Georgia News

So you want to plant some chestnuts?

We’re happy to be hearing from so many folks like you who are interested in planting chestnuts on their property.  We’ve received a lot of requests for chestnut seedlings and that’s good news, since it indicates a high level of interest in restoring the American chestnut.  But we need to make everyone aware of the status of our program as well as our capacity to involve private landowners in it.

First and foremost, we’re not quite “there” yet in our disease resistance program. Our current and future efforts are experimental and will most likely continue to be so for many years. Neither the Georgia chapter nor our parent organization can guarantee disease resistance in trees we release to landowners like you, and we cannot commit to a specific timeline in that regard. That boils down to a good chance that many trees we have today may not carry sufficient disease resistance, so most likely will not live to become the “mighty giants” we all hope and dream about.  While we are making great progress towards our goal, the science of conquering chestnut diseases takes time.

The Georgia chapter has worked with over 220 landowners on projects ranging from small demonstration and/or educational plantings of only a few trees to large experimental orchards with thousands of trees. Chapter volunteers help landowners get started, then turn the project over to the landowner for long-term maintenance and upkeep. As an all-volunteer organization with limited resources and funding, we try to be careful about establishing new orchard projects so we can make sure our current projects are successful. Obviously, we want all partnerships with landowners to be successful.

Here are some things we ask of anyone interested in planting chestnuts on our behalf:

1) We ask that you maintain membership in TACF (when you join the national organization you automatically become a state chapter member). In fact, it’s best to become a member for a few years, volunteer at a few events, and take time to learn more about our program before offering to plant trees on your property. See https://support.tacf.org/membership

2) Basic information about your site should be submitted to the GA-TACF Science Coordinator at gachapter@acf.org, ideally via the submission of a “Potential Orchard Steward” form that will be provided. This survey lists the types of orchard projects that GA-TACF supports, along with expectations about each planting type.

3) A reasonably well designed, long-term orchard stewardship plan should be developed with assistance from the GA-TACF Science Coordinator. If the planting is simply a small demo/educational project, then an informal plan may be developed with our Demo Orchard Manager.

4) If planting hybrid trees emanating from the TACF breeding program, landowners must sign and submit a germplasm agreement to TACF’s Asheville, NC office (also available by e-mailing gachapter@acf.org)

Whenever possible, GA-TACF tries to assist landowners with up-front materials, supplies, and seeds or seedlings.  Given that we are funded solely by dues and donations, helping defray these start-up costs is another great way to help our chapter. Beyond that, the primary responsibility for long-term tree care is left to the individual landowner. With no paid staff and small state membership, we do not have the capacity to maintain orchards for landowners.

If you want to plant a few trees on your property please note TACF has a “Seed Level” membership program that provides advanced hybrid seeds to donor members.  Also, TACF members are eligible to purchase pure American chestnut seedlings during TACF’s annual spring ale. For more information on these programs, see https://tacf.org/american-chestnut-seeds-and-seedlings/

Finally, besides planting trees on our behalf, there are many other ways GA-TACF members can help our program, including helping find wild American chestnut trees, collecting scion wood for grafting, assisting with maintenance at already established orchard sites, helping recruit new members, volunteering for community outreach events, etc.  Please e-mail us at gachapter@acf.org if you want to be kept in the loop about such opportunities..

Thanks so much for your interest and support in the Georgia chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.

Sincerely,

Kathy Patrick

GA-TACF Vice President

 

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2 days ago
The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation

Seeds collected from Anna Ruby Falls chestnuts. ... See MoreSee Less

Seeds collected from Anna Ruby Falls chestnuts.

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Nice!

A friend gave me a dunstan chestnut tree. Is that a good 1 to plant?

Chestnut harvest is progressing in Georgia, including harvests from pure American chestnuts at a few spots in the state. These photos show two chestnuts that have been growing at Anna Ruby Falls since the mid-1990s. They show odd blight cankers consisting of deep gnarled bark. This type of cankering is consistent with either some level of resistance in the host tree, infection with a less virulent (hypovirulent) form of the blight fungus, or both. Regardless of the malformation and periodic loss of limbs, these trees have remained alive and have produced at least some nuts every year for over a decade.

Seeds at this site were graciously collected by Anna Ruby Falls staff member Matt Summers. GA-TACF's Dr. Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick picked them up and shuttled them to Berry College for processing. Over 100 seeds were collected.

In order to save seeds for planting, we place them in ziplock bags in damp peat or sphagnum moss, poke some holes in the bags, and keep them in the refrigerator all fall and winter. By January or February the seeds will have sprouted roots and will be ready for planting. Unlike many other nut crops, chestnut seeds do not remain vital after drying out. The American Chestnut Foundation

Photos by Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick
... See MoreSee Less

Chestnut harvest is progressing in Georgia, including harvests from pure American chestnuts at a few spots in the state.  These photos show two chestnuts that have been growing at Anna Ruby Falls since the mid-1990s.  They show odd blight cankers consisting of deep gnarled bark.  This type of cankering is consistent with either some level of resistance in the host tree, infection with a less virulent (hypovirulent) form of the blight fungus, or both.  Regardless of the malformation and periodic loss of limbs, these trees have remained alive and have produced at least some nuts every year for over a decade. 

Seeds at this site were graciously collected by Anna Ruby Falls staff member Matt Summers.  GA-TACFs Dr. Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick picked them up and shuttled them to Berry College for processing.  Over 100 seeds were collected.

In order to save seeds for planting, we place them in ziplock bags in damp peat or sphagnum moss, poke some holes in the bags, and keep them in the refrigerator all fall and winter.  By January or February the seeds will have sprouted roots and will be ready for planting.  Unlike many other nut crops, chestnut seeds do not remain vital after drying out. The American Chestnut Foundation

Photos by Martin Cipollini and Kathy PatrickImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

A Large Surviving American!

Excellent work!

I would love to plant a few chestnuts on my property.

Phillip Hopkins

Can you buy a couple?

Jenn Schultz Gordon these were at Anna Ruby Falls!

I live in Ohio and have 70 acres how can I get a bunch of starts

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Look up to rey_sporez on IG, he's got with the best products and medication I can testify, I just received my orders from him, I live in California

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We looking to see if there might be volunteers in the Dawsonville general vicinity who might be interested in checking out three sites that were planted with chestnuts at Dawson Forest several years ago. We think +- 800 backcross hybrid chestnut trees were planted at each site (2500 total). The GA-DNR staff member who initiated the project has left, but he has shown us a map of where the trees should be. At this point, we’d just like to see if anyone is willing to get in contact with current GA-DNR staff members at Dawson Forest to get access to the sites to determine if substantial numbers of the planted trees remain. It would have to be done before leaves drop. If you might be interested, please let us know at gachestnut@gmail.com and we can forward your contact information to the appropriate people.

For general reference, see the attached map (Sites 1, 2 and 3). We can share more information and maps about each location as needed.
... See MoreSee Less

We looking to see if there might be volunteers in the Dawsonville general vicinity who might be interested in checking out three sites that were planted with chestnuts at Dawson Forest several years ago.  We think +- 800 backcross hybrid chestnut trees were planted at each site (2500 total).  The GA-DNR staff member who initiated the project has left, but he has shown us a map of where the trees should be.  At this point, we’d just like to see if anyone is willing to get in contact with current GA-DNR staff members at Dawson Forest to get access to the sites to determine if substantial numbers of the planted trees remain.  It would have to be done before leaves drop.  If you might be interested, please let us know at gachestnut@gmail.com and we can forward your contact information to the appropriate people.

For general reference, see the attached map (Sites 1, 2 and 3).  We can share more information and maps about each location as needed.

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks, everyone. We think we have rounded up a few folks to check these sites for us.

Very interested in helping! Sending email

I'm retired...can do it most any time.

I'm in.

Are they on the Dawson Forest part that is managed by the Georgia Forestry Georgia Forestry Commission or the part owned by GA DNR?

Ed Campbell and I live near Site 1 and may be able to help. Just emailed.

Betsy Sherrer Kiser I wonder if y'all are close enough to do this? Or someone else we know?

Pics from Site #3

Pics from site #2:

GA DNR Resource Manager here, I’m from Dawson and know those woods like the back of my hand. I can help if need be

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