is considered native to central Europe\, but now wildly invasive all over Britain. \nMy experience with European chestnut is based on information provided by Russian colleagues while working alongside them at Hubbard Brook\, and then two extended visits to their research site in what was once the Caucasus Biosphere Preserve which supposedly contained virgin chestnut-dominated forest. This was in the early post-soviet times when severe economic conditions had allowed wildlife decimation and chestnut seed establishment was rampant. This was at a time when blight had not made its appearance. I have since heard from a local U of AR graduate student working with rural farmers in Azerbaijan that blight appeared there in 2008\, but had lost contact with Russian colleagues by then\, and the population is disjunct with a gap in the central Caucasus. But it’s hard to believe that blight hasn’t made it across by now. The attached photo provides a glimpse of old-growth chestnut and beech as they appeared during my visit in the 1990’s. \nI have also worked in France and Switzerland\, with visits to northern Spain and Italy along the way. In many places chestnut seemed to be an invasive species\, with many chestnut saplings in the understory of oak and hornbeam stands. The situation often reminded me of American chestnut invading local forest at the West Salem Wisconsin stand. In all cases\, blight was around\, and older trees were showing lots of dead branches in their crown even if nuts were being produced. One tourist bus trip up to the summit of Mt Etna passed through a subalpine chestnut forest belt composed of blighted multi-stemmed chestnut coppices clearing producing a good crop of nuts at the time (September). My impression was that the trees on Mt Etna were capable of suppressing competition and reproducing by seed even with blight clearly present. URL:https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-european-chestnuts-before-and-after-blight/ LOCATION:CT CATEGORIES:Chestnut Chat,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/european-chestnuts-in-europe-fred-paillet.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240519T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240519T160000 DTSTAMP:20240403T201653Z CREATED:20240403T201653Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240403T201653Z UID:10001953-1716123600-1716134400@tacf.org SUMMARY:CT-TACF Planting at Wilton Land Conservation Trust Orchard DESCRIPTION:Wilton Land Conservation Trust Orchard at 183 Ridgefield Rd.\, Wilton CT (Rain date – June 2nd\, same time) \nPlease bring work gloves and water.  Possibility of exposure to Poison Ivy and ticks so please wear appropriate clothing. URL:https://tacf.org/event/ct-tacf-planting-at-wilton-land-conservation-trust-orchard-2/ LOCATION:Wilton Land Conservation Trust GCO\, 183 Ridgefield Rd.\, Wilton\, CT\, 06897\, United States CATEGORIES:Connecticut,The American Chestnut Foundation ORGANIZER;CN="Jack Swatt":MAILTO:jswattchestnut@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240530T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240530T210000 DTSTAMP:20240514T203935Z CREATED:20240514T185915Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240514T203935Z UID:10001970-1717093800-1717102800@tacf.org SUMMARY:GA- Rome International Film Festival's screening of Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut DESCRIPTION:The American Chestnut tree was almost extinct. Blight had all but eradicated this native tree until dedicated scientists\, volunteers\, and some insightful celebrities like Dolly Parton\, President Jimmy Carter and musician Chuck Leavell banded together to bring the species back from the brink. Join RIFF\, The Historic DeSoto Theatre and The GA Chapter of the American Foundation for a fascinating film with important ties to Northwest Georgia. \nModerated by Kathy Patrick\, past president and vice president of The GA Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation\, the discussion after the film will also include Dr. Martin Cipollini\, Professor of Biology at Berry College\, and Lisa Thomson who was instrumental in making the film and managing celebrity appearances. \nClick here for the event website and to get FREE tickets! URL:https://tacf.org/event/ga-rome-international-film-festivals-screening-of-clear-day-thunder/ LOCATION:Historic DeSoto Theater\, 530 Broad St\, Rome\, GA\, 30161\, United States CATEGORIES:Georgia,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Clear-Day-Thunder-at-RIFF.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Kathy Patrick":MAILTO:gachapter@tacf.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T160000 DTSTAMP:20240515T162211Z CREATED:20240515T161832Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240515T162211Z UID:10001971-1717228800-1717257600@tacf.org SUMMARY:MA- TrailsFest 2024 DESCRIPTION:Join us for TrailsFest on June 1st\, National Trails Day! Come for morning hikes and trail work\, stay for a festival to celebrate trails\, getting outdoors\, and connecting our community members with organizations supporting our land\, trails\, and outdoor activities.\n\nMA/RI-TACF Chapter will be tabling in the afternoon in the Partners’ Tent. URL:https://tacf.org/event/trailsfest-2024/ LOCATION:Wachusett Mountain Ski Area\, 499 Mountain Road\, Princeton\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Massachusetts / Rhode Island,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NTD24FlyerUpdated-900.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="TrailsFest":MAILTO:Trailsfest2024@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T120000 DTSTAMP:20240528T174348Z CREATED:20240528T174001Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240528T174348Z UID:10001974-1717236000-1717243200@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Chestnut pollination demo & training DESCRIPTION:Come to Lesesne State Forest for a demonstration of controlled pollination of American chestnuts as part of our breeding program. In the two hours\, you will have the opportunity to see the process hands-on and also see the results of over 50 years of chestnut research. Come prepared for outdoor conditions and hazards. Bring water and sturdy shoes. Dependent on decent weather. \nPlease email John Scrivani at vachestnut@gmail.com to reserve a spot. URL:https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-pollination-demo-training/ LOCATION:Lesesne State Forest\, Lesesne State Forest Trailhead\, State Rt 680\, Roseland\, VA\, 22967\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pollination-by-hand-with-catkin-900.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="John Scrivani":MAILTO:vachestnut@gmail.com GEO:37.842068;-78.964072 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Lesesne State Forest Lesesne State Forest Trailhead State Rt 680 Roseland VA 22967 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Lesesne State Forest Trailhead\, State Rt 680:geo:-78.964072,37.842068 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T170000 DTSTAMP:20240507T163153Z CREATED:20240507T163110Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240507T163153Z UID:10001969-1717401600-1717434000@tacf.org SUMMARY:PA-Inoculations at PSU Arboretum DESCRIPTION:Spend a day surrounded by chestnut trees and friendly people as we inoculate chestnut trees with blight to test their blight resistance at the Penn State Arboretum orchard in State College\, Pennsylvania. If you enjoy outdoor work then this is for you! The PSU arboretum is also a great living demonstration of TACF’s progress using traditional breeding processes where many steps of the backcross program can be viewed in one area. It’s also a wonderful time to visit State College during the relaxed summer schedule with fewer students in the valley.\n\nThe event will be held Monday\, June 3rd in the arboretum orchard. The following Monday\, June 8th\, will be a rain reschedule date if necessary. Parking is available in the orchard. However\, if you prefer to park on campus and be picked up\, we can accommodate you. The orchard is located north of the University Park Campus\, and accessed from Big Hollow Road. Take Fox Hollow Road to Big Hollow Road and follow signs to the event. Please contact Lake Graboski\, North Central Regional Science Coordinator\, if interested in helping out – lake.graboski@tacf.org. URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-psu-arboretum/ LOCATION:Chestnut Orchard at Penn State\, Chestnut Grove Lane\, State College\, PA\, United States CATEGORIES:Pennsylvania / New Jersey,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PA-aerial-chestnut-gove-Penn-State.png ORGANIZER;CN="Lake Graboski":MAILTO:lake.graboski@tacf.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T070000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240604T160000 DTSTAMP:20240603T183946Z CREATED:20240603T183628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T183946Z UID:10001980-1717484400-1717516800@tacf.org SUMMARY:VT- Planting Seedlings in Williston DESCRIPTION:Come help us plant American chestnut seedlings at the Catamount Ourdoor Family Center in Williston\, VT!\nWe will meet on Tuesday morning at the Forestry Sciences Building at 7 am to load up the seedlings. \n\nUSFS Northern Research Station\nUVM Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory\n705 Spear St.\nSouth Burlington\, VT 05403\n\nWe will then head over to the Catamount Outdoor Family Center for planting! \n\nCatamount Outdoor Family Center\n592 Governor Chittenden Rd\nWilliston\, VT 05495\n\nIf you can’t make it to the 7 am meeting to load seedlings\, you are welcome to meet us at the Catamount Outdoor Center at About 8:00 am.  We will be planting large seedlings (2-4 foot tall). \nTo participate in the event or receive more information\, please contact:\nGary Hawley: gary.hawley@uvm.edu URL:https://tacf.org/event/vt-planting-seedlings-in-williston/ LOCATION:Catamount Outdoor Family Center\, 592 Governor Chittenden Rd\, Williston\, VT\, 05495\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Vermont / New Hampshire ORGANIZER;CN="Gary Hawley":MAILTO:gary.hawley@uvm.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240608T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240608T150000 DTSTAMP:20240603T184937Z CREATED:20240603T133454Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T184937Z UID:10001975-1717837200-1717858800@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Chestnut Inoculations at Blandy\, Day 1 DESCRIPTION:2024 Virginia Chestnut Orchard Inoculation Program\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Volunteers are needed for a citizen scientist task – inoculating chestnut trees to test their resistance to blight. A three-person crew\, or crews\, are required over three weekends\, working from 9 am to 3 pm. \nPlease email with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nContact Fred Hebard mbiew@comcast.net to participate. \nPlease join us for any inoculation events that you are available.\nJune 8-9 Blandy Experimental FarmChestnut Orchard Google map \n\nSaturday June 8 event\nSunday June 9 event\n\nJune 15-16   Sky Meadows State ParkSky Meadows Visitor Parking Google map \n\nSaturday June 15 event\nSunday June 16 event\n\nJune 22-23  Banshee ReeksBanshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center Google map \n\nSaturday June 22 event\nSunday June 23 event\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n June is a busy month for chestnut breeding. Tree inoculation will be done in the first half of June and pollination the second half. We use open pollinations to produce seed for our northern Virginia seed orchards\, and have mostly finished harvesting seed for them. Now the trees have grown up large enough\, it is time to test them for blight resistance. The first phase of selection entails inoculating them with the blight (giving them blight) and picking the winners. \nWhen seed orchard trees are about 2” in diameter and 10-15 feet tall they are ready to be inoculated. We do this by boring a hole in the bark\, removing a plug of bark and replacing it with a disk of agar and mycelium\, the chestnut blight fungus. The agar and mycelium are cut from a culture of the fungus in a Petri plate. I am currently in the process of generating large numbers of culture plates for our activity. \nIn trees inoculated in 2022 and 2023 we have seen clear and statistically significant separation of family means\, which is an indication that we have variability in blight resistance between families. Variation is good; we can pick the winning families and discard the losers. If there were no variation\, we couldn’t select the best families. There also is variation between families that share the same grandparent but not the same parents. Again this is good because we can select the best. Finally\, we can select the best trees within families as trees vary within families. \nOur experience has been that a crew of three people can inoculate two plots of 180 planted nuts per day\, from 9am to 3 pm. In 2023 we inoculated 11 plots\, and 25 in 2023. For 2024\, we have nine plots at Blandy\, five at Banshee Reeks and four or more at Sky Meadows. With two crews\, I estimate it will take two days to inoculate Blandy\, and one each Banshee and Sky Meadows. We may inoculate a few more plots at Sky Meadows as they are coming along fast and we are in danger of getting swamped next year. \nSuccessive weekends worked well this spring for planting\, so I hope we can repeat this progress this June. The plan is to inoculate Saturday and Sunday over the weekends of June 8th — Blandy\, June 15th — Sky Meadows\, and June 22nd — Banshee Reeks. Please email back with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nI look forward to getting out in the orchards with you and we will send out a confirming memo in the week prior to each weekend. \nYours Truly\,Fred \nFrederick V. Hebard\, PhDVice President\, Virginia ChapterThe American Chestnut Foundationmbiew@comcast.net276 356-8517 URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-blandy-sat/ LOCATION:Blandy Experimental Farm and Arboretum\, 400 Blandy Farm Lane\, Boyce\, VA\, 22620\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/inoculation-hole-in-tree.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Fred Hebard":MAILTO:mbiew@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240608T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240608T160000 DTSTAMP:20240606T131340Z CREATED:20240528T165526Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240606T131340Z UID:10001973-1717840800-1717862400@tacf.org SUMMARY:Help Pollinate Trees in Cookeville\, TN! DESCRIPTION:Have you ever wanted to be a chestnut breeder?\nPlease join us at the beautiful Tennessee Tech University Orchard for a one-day pollination workshop to learn the basics of chestnut breeding. \n \nThe workshop is a hands-on opportunity to learn and practice the techniques we use for controlled crosses in the TACF breeding program. We’ll cover all the steps in the process from 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. \nThe training will begin at 10:00 AM Central. \nTennessee Tech University Orchard is located at:2395 Gainesboro Grade\, Cookeville\, TN\, 38501 \nYou should bring: a pair of garden clippers or tiny scissors\, a summer hat\, and some bug spray. 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\, rain or shine event. Everyone is welcome. No experience necessary. \nIn order to best coordinate the group please let Hill Hill-Craddock@utc.edu or Katheryn katheryn@htcnetworks.cl know you are coming. URL:https://tacf.org/event/help-pollinate-trees-in-cookeville-tn/ LOCATION:Tennessee Tech University Orchard\, 2395 Gainesboro Grade\, Cookeville\, TN\, 38501\, United States CATEGORIES:Tennessee,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TN-volunteer-event-2023.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Hill Craddock":MAILTO:Hill-Craddock@utc.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240609T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240609T150000 DTSTAMP:20240603T184750Z CREATED:20240603T180334Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T184750Z UID:10001977-1717923600-1717945200@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Inoculations at Blandy\, day 2 DESCRIPTION:2024 Virginia Chestnut Orchard Inoculation Program\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Volunteers are needed for a citizen scientist task – inoculating chestnut trees to test their resistance to blight. A three-person crew\, or crews\, are required over three weekends\, working from 9 am to 3 pm. \nPlease email with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nContact Fred Hebard mbiew@comcast.net to participate. \nPlease join us for any inoculation events that you are available.\nJune 8-9 Blandy Experimental FarmChestnut Orchard Google map \n\nSaturday June 8 event\nSunday June 9 event\n\nJune 15-16   Sky Meadows State ParkSky Meadows Visitor Parking Google map \n\nSaturday June 15 event\nSunday June 16 event\n\nJune 22-23  Banshee ReeksBanshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center Google map \n\nSaturday June 22 event\nSunday June 23 event\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n June is a busy month for chestnut breeding. Tree inoculation will be done in the first half of June and pollination the second half. We use open pollinations to produce seed for our northern Virginia seed orchards\, and have mostly finished harvesting seed for them. Now the trees have grown up large enough\, it is time to test them for blight resistance. The first phase of selection entails inoculating them with the blight (giving them blight) and picking the winners. \nWhen seed orchard trees are about 2” in diameter and 10-15 feet tall they are ready to be inoculated. We do this by boring a hole in the bark\, removing a plug of bark and replacing it with a disk of agar and mycelium\, the chestnut blight fungus. The agar and mycelium are cut from a culture of the fungus in a Petri plate. I am currently in the process of generating large numbers of culture plates for our activity. \nIn trees inoculated in 2022 and 2023 we have seen clear and statistically significant separation of family means\, which is an indication that we have variability in blight resistance between families. Variation is good; we can pick the winning families and discard the losers. If there were no variation\, we couldn’t select the best families. There also is variation between families that share the same grandparent but not the same parents. Again this is good because we can select the best. Finally\, we can select the best trees within families as trees vary within families. \nOur experience has been that a crew of three people can inoculate two plots of 180 planted nuts per day\, from 9am to 3 pm. In 2023 we inoculated 11 plots\, and 25 in 2023. For 2024\, we have nine plots at Blandy\, five at Banshee Reeks and four or more at Sky Meadows. With two crews\, I estimate it will take two days to inoculate Blandy\, and one each Banshee and Sky Meadows. We may inoculate a few more plots at Sky Meadows as they are coming along fast and we are in danger of getting swamped next year. \nSuccessive weekends worked well this spring for planting\, so I hope we can repeat this progress this June. The plan is to inoculate Saturday and Sunday over the weekends of June 8th — Blandy\, June 15th — Sky Meadows\, and June 22nd — Banshee Reeks. Please email back with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nI look forward to getting out in the orchards with you and we will send out a confirming memo in the week prior to each weekend. \nYours Truly\,\nFred \nFrederick V. Hebard\, PhD\nVice President\, Virginia Chapter\nThe American Chestnut Foundation\nmbiew@comcast.net\n276 356-8517 URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-blandy-sun/ LOCATION:Blandy Experimental Farm and Arboretum\, 400 Blandy Farm Lane\, Boyce\, VA\, 22620\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/inoculation-hole-in-tree.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Fred Hebard":MAILTO:mbiew@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240614T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240614T120000 DTSTAMP:20240507T163306Z CREATED:20240507T161117Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240507T163306Z UID:10001968-1718359200-1718366400@tacf.org SUMMARY:PA-Controlled Pollination Workshop - Bagging Demonstration DESCRIPTION:Join TACF at the chestnut orchard at Penn State Arboretum in State College on Friday\, June 14th to learn all about the controlled pollination process\, and see the many different types of chestnuts at this large backcross chestnut orchard. Controlled pollination is vital to growing trees that are the best of the best from the backcross breeding program to preserve the genetic diversity of the American chestnut species and to develop source trees for stacked resistance in future plantings. Volunteers who want to be involved in future pollination activities are greatly needed and encouraged to join.\n\n\nThe event will be held outdoors at the chestnut orchard on June 14th\, 2024\, from 10am to noon\, with a tentative rain date on the following Monday\, June 17th. The orchard is located to the north of the University Park campus. Take Fox Hollow Road to Big Hollow Road\, and follow the signs to the event. Contact Lake Graboski\, North Central Regional Science Coordinator\, if interested in attending at lake.graboski@tacf.org URL:https://tacf.org/event/controlled-pollination-workshop-bagging-demonstration/ LOCATION:Chestnut Orchard at Penn State\, Chestnut Grove Lane\, State College\, PA\, United States CATEGORIES:Pennsylvania / New Jersey,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PA-aerial-chestnut-gove-Penn-State.png ORGANIZER;CN="Lake Graboski":MAILTO:lake.graboski@tacf.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240615T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240615T150000 DTSTAMP:20240603T181953Z CREATED:20240603T180619Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T181953Z UID:10001978-1718442000-1718463600@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Inoculations at Sky Meadows\, day 1 DESCRIPTION:2024 Virginia Chestnut Orchard Inoculation Program\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Volunteers are needed for a citizen scientist task – inoculating chestnut trees to test their resistance to blight. A three-person crew\, or crews\, are required over three weekends\, working from 9 am to 3 pm. Please email with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nContact Fred Hebard mbiew@comcast.net to participate. \nPlease join us for any inoculation events that you are available.\nJune 8-9 Blandy Experimental FarmChestnut Orchard\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 8 event\nSunday June 9 event\n\nJune 15-16   Sky Meadows State ParkSky Meadows Visitor Parking\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 15 event\nSunday June 16 event\n\nJune 22-23  Banshee ReeksBanshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 22 event\nSunday June 23 event\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n June is a busy month for chestnut breeding. Tree inoculation will be done in the first half of June and pollination the second half. We use open pollinations to produce seed for our northern Virginia seed orchards\, and have mostly finished harvesting seed for them. Now the trees have grown up large enough\, it is time to test them for blight resistance. The first phase of selection entails inoculating them with the blight (giving them blight) and picking the winners. \nWhen seed orchard trees are about 2” in diameter and 10-15 feet tall they are ready to be inoculated. We do this by boring a hole in the bark\, removing a plug of bark and replacing it with a disk of agar and mycelium\, the chestnut blight fungus. The agar and mycelium are cut from a culture of the fungus in a Petri plate. I am currently in the process of generating large numbers of culture plates for our activity. \nIn trees inoculated in 2022 and 2023 we have seen clear and statistically significant separation of family means\, which is an indication that we have variability in blight resistance between families. Variation is good; we can pick the winning families and discard the losers. If there were no variation\, we couldn’t select the best families. There also is variation between families that share the same grandparent but not the same parents. Again this is good because we can select the best. Finally\, we can select the best trees within families as trees vary within families. \nOur experience has been that a crew of three people can inoculate two plots of 180 planted nuts per day\, from 9am to 3 pm. In 2023 we inoculated 11 plots\, and 25 in 2023. For 2024\, we have nine plots at Blandy\, five at Banshee Reeks and four or more at Sky Meadows. With two crews\, I estimate it will take two days to inoculate Blandy\, and one each Banshee and Sky Meadows. We may inoculate a few more plots at Sky Meadows as they are coming along fast and we are in danger of getting swamped next year. \nSuccessive weekends worked well this spring for planting\, so I hope we can repeat this progress this June. The plan is to inoculate Saturday and Sunday over the weekends of June 8th — Blandy\, June 15th — Sky Meadows\, and June 22nd — Banshee Reeks. Please email back with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nI look forward to getting out in the orchards with you and we will send out a confirming memo in the week prior to each weekend. \nYours Truly\,\nFred \nFrederick V. Hebard\, PhD\nVice President\, Virginia Chapter\nThe American Chestnut Foundation\nmbiew@comcast.net\n276 356-8517 URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-sky-meadows-sat/ LOCATION:Sky Meadows State Park\, 11012 Edmonds Ln\, Markham\, VA\, 22643\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/inoculation-hole-in-tree.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Fred Hebard":MAILTO:mbiew@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240616T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240616T150000 DTSTAMP:20240603T184012Z CREATED:20240603T181549Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T184012Z UID:10001979-1718528400-1718550000@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Inoculations at Sky Meadows\, day 2 DESCRIPTION:2024 Virginia Chestnut Orchard Inoculation Program\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Volunteers are needed for a citizen scientist task – inoculating chestnut trees to test their resistance to blight. A three-person crew\, or crews\, are required over three weekends\, working from 9 am to 3 pm. Please email with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nContact Fred Hebard mbiew@comcast.net to participate. \nPlease join us for any inoculation events that you are available.\nJune 8-9 Blandy Experimental Farm\nChestnut Orchard\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 8 event\nSunday June 9 event\n\nJune 15-16   Sky Meadows State Park\nSky Meadows Visitor Parking\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 15 event\nSunday June 16 event\n\nJune 22-23  Banshee Reeks\nBanshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 22 event\nSunday June 23 event\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n June is a busy month for chestnut breeding. Tree inoculation will be done in the first half of June and pollination the second half. We use open pollinations to produce seed for our northern Virginia seed orchards\, and have mostly finished harvesting seed for them. Now the trees have grown up large enough\, it is time to test them for blight resistance. The first phase of selection entails inoculating them with the blight (giving them blight) and picking the winners. \nWhen seed orchard trees are about 2” in diameter and 10-15 feet tall they are ready to be inoculated. We do this by boring a hole in the bark\, removing a plug of bark and replacing it with a disk of agar and mycelium\, the chestnut blight fungus. The agar and mycelium are cut from a culture of the fungus in a Petri plate. I am currently in the process of generating large numbers of culture plates for our activity. \nIn trees inoculated in 2022 and 2023 we have seen clear and statistically significant separation of family means\, which is an indication that we have variability in blight resistance between families. Variation is good; we can pick the winning families and discard the losers. If there were no variation\, we couldn’t select the best families. There also is variation between families that share the same grandparent but not the same parents. Again this is good because we can select the best. Finally\, we can select the best trees within families as trees vary within families. \nOur experience has been that a crew of three people can inoculate two plots of 180 planted nuts per day\, from 9am to 3 pm. In 2023 we inoculated 11 plots\, and 25 in 2023. For 2024\, we have nine plots at Blandy\, five at Banshee Reeks and four or more at Sky Meadows. With two crews\, I estimate it will take two days to inoculate Blandy\, and one each Banshee and Sky Meadows. We may inoculate a few more plots at Sky Meadows as they are coming along fast and we are in danger of getting swamped next year. \nSuccessive weekends worked well this spring for planting\, so I hope we can repeat this progress this June. The plan is to inoculate Saturday and Sunday over the weekends of June 8th — Blandy\, June 15th — Sky Meadows\, and June 22nd — Banshee Reeks. Please email back with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nI look forward to getting out in the orchards with you and we will send out a confirming memo in the week prior to each weekend. \nYours Truly\,\nFred \nFrederick V. Hebard\, PhD\nVice President\, Virginia Chapter\nThe American Chestnut Foundation\nmbiew@comcast.net\n276 356-8517 URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-sky-meadows-sun/ LOCATION:Sky Meadows State Park\, 11012 Edmonds Ln\, Markham\, VA\, 22643\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/inoculation-hole-in-tree.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Fred Hebard":MAILTO:mbiew@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240622T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240622T150000 DTSTAMP:20240603T184323Z CREATED:20240603T184323Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T184323Z UID:10001981-1719046800-1719068400@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Inoculations at Banshee Reeks\, day 1 DESCRIPTION:2024 Virginia Chestnut Orchard Inoculation Program\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Volunteers are needed for a citizen scientist task – inoculating chestnut trees to test their resistance to blight. A three-person crew\, or crews\, are required over three weekends\, working from 9 am to 3 pm. Please email with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nContact Fred Hebard mbiew@comcast.net to participate. \nPlease join us for any inoculation events that you are available.\nJune 8-9 Blandy Experimental Farm\nChestnut Orchard\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 8 event\nSunday June 9 event\n\nJune 15-16   Sky Meadows State Park\nSky Meadows Visitor Parking\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 15 event\nSunday June 16 event\n\nJune 22-23  Banshee Reeks\nBanshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 22 event\nSunday June 23 event\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n June is a busy month for chestnut breeding. Tree inoculation will be done in the first half of June and pollination the second half. We use open pollinations to produce seed for our northern Virginia seed orchards\, and have mostly finished harvesting seed for them. Now the trees have grown up large enough\, it is time to test them for blight resistance. The first phase of selection entails inoculating them with the blight (giving them blight) and picking the winners. \nWhen seed orchard trees are about 2” in diameter and 10-15 feet tall they are ready to be inoculated. We do this by boring a hole in the bark\, removing a plug of bark and replacing it with a disk of agar and mycelium\, the chestnut blight fungus. The agar and mycelium are cut from a culture of the fungus in a Petri plate. I am currently in the process of generating large numbers of culture plates for our activity. \nIn trees inoculated in 2022 and 2023 we have seen clear and statistically significant separation of family means\, which is an indication that we have variability in blight resistance between families. Variation is good; we can pick the winning families and discard the losers. If there were no variation\, we couldn’t select the best families. There also is variation between families that share the same grandparent but not the same parents. Again this is good because we can select the best. Finally\, we can select the best trees within families as trees vary within families. \nOur experience has been that a crew of three people can inoculate two plots of 180 planted nuts per day\, from 9am to 3 pm. In 2023 we inoculated 11 plots\, and 25 in 2023. For 2024\, we have nine plots at Blandy\, five at Banshee Reeks and four or more at Sky Meadows. With two crews\, I estimate it will take two days to inoculate Blandy\, and one each Banshee and Sky Meadows. We may inoculate a few more plots at Sky Meadows as they are coming along fast and we are in danger of getting swamped next year. \nSuccessive weekends worked well this spring for planting\, so I hope we can repeat this progress this June. The plan is to inoculate Saturday and Sunday over the weekends of June 8th — Blandy\, June 15th — Sky Meadows\, and June 22nd — Banshee Reeks. Please email back with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nI look forward to getting out in the orchards with you and we will send out a confirming memo in the week prior to each weekend. \nYours Truly\,\nFred \nFrederick V. Hebard\, PhD\nVice President\, Virginia Chapter\nThe American Chestnut Foundation\nmbiew@comcast.net\n276 356-8517 URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-banshee-reeks-sat/ LOCATION:Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve\, 21085 The Woods Rd\, Leesburg\, VA\, 20175\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/inoculation-hole-in-tree.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Fred Hebard":MAILTO:mbiew@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240622T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240622T130000 DTSTAMP:20240613T152534Z CREATED:20240612T205627Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240613T152534Z UID:10001983-1719050400-1719061200@tacf.org SUMMARY:Pollination at Pryor Orchard - Edneyville\, NC DESCRIPTION:Please join us at the beautiful Pryor Orchard for a one-day pollination workshop to learn the basics of chestnut breeding.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The workshop is a hands-on opportunity to learn and practice the techniques we use for controlled crosses in the TACF breeding program. We’ll cover all the steps in the process: 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. We should be finished before lunch. \nTo get to the address you will drive up windy mountain roads. The orchard is located off Timber Trail Road and will have a limited cell signal. We recommended downloading directions prior to the workday. Jamie’s cell is (828) 259-2030\, but signal may be limited. \nWhen pulling into the driveway\, look to the right and you will see the orchard fenced in and some volunteers already working. \n12 Will Hill Road\, Hendersonville\, NCThe coordinates are: 35.40297\, -82.29308 \nYou should bring: a pair of garden clippers or tiny scissors\, a summer hat\, and some bug spray. 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 necessary. \nIn case of rain\, an alternate date will be announced here and emailed. Watch your inbox! \nIf you’re interested in attending please RSVP here. \nSee you there! \n \n RSVP Here URL:https://tacf.org/event/pollination-at-pryor-orchard-edneyville-nc/ LOCATION:Pryor Orchard\, Hendersonville\, NC\, 28792\, United States CATEGORIES:Carolinas,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Catkin-on-a-hybrid-American-chestnut-900.jpg GEO:-82.29308;35.40297 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240623T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240623T150000 DTSTAMP:20240603T184518Z CREATED:20240603T184518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240603T184518Z UID:10001982-1719133200-1719154800@tacf.org SUMMARY:VA- Inoculations at Banshee Reeks\, day 2 DESCRIPTION:2024 Virginia Chestnut Orchard Inoculation Program\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Volunteers are needed for a citizen scientist task – inoculating chestnut trees to test their resistance to blight. A three-person crew\, or crews\, are required over three weekends\, working from 9 am to 3 pm. Please email with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nContact Fred Hebard mbiew@comcast.net to participate. \nPlease join us for any inoculation events that you are available.\nJune 8-9 Blandy Experimental Farm\nChestnut Orchard\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 8 event\nSunday June 9 event\n\nJune 15-16   Sky Meadows State Park\nSky Meadows Visitor Parking\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 15 event\nSunday June 16 event\n\nJune 22-23  Banshee Reeks\nBanshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center\, Google map \n\nSaturday June 22 event\nSunday June 23 event\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n June is a busy month for chestnut breeding. Tree inoculation will be done in the first half of June and pollination the second half. We use open pollinations to produce seed for our northern Virginia seed orchards\, and have mostly finished harvesting seed for them. Now the trees have grown up large enough\, it is time to test them for blight resistance. The first phase of selection entails inoculating them with the blight (giving them blight) and picking the winners. \nWhen seed orchard trees are about 2” in diameter and 10-15 feet tall they are ready to be inoculated. We do this by boring a hole in the bark\, removing a plug of bark and replacing it with a disk of agar and mycelium\, the chestnut blight fungus. The agar and mycelium are cut from a culture of the fungus in a Petri plate. I am currently in the process of generating large numbers of culture plates for our activity. \nIn trees inoculated in 2022 and 2023 we have seen clear and statistically significant separation of family means\, which is an indication that we have variability in blight resistance between families. Variation is good; we can pick the winning families and discard the losers. If there were no variation\, we couldn’t select the best families. There also is variation between families that share the same grandparent but not the same parents. Again this is good because we can select the best. Finally\, we can select the best trees within families as trees vary within families. \nOur experience has been that a crew of three people can inoculate two plots of 180 planted nuts per day\, from 9am to 3 pm. In 2023 we inoculated 11 plots\, and 25 in 2023. For 2024\, we have nine plots at Blandy\, five at Banshee Reeks and four or more at Sky Meadows. With two crews\, I estimate it will take two days to inoculate Blandy\, and one each Banshee and Sky Meadows. We may inoculate a few more plots at Sky Meadows as they are coming along fast and we are in danger of getting swamped next year. \nSuccessive weekends worked well this spring for planting\, so I hope we can repeat this progress this June. The plan is to inoculate Saturday and Sunday over the weekends of June 8th — Blandy\, June 15th — Sky Meadows\, and June 22nd — Banshee Reeks. Please email back with your date preference and indicate whether you can work multiple days. It would be preferable to work both days of a weekend so we have continuity. \nI look forward to getting out in the orchards with you and we will send out a confirming memo in the week prior to each weekend. \nYours Truly\,\nFred \nFrederick V. Hebard\, PhD\nVice President\, Virginia Chapter\nThe American Chestnut Foundation\nmbiew@comcast.net\n276 356-8517 URL:https://tacf.org/event/inoculations-at-banshee-reeks-sun/ LOCATION:Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve\, 21085 The Woods Rd\, Leesburg\, VA\, 20175\, United States CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation,Virginia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/inoculation-hole-in-tree.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Fred Hebard":MAILTO:mbiew@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240626T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240626T110000 DTSTAMP:20240622T133555Z CREATED:20240622T133555Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240622T133555Z UID:10001989-1719390600-1719399600@tacf.org SUMMARY:CT Chapter Middletown Backcross Orchard Inoculation DESCRIPTION:In order to select the most resistant chestnut trees in our Backcross Orchards\, we test the trees by inoculating them with two strains of blight fungus.  We will be inoculating our Middletown Backcross Orchard at Higby Reservoir on Wednesday\, June 26th at 8:30 AM.  Since access to Higby Reservoir is restricted\, please contact us at CTChapter@tacf.org for directions to the orchard if you would like to help. URL:https://tacf.org/event/ct-chapter-middletown-backcross-orchard-inoculation/ LOCATION:Middletown Backcross Orchard\, Middle St.\, Middlefield\, CT\, 06455\, United States CATEGORIES:Connecticut,The American Chestnut Foundation ORGANIZER;CN="Jack Swatt":MAILTO:jswattchestnut@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240712T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240712T143000 DTSTAMP:20240620T203547Z CREATED:20240620T194843Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240620T203547Z UID:10001987-1720791000-1720794600@tacf.org SUMMARY:Chapter TACF Email Training DESCRIPTION:This internal webinar\, led by TACF’s Director of Business Operations Mark Weaver\, will advise TACF Chapter leadership on how to effectively use their chapter tacf.org email accounts. The same training will be given on 8/16/24 at 1:30pm. \nIf you are an authorized user of a chapter email address\, you will receive an email with the zoom links a week before the meeting. If you did not receive an email but should be included\, please contact mark.weaver@tacf.org and he will supply the links. URL:https://tacf.org/event/chapter-tacf-email-training/ LOCATION:CT CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation ORGANIZER;CN="Mark Weaver":MAILTO:mark.weaver@tacf.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240714T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240714T180000 DTSTAMP:20240708T163208Z CREATED:20240708T162612Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240708T163208Z UID:10001992-1720972800-1720980000@tacf.org SUMMARY:SC- Clear Day Thunder Documentary Screening DESCRIPTION:Join us at Grateful Brew on Sunday\, July 14 at 4 p.m. for a screening of Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut\, a new documentary detailing grassroots efforts by researchers and citizen scientists to restore one of America’s most ecologically and economically significant trees. Grateful Brew\, located at 501 S Pleasantburg Dr. in Greenville\, SC\, is opening for the showing\, offering beer\, wine\, cider\, sodas\, and nitro coffees for purchase.\n \nBefore the screening\, representatives from The American Chestnut Foundation will give a brief presentation about the history of the organization and its ongoing work to bring back the American Chestnut. Come learn about one of the most exciting ecological comeback stories in recent history while enjoying a drink at one of Greenville’s best venues!\n \nAdmission is free but space is limited\, so please RSVP here to attend.\n \n RSVP To Attend URL:https://tacf.org/event/sc-clear-day-thunder-documentary-screening/ LOCATION:Grateful Brew\, 501 S Pleasantburg Dr\, Greenville\, SC\, United States CATEGORIES:Carolinas,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Chestnut-Screening-Poster-grateful-brew-sc.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Conestee Nature Preserve":MAILTO:ben@conesteepreserve.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240719T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240719T130000 DTSTAMP:20240719T131617Z CREATED:20240517T181030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240719T131617Z UID:10001972-1721388600-1721394000@tacf.org SUMMARY:Chestnut Chat: 50th Episode Spectacular DESCRIPTION:It’s the 50th Episode Spectacular!\n \n \n \n \n \n Join us on Friday\, July 19\, 2024\, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT)\, for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Inspiring Next Gen Conservationists\nDancing chestnuts\, fireworks\, Hollywood celebrities\, free beer\, and a special musical performance by a hologram of Nat King Cole! OK\, maybe none of those things\, but it will be full of fun and surprises. Look back at 50 episodes of all things chestnut and look forward to the future of chestnut restoration\, including: \n\nAn interview with 11-year-old Russel Boyer\, who has perfect Chestnut Chat attendance\nA chat with freshly retired former CEO Lisa Thomson\, under whose leadership Chestnut Chat began\nA preview of the educational round-table at the 2024 American Chestnut Symposium: Catherine Martini\, TACF’s Northern regional outreach coordinator will interview educators from Maine\, West Virginia\, and more about using the story of the American chestnut to inspire the next generation of conservationists\n\n \n \n \n \n \n HOW TO PARTICIPATE (via Zoom Webinar) \nPre-registration is required to attend this event. Pre-register here. After registering you will receive a unique URL link to join the event on the day of the chat. You can also add the event to your calendar from the webinar registration approval page. The meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow an audio and video test. \n \n Pre-Register Here\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Special Guest: Russel Boyer\nEnjoy a special appearance from TACF’s youngest member\, Russel Boyer\, who has attended all 49 Chestnut Chats! You may have spotted him on page one of the Winter 2022 issue of Chestnut magazine or in this adorable YouTube video. URL:https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-50th-episode-spectacular/ LOCATION:CT CATEGORIES:Chestnut Chat,The American Chestnut Foundation ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/50th-episode-chestnut-chat.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240720T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240720T140000 DTSTAMP:20240719T235828Z CREATED:20240615T231700Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240719T235828Z UID:10001985-1721467800-1721484000@tacf.org SUMMARY:MA/RI-TACF Summer 2024 Quarterly Meeting DESCRIPTION:All are welcome! \nJuly 20\, 2024 9:30am-2pm\nBemis Hall\, 15 Bedford Rd\, Lincoln\, MA 01773 (HYBRID) \nJoin Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89694091173 \nMeeting ID: 896 9409 1173   Passcode: 1904\nFind your local number:  https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbXpe58Ttg \nPlease send agenda items to Kathy. URL:https://tacf.org/event/ma-ri-tacf-summer-2024-quarterly-meeting/ LOCATION:Bemis Hall\, 15 Bedford Rd\, Lincoln\, MA\, 01773\, United States CATEGORIES:Massachusetts / Rhode Island,The American Chestnut Foundation ORGANIZER;CN="Kathy Desjardin":MAILTO:marichapter@tacf.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240807T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240807T160000 DTSTAMP:20260122T155222Z CREATED:20240202T204358Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T155222Z UID:10001930-1723021200-1723046400@tacf.org SUMMARY:CT-TACF at the CAES Plant Science Day DESCRIPTION:Join us at the lovely Lockwood Farm in Hamden for the 114th CAES Plant Science Day where we will welcome you with an exhibit on the Foundation work\, surrounded by a wide variety of chestnut trees! URL:https://tacf.org/event/caes-plant-science-day/ LOCATION:Lockwood Farm\, 890 Evergreen Avenue\, Hamden\,\, CT\, 06518\, United States CATEGORIES:Connecticut,The American Chestnut Foundation END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240816T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240816T130000 DTSTAMP:20240812T205558Z CREATED:20240719T142524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240812T205558Z UID:10001998-1723807800-1723813200@tacf.org SUMMARY:Chestnut Chat: Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change DESCRIPTION:Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change: Exploring Options for Sustaining Eastern Forests in an Uncertain Future\n \n \n \n \n \n Join us on Friday\, August 16\, 2024\, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT)\, for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Special guests Tony D’Amato\, Pete Clark\, and Tim Stout will discuss the role of the American chestnut in forest management strategies that address the impacts of climate change and invasive insects and pathogens on eastern forests. \nTony will provide an overview of the frameworks and approaches under evaluation\, Pete will discuss research applications\, and Tim will bring it to a landowner scale by examining the strategies being tested and applied on his farm in Shrewsbury\, Vermont. \n \n \n \n \n \n HOW TO PARTICIPATE (via Zoom Webinar) \nPre-registration is required to attend this event. Pre-register here. After registering you will receive a unique URL link to join the event on the day of the chat. You can also add the event to your calendar from the webinar registration approval page. The meeting will open 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow an audio and video test. \n \n Pre-Register Here\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Tony D’Amato is a Professor of Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology and Director of the Forestry Program at the University of Vermont.  He received his B.S. in Forest Ecosystem Science from the University of Maine\, M.S. in Forest Science from Oregon State University\, and PhD in Forest Resources from the University of Massachusetts.  He was a faculty member for seven years at the University of Minnesota and a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University’s Harvard Forest prior to joining the University of Vermont in January 2015. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Pete Clark is an applied forest ecologist interested in evaluating forest regeneration\, developmental dynamics\, and plant physiological responses to global change. His research focuses on forest adaptation\, assisted migration and regeneration ecology\, and ecological and adaptive silvicultural strategies. He holds a PhD in forestry from the University of Vermont and a MA in geography from West Virginia University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Tim Stout is an active landowner in Shrewsbury\, Vermont.  For the last forty-seven years\, Tim and his family have managed a 175-acre farm called Jockey Hill Farm where they have undertaken numerous land stewardship strategies for forest health\, biodiversity\, and watershed management among other objectives. Over the past six years\, these strategies have been expanded to include planting climate-resilient trees such as hybrid American chestnuts\, enhancing forest carbon sequestering and storage\, and implementing an extensive invasive plant eradication plan. Tim gives frequent field trips and presentations on his stewardship experience through his organization Northam Forest Carbon. \nPrior to devoting himself to promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation\, Tim spent 35 years in national energy policy\, specifically in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Tim lives with his wife in Burlington on the shores of Lake Champlain.  URL:https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-adaptive-silviculture-for-climate-change/ LOCATION:CT CATEGORIES:Chestnut Chat,The American Chestnut Foundation END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240816T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240816T143000 DTSTAMP:20240620T203752Z CREATED:20240620T195656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240620T203752Z UID:10001988-1723815000-1723818600@tacf.org SUMMARY:Chapter TACF Email Training 2 DESCRIPTION:This internal webinar\, led by TACF’s Director of Business Operations Mark Weaver\, will advise TACF Chapter leadership on how to effectively use their chapter tacf.org email accounts. The same training will be given on 7/12/24 at 1:30pm. \nIf you are an authorized user of a chapter email address\, you will receive an email with the zoom links a week before the meeting. If you did not receive an email but should be included\, please contact mark.weaver@tacf.org and he will supply the links. URL:https://tacf.org/event/chapter-tacf-email-training-2/ LOCATION:CT CATEGORIES:The American Chestnut Foundation ORGANIZER;CN="Mark Weaver":MAILTO:mark.weaver@tacf.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR