Contact us at gro.fcat@retpahCNI
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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"Dolly's music is rooted in the Appalachians," her uncle Bill Owens once said. "The American chestnut was once the most important tree in these mountains, feeding wildlife and people alike."
The comparison feels especially meaningful today. Both Dolly Parton and the American chestnut grew from Appalachian roots to become enduring icons. Both nourished generations, one with food and shelter, the other with music, compassion, and hope. Both became symbols of resilience, generosity, and the richness of mountain culture.
The American chestnut's story lives on in the forests it shaped. Dolly's story lives on in the millions of lives she touched.
Appalachia gave the world both. And the world is better because it did.
Read our article "Dolly Parton: A Life Rooted In Giving" about Dolly's work with the Foundation and see how far her generosity reached: tacf.org/dolly-parton-a-life-rooted-in-giving/
#dollyparton #news #explore #tribute #country
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
As we mourn the loss of Dolly we should all take a moment in honor of the greatest person ever from East Tennessee in my lifetime. Her never-ending kindness, generosity, creativity, ambition, drive and raw talent will never be forgotten and should be an inspiration to us all.
I love this story!
She was a larger-than-life mountain nymph <3
This is part two so if you didn't see our last post, go check it out! When blight reached the remaining American chestnuts in Wisconsin's historic stand, the Helming family faced a difficult decision.
Today, those trees live on as part of a display at the National Museum of Forest Service History, where their story will inspire future generations.
Read an exclusive excerpt from an upcoming Chestnut magazine article about the process, and become a member to read the complete story in the next issue.
Click the following link to read: tacf.org/tacf-at-national-museum-forest-history/
#americanchestnut #member #restoration #news #explore
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for doing this! We love opportunities to inspire the next generation 🌰
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Way to go Lake!
In 2020, signs of chestnut blight appeared on one of the largest known American chestnut stands in the country, leading to the difficult decision about how to preserve its legacy.
Read the story of this remarkable stand: ivtlogs.com/american-chestnut/
Then follow us for our next post, where we'll share how the remaining trees from this historic stand were harvested to become part of a display at the National Museum of Forest Service History. You'll also get a preview of an upcoming article from our award-winning Chestnut magazine that tells the rest of this bittersweet story.
#explore #news #americanchestnut #hope #newlife
72 CommentsComment on Facebook
I took over property that has been in my family 200 years. I'm the first to farm it in 100 years. I found two in the back of the property in the holler.
i have a 7/8 american: 1/8 chinese chestnut tree doing very well and has begun to produce chestnuts.
I hate this story. First, to say the trees got a ‘new lease on life’ is a connotative misnomer and disingenuous. A new lease on life would mean that they were saved. What they really got—inevitably, I understand—is a different use in death that allowed someone to make money off their demise. That’s better than letting them rot, but it’s not a happy ending. The fact that the story is written by someone from the timber company, reflecting the point of view of a party to the situation whose motivation is monetary, just ads to the disingenuousness of this story being posted by ACF. Are you conservationists or loggers? The ‘passion for the history’ of the American chestnut time is just a contrivance to make the situation less bleak and depressing. My takeaway is that the last stand of chestnuts is gone and no replacements are arriving anytime soon. From ACF, I want content about progress in bringing chestnut trees back, not a clumsily-glossed-up summary of how someone made money on the last ones we had.
Join us Friday and Saturday and enjoy speakers and events, including: social hours, Friday lunch and dinner, plus Saturday lunch! Add on a special orchard tour for just $20 more. Register now and get the early bird rate!
Can't join for the full event? Get the Half Day Pass and just come for Saturday. You still get the chance to add on a special orchard tour!
For more information visit: tacf.org/2026-american-chestnut-symposium/
#americanchestnut #event #forestry #explore #conservation
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
I may be there
November sixth and seventh……right in the rut!! 🤦♂️
Will they do well in zone 8, NE TX? Yesterday we hit a record high of 107’f and can plunge as low as -20’f. Average rainfall is 50+”/year.
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...