Georgia News

GA-TACF work during the Spring 2020 COVID-19 crisis

GA-TACF members and collaborators:

I know it has been a while since we’ve touched base with you, and I hope this message finds you healthy and secure.  I wanted to let you know that the Georgia chapter’s work has continued this spring, despite the need to avoid calling on large groups of volunteers.  Below, I have listed a summary of some of the work that has been going on, almost all of which has been done by the volunteer stewards at the indicated locations (the principle leaders are listed).

We hope to get back to some safe-distance work with volunteer groups this summer, primarily in helping conduct blight-resistance tests in several orchards.  I have included a photo gallery showing some images from this spring’s work.  If you have done (or know of) significant recent GA-TACF work that we are unaware of, please let us know!  You can contact us easiest at moc.liamg@tuntsehcag.

At some point soon, chapter president Kathy Patrick plans to call a brief on-line membership meeting using Zoom. The main order of business will be to thank members who are rotating off the board (Lynn Womack, Nathan Klaus, and Jimmy Rickard), and to elect three new board members.  Details will be forthcoming soon as to how this meeting will be conducted.

Martin Cipollini, GA-TACF Science Coordinator

Demo/educational orchard plantings:

Briarlake Forest and Chestnut Grove Church – Dale Higdon (~18 seedlings total)

Sandy Creek Nature Center – Michael Wharton and Ben Jarrett (~70 seedlings)

Sloppy Floyd State Park – Elaine Thomas, David Norboge, and Robert Helton (~18 seedlings)

Charlane Plantation – Chuck Leavell (12 seedlings)

Turnip Mountain – Billy Nicholson (6 seedlings)

Cipollini GA property – Martin Cipollini (4 seedlings)

Cipollini PA property – Don Cipollini, Sr. (5 seedlings)

Krissman property – Paul Krissman (2 seedlings)

Research orchard plantings:

Flint Phytophthora screening orchard – Austin Flint, John French, and Zach Felix (~150 seedlings)

Bottomlands Phytophthora screening planting – Scott Frazier (~38 seedlings)

Roy Richards seed orchard – Kris Owens (site preparation work)

(>320 seedlings planted to demo and research orchard sites combined)

Ambrosia beetle and Phytophthora root rot spraying and mitigation work:

Berry College and Henry backcross orchards – Martin Cipollini

Flint seed orchard – Zach Felix, Keith Ray, Andrew Hodgins, and John French

Bottomlands backcross orchard – Scott Frazier

Poe (formerly Callaway) orchard – Sam Breyfogle

GA Piedmont Land Trust orchards – Dale Higdon

Orchard blight evaluations and culling of non-selected trees:

Henry backcross orchard – Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick

Berry House of Dreams backcross orchard – Martin Cipollini and Greg Mason

Bottomlands backcross orchard – Scott Frazier and Martin Cipollini

Leaf samples for DNA analysis (four orchard sites) – Martin Cipollini

Greenhouse/Nursery planting:

Berry College – Martin Cipollini (~600 seedlings)

Germplasm conservation project:

Scionwood collection: Ana Metaxas, John French, Scott Laseter, Martin Cipollini, Michael Blackwell, and Jack Rogers (18 clones)

Grafting work: John Hendrickson and Martin Cipollini (18 clones, ~30 rootstocks)

Leaf samples for DNA analysis: Martin Cipollini, Ana Metaxas, Jack Rogers, Natalie Bailey, John Patten Moss, TJ Treadwell (~30 wild C. dentata samples)

Pollination work:

Henry and Berry backcross orchards: Martin Cipollini, Noah Howie, and Marshall Lynch

Joe James’, SC orchard: John French and Mark Stoakes

The Henry backcross orchard after culling.

Stump propagated sprout at Berry College.

Chinese chestnut rootstocks on their way to be grafted.

 

A set of grafted trees.

  

Planting the Flint Phytophthora field screening orchard.

Seedlings at the Berry College nursery.

Hybrid chestnuts at Chestnut Grove church (these were planted last year, but more were added in 2020)

Dale Higdon instructs volunteers at the Briarlake Forest demostration site.

Scott Frazier’s Bottomlands Farm backcross orchard just after culling.

Berry College tree #297, our best backcross tree in this site.

A pure American chestnut showing catkins at the Berry College germplasm conservation orchard.

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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

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Work started today! Still a chance to volunteer for tomorrow or Sunday. Thanks!

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.

3 weeks 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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