Georgia News

American chestnut seeds available from GA-TACF

NOTE: We have allocated all of the seeds from the 2023 seed crop!  We hope to run this promotion again next year (January 2025).

Special offer for new or renewing GA-TACF members

If you join TACF, renew a lapsed membership, or renew early plus add a donation of at least $25 to the Georgia Chapter (GA-TACF), we will send you a packet of 10 pure American chestnut seeds* along with planting and care instructions. To take advantage of this offer, please:

1) Email us at gro.fcat@retpahCAG to confirm that seeds are still available. We will get back to you right away and reserve a seed packet for you.

2) Join or renew with TACF with at least the $40 regular annual membership fee and add a $25 extra donation to The GA Chapter of TACF. The link to join and donate is: https://support.tacf.org/membership After adding your regular membership, click Continue Shopping to add the donation to GA-TACF.

3) When joining or renewing, please fill in the “Special Note” section of the payment page saying that you would like to receive a packet of seeds from GA-TACF.

This offer is limited to seed availability (first come, first served) and will expire March 1, 2024 or once this year’s seed supply runs out.

If you are unable to take advantage of this offer, TACF has several long-standing programs that enable members to obtain chestnut seeds or seedlings. See https://tacf.org/american-chestnut-seeds-and-seedlings/

*Pure American chestnut seeds will mostly be from source trees from the state of Georgia. They do not carry significant blight or Phytophthora root rot resistance. That said, when planted in the right location and properly cared for, they are capable of growing into adult trees with the potential to flower and bear nuts. If they reach that condition, the trees may be very useful to GA-TACF for future breeding purposes.

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Hello Georgia Chestnut Enthusiasts! Another volunteer opportunity... this one is pretty urgent.

We need your help with an upgrade to our chestnut orchard in Dahlonega. Hurricane Creek is a collaborative project with the University of North Georgia Biology Department and is being used to test for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi (black root rot disease). The orchard is progressing well, with over 100 trees in place, but we have been unsuccessful keeping the deer at bay with our electric fence. We have decided it's time to install a deer exclusion fence, similar that used at our Flint and Richards orchards. Please let us know if you can join us on for a morning shift or two to help install the fence - see dates and times. The fence goes up pretty easily and no special skills are needed. We'll provide all materials and tools, along with water and snacks.

If you can help out, please bring the following:

Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
Work gloves.
Water, sack lunch if desired.

Because of the heat, we'll get started each day at 8AM, and work until the heat runs us off.

Hurricane Creek is located on GA Highway 9, between Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The address is 3990 Dawsonville Hwy, Dahlonega GA, 30597. On Google Maps, maps.app.goo.gl/eTMeKLwPBEtqi2y76.

Below are the shifts for volunteers for the fence installation. Please use this link to sign up (orchard maintenance tab): theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90470

Friday, 7/25/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), site prep work, install corner posts, layout posts, clear brush in a few areas, relocate some of the existing electric fence.

Saturday, 7/26/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install posts, layout tarp between posts, install top polyline, install fence fabric, install bottom fabric anchors, install door.

Sunday, 7/27/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install bottom 2' mesh, finish up.

The American Chestnut Foundation
UNG - University of North Georgia
... See MoreSee Less

Hello Georgia Chestnut Enthusiasts!  Another volunteer opportunity... this one is pretty urgent.We need your help with an upgrade to our chestnut orchard in Dahlonega. Hurricane Creek is a collaborative project with the University of North Georgia Biology Department and is being used to test for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi (black root rot disease). The orchard is progressing well, with over 100 trees in place, but we have been unsuccessful keeping the deer at bay with our electric fence. We have decided its time to install a deer exclusion fence, similar that used at our Flint and Richards orchards. Please let us know if you can join us on for a morning shift or two to help install the fence - see dates and times. The fence goes up pretty easily and no special skills are needed. Well provide all materials and tools, along with water and snacks. If you can help out, please bring the following:Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.Work gloves.Water, sack lunch if desired.Because of the heat, well get started each day at 8AM, and work until the heat runs us off.Hurricane Creek is located on GA Highway 9, between Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The address is 3990 Dawsonville Hwy, Dahlonega GA, 30597. On Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTMeKLwPBEtqi2y76.Below are the shifts for volunteers for the fence installation.  Please use this link to sign up (orchard maintenance tab): https://theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90470Friday, 7/25/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), site prep work, install corner posts, layout posts, clear brush in a few areas, relocate some of the existing electric fence.Saturday, 7/26/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install posts, layout tarp between posts, install top polyline, install fence fabric, install bottom fabric anchors, install door.Sunday, 7/27/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install bottom 2 mesh, finish up.The American Chestnut FoundationUNG - University of North Georgia

1 CommentComment on Facebook

We could really use some help with this folks! Please consider signing up for a shift. The work installing this type of fence is not that difficult, but we can definitely use some extra hands.

1 week ago

Hello Chestnutters!
On Thursday July 17 there will be a small stem assay workshop at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Fortwood Street Greenhouse. This workshop will demonstrate how TACF tests young seedlings for blight resistance. A good number of these seedlings are from our GA breeding orchards. UTC's Dr. J Hill Craddock is looking for 10 interested participants/volunteers. No experience necessary! Please read more and sign up via this link: theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90486
Martin Cipollini GA-TACF
The American Chestnut Foundation
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
... See MoreSee Less

Hello Chestnutters!     On Thursday July 17 there will be a small stem assay workshop at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga  Fortwood Street Greenhouse. This workshop will demonstrate how TACF tests young seedlings for blight resistance.  A good number of these seedlings are from our GA breeding orchards. UTCs Dr. J Hill Craddock is looking for 10 interested participants/volunteers. No experience necessary! Please read more and sign up via this link: https://theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90486     Martin Cipollini GA-TACFThe American Chestnut Foundation The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Last week under the leadership of Karrie Ann Fadroski and Jack Rogers, another orchard work day was held at UNG's Hurricane Creek chestnut orchard. This is the site where about 100 trees were planted via direct-seeding in March. This relatively new project is a site where trees are being evaluated for their resistance to Phytophthora root rot (PRR), a devastating root rot disease sometimes called black root rot or black ink disease. Part of this round of work included weed control and part was maintenance of the electric deer fence. ... See MoreSee Less

Last week under the leadership of Karrie Ann Fadroski and Jack Rogers, another orchard work day was held at UNGs Hurricane Creek chestnut orchard. This is the site where about 100 trees were planted via direct-seeding in March.   This relatively new project is a site where trees are being evaluated for their resistance to Phytophthora root rot (PRR), a devastating root rot disease sometimes called black root rot or black ink disease.  Part of this round of work included weed control and part was maintenance of the electric deer fence.Image attachment
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