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GA-TACF Annual Meeting May 13 2023

GA-TACF Annual Meeting May 13 2023

Calling all Georgia American Chestnut enthusiasts! The Georgia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation (GA-TACF) will hold its annual state meeting on May 13th, 2023, in Dahlonega. The meeting will be held at the University of North Georgia Health and Natural...

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GA-TACF Science Progress 2022

GA-TACF Science Progress 2022

2022 was a very productive year for the Georgia chapter of TACF and its many citizen volunteers.  Here is a quick summary of progress, starting with a summary of what we've been able to accomplish in the breeding program since 2006. Seed type Crosses American chestnut...

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So you want to plant some chestnuts?

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...

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Georgia Chapter Activities Summer 2021

Georgia Chapter Activities Summer 2021

GA-TACF members and other chestnut enthusiasts, We just wanted to give a quick update on some of the activities going on in our chestnut breeding and disease resistance program.  Many of you have expressed interest in volunteering, and very soon we will have some...

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GA-TACF Annual Membership Meeting 2021

GA-TACF Annual Membership Meeting 2021

Please join our Annual Georgia Chapter Member Meeting on May 22, 2021, 10 am – 12 noon (via Zoom; details and URL at the bottom of this page) Our special invited speaker will be Dr. Donald Davis, founding GA-TACF chapter president and author of the upcoming book "The...

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Chestnut Grafting at Berry College

Chestnut Grafting at Berry College

On Wednesday, April 8, 2021, GA-TACF volunteers initiated a third year of grafting attempts as part of our American chestnut gene conservation program.  This phase of the work took place at the Berry College nursery.  Scion material was collected in Jan-March from 15...

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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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