How You Can Help
GA-TACF depends primarily upon its members to support efforts to restore blight-resistant American chestnut trees to our forests. Your annual membership fee supports breeding and education efforts at both the local and national levels. When you join The American Chestnut Foundation, you have joint membership in both the national organization and GA-TACF.
Donate to the GA Chapter
Follow this link to make a donation to the Georgia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.
Become a Member and
Enjoy the Benefits
As a GA resident you will also automatically gain membership in our state chapter, GA-TACF and receive additional chapter benefits including:
- Announcements concerning local events and volunteer opportunities throughout Georgia.
- The ability to network with fellow GA-TACF members for information and support.
You may also contact the national office, 828-281-0047, to pay over the phone. Contact us at gachapter@acf.org for questions about membership.
Have you found an American Chestnut tree?
The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is initiating a range-wide search for surviving American chestnuts in the forest. GA-TACF is seeking to identify and conserve many new and unique sources — beyond the +/-200 already conserved in our Chapter.
Why?
- To conserve unique sources of American chestnut genetics in our Germplasm Conservation Orchards (GCOs).
- To create locally adapted and genetically di-verse populations of blight resistant chestnut trees for restoration.
Join our hunt for the American chestnut
We don’t have the resources to visit all the reported sites to identify trees in person. We count on individuals to play the role of citizen scientist to collect samples and data on the American chestnut and related data.
How to Report a Tree
Georgia Tree Locator Form
Follow the link above and download our Tree Locator Form. If you are unable to download and print the form, contact gachestnut@gmail.com and we will send you a paper copy. Got a smart phone? Check out the TreeSnap App. You can report information and share photos directly with us using this App. We will still require a sample. Be sure to include the treesnap id number when you mail it.
We will confirm the identity of your tree(s) and add them to our Dentatabase — a database of American chestnuts and related species. If the tree is a pure native, we may ask that you send us nuts for our breeding research. If it is not producing when you find it, don’t worry. We will send you a reminder, asking that you contribute nuts if you are able.
Collecting a sample:If you think you have an American chestnut tree, send us a freshly-cut 4-6 inch twig with mature leaves attached. Leaves should be from sunny exposure, if possible.
- Press leaves between pieces of cardboard to flatten and prevent curling or crushing as they dry. Crushed or bent leaves are harder to analyze, as are leaves that are not freshly collected.
- To prevent mold, do not put the sample into a plastic bag. Send in a paper envelope.
- Late Spring or summer is the best time to collect samples for identification purposes.
- Photographs can help with identification. We are not likely to be able to ID solely from a picture, but it can add to the whole package of understanding your tree.
- Please be sure to include the Tree Locator Form, so we can keep track of your sample and send you results. This form is vital for our inventory of wild trees.
Submit Sample With Tree Locator Form To:
Dr. Martin Cipollini
Berry College, Department of Biology
2277 Martha Berry Highway
Mount Berry, GA 30149
Want to Volunteer?
Volunteers play a vital role in many facets of our restoration work. They are our ambassadors, representing us at community events throughout Georgia. They are educators giving presentations and sharing the story of the American chestnut with interested groups. They get their hands dirty by helping with orchard, pollination, and harvesting projects during the growing season. There is much work to do and no experience is necessary. Whatever your talent, interest or ability we can use your support as we work to bring back this mighty giant to the Eastern woodland.
Click here for a list of current volunteer positions we are tryng to fill!
What on-going volunteer opportunities are available?
Field help – With over 200 orchard sites and about that many wild trees to track in GA, the growing season is packed with chances to participate in planting, inoculating and harvesting activities. Work is available for all levels of physical ability. This is a great opportunity for people who enjoy working outside and getting involved with the hands-on aspects of our breeding programs.
Event representation – Each year, we attend events all over the state. Members volunteer their time to represent our organization at fairs, expos, festivals, plant sales, etc. Larger events, like Hemlockfest are usually staffed by 2 or more volunteers at a time. These events offer great opportunities to learn the ropes from veteran volunteers.
Speaking events – We receive requests to speak at meetings and events nearly every week, for much of the year. Our volunteers help by agreeing to speak on our behalf, sharing their knowledge with community groups and organizations all over the state. If public speaking is your strength, this might be a good fit for you. This is a great opportunity for people that enjoy speaking in front of groups and sharing their knowledge and experiences with the American chestnut.
Other – If you have experience in marketing, web design, social media, writing, photography, or if you are able to network with like-minded groups, please contact us for some ideas about how you might contribute your unique talents. No experience is required!
How to get started – It’s easy! Email us at gachapter@acf.org to learn more. With your permission, we will add your e-mail address to our contact list, so you will receive announcements about volunteer opportunities.
Watch your email, our webpage News, or follow us on Facebook for timely reminders.
Georgia Chapter Menu
Georgia Facebook
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
8 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!
Mushrooms are a blessing to mankind, I know a colleague of mine who was having intense depression, anxiety and anger issues until he started microdosing shrooms, zara_healing on Instagram was the mycologist who guided him
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
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
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
Pics from site #2:
Latest News
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...
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...
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...