Our Mission
To restore the American chestnut tree to its native range within the woodlands of the eastern United States, using a scientific research and breeding program developed by its founders.
The American Chestnut Foundation is restoring a species – and in the process, creating a template for restoration of other tree and plant species.
The Indiana Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation is tasked with developing regionally adapted families of American chestnut trees (ie, specific to Indiana mother trees) and other state-related tasks.
The Indiana Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation is tasked with developing regionally adapted families of American chestnut trees (ie, specific to Indiana mother trees) and other state-related tasks.
Meadowview (TACF’s main orchard in Virginia) harvested its first blight-resistant nuts in 2005. Indiana has 2 completed families and has begun reforestation trials with potentially blight-resistant American-type trees, using sound ecological principles. The return of the American chestnut to its former niche in the Appalachian hardwood forest eco-system is a major restoration project that requires a multi-faceted effort involving 6,000 members and volunteers, research, sustained funding and most important, a sense of the past and a hope for the future.
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The growing season is now well underway at TACF's Meadowview Research Farms! Sown in January and February of this year, thousands of young chestnut seedlings are thriving in our greenhouse, where they will remain for a few more weeks before transitioning outdoors. Starting this month and continuing through the summer, we will be sampling nearly three thousand of them at Meadowview alone, and many more across the range, for genomic evaluation and subsequent assignment to different experiments and plantings. Have you planted your chestnut seeds indoors or outdoors already this year?
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms
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Looking for a way to introduce the American chestnut tree to kids in a way that they will love? This book is perfect! @ebylundy
#americanchestnut #chestnut #restoration #conservation #explorepage #childrensbooks #teaching #learning
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Thank you so much for embracing this fairytale which teaches young readers a little about the blight and what happened to the American chestnut trees in a light and easy way. My primary objective was to bring an awareness of what happened to the American chestnut trees and offer hope of restoration to young readers. I also wanted to remember my late father (Bill Bear) who tried to do his part with restoring chestnuts trees. I did a great deal of research, and I learned a lot during the process of writing this book, but I still have much more knowledge to gain. Our family supports the mission that, one day, the American chestnut trees can once again regain prominence. We are one family of many who support the efforts of TACF.
Join us on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Got questions about growing chestnuts or tips to share? Join us for the Chestnut Growers Town Hall! Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting, this event is your chance to connect, share insights, and learn from experts. Ask your questions on topics like site selection, soil nutrition, varmint control, and more. Our expert panel will answer questions and share their top growing tips. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the chestnut restoration community!
Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-chestnut-growers-town-hall/ for more info and to register.
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Eleanor Feaster Berg
Time to meet our next Bonner Scholar from Emory & Henry University! This week, get to know Maddy, our Farm Assistant, and learn about the great work she’s doing at Meadowview Research Farms. We are thankful to both our Bonner Scholars for all their hard work.
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms #emoryhenry #bonnerscholars
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Join the West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for our spring meeting! 🌿 Learn about the incredible story of the American chestnut and our work to bring this iconic tree back to our forests.
📅 Saturday, April 5 | ⏰ 1:00 PM
📍 Mineral County Technical Center, Keyser, WV
Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow chestnut enthusiasts and conservationists. See you there!
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Latest News
Indiana Chapter Annual Meeting
This year the Indiana Chapter of TACF will hold an in-person annual meeting. The date is January 14, 2023. The location is the Fitness Farm of Indianapolis. Our chapter science officer, Jim McKenna, has generously arranged for us to use a room at Fitness Farm at no...
Pure American chestnut harvest at Duke orchard
Duke orchard is a germplasm conservation orchard started with a generous contribution from Duke Energy Company. Many of the trees have produced nuts for a number of years. Some years pollen is applied in spring to produce controlled crosses. This year the trees were...
New germplasm conservation orchard (GCO) in Clinton county
This orchard was established three years ago to preserve the genetic material of the Indiana American chestnuts at the Duke orchard at Purdue. The Duke trees were all cloned from old existing chestnuts from all over Indiana. Unfortunately, the Duke chestnuts have all...