Kentucky News

The Faith of Planting Chestnuts and Chinquapins

Looking at the bare rock mine surface from a reclamation research project in Eastern Kentucky, most of us would have little faith that much would grow on such a soiless surface.

However in 2007, Michael French was a big part of a U of KY Research Team, who planted several tree species, including full and hybrid American Chestnuts, in a variety of test plots seeking best practices for mine reclamation. Michael used this research for his Master’s Thesis at UK.

In this plot of mixed mine rock, several Allegheny Chinquapin nuts were planted with tree shelters as protection against wildlife predation. Note the planting, by Team Member Terry Stamper, in the drill bore hole that blasted chunks of rock when the mining of coal was active. A variety of hardwood tree species, including American Chestnuts, were planted in the other plots.

In the two following photos on March 8, 2023, Michael was delighted to find at least 10 surviving Chinquapins (Castanea pumila), including the one planted in the bore hole. Even better, was to find several of the trees producing fertile burrs and nuts. Multiple other tree and weed species are also growing, thanks to birds.

From this large project, Michael went on to a career in leading crews in plantings of multiple tree species, including American chestnuts, with KY TACF Partner, GREEN FOREST WORKS, based in Lexington, KY. Their story is much too large for a single Post. Check out their website:

https://www.greenforestswork.org/

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Wild American Chestnut "Root Sprouting" experiment results Berea College Forest November 22nd

Clint Patterson, Berea College Forester, with visiting environmental artist "Tallie", mascot "Henry" and Ken Darnell went into Berea College Forest (9,000 acres) to check results of an experiment to promote root growth on young wild American Chestnut sprouts,

Good work by UK's Lee Grace to apply pine bark fines to the base of several small sprouts, covered by landscape cloth in June 2022. After two growing seasons, we hoped for enough new roots to cut the sprouts loose from the mother trees and transplant nearby in a sunlight opening to encourage growth and catkin production.

Though the experiment was not a success, the KY Chapter continues to Partner with Berea College Forest to develop flowering wild American Chestnuts. * * * * * Berea College Forestry Outreach Center
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Wild American Chestnut Root Sprouting experiment results     Berea College Forest     November 22nd

Clint Patterson, Berea College Forester, with visiting environmental artist Tallie, mascot Henry and Ken Darnell went into Berea College Forest (9,000 acres) to check results of an experiment to promote root growth on young wild American Chestnut sprouts, 

Good work by UKs Lee Grace to apply pine bark fines to the base of several small sprouts, covered by landscape cloth in June 2022.   After two growing seasons, we hoped for enough new roots to cut the sprouts loose from the mother trees and transplant nearby in a sunlight opening to encourage growth and catkin production.

Though the experiment was not a success, the KY Chapter continues to Partner with Berea College Forest to develop flowering wild American Chestnuts.   * * * * *      Berea College Forestry Outreach CenterImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Volunteer Work Day at TACF / EKU Partnership Regional Chestnut Seed Orchard completed November 14, 2023

Thank you EKU Biology Grad Students for a productive and fun day. We replaced old bird warning ribbons, cut out 200 sprouts from old stumps, watered seedlings for 8th time this year,

Thank You Alexia, Katie, Ricky, Zach, Hazen, Maddie, Hannah, and Jessee. Working with Amos and Ken ******
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Volunteer Work Day at TACF / EKU Partnership Regional Chestnut Seed Orchard completed November 14, 2023

Thank you EKU Biology Grad Students for a productive and fun day.   We replaced old bird warning ribbons,  cut out 200 sprouts from old stumps, watered seedlings for 8th time this year, 

Thank You Alexia, Katie, Ricky, Zach, Hazen, Maddie, Hannah, and Jessee.    Working with Amos and Ken   ******Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

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The Kentucky Chapter is blessed to have a strong Partnership with EKU's Biology Professors and Students. We have now sorted down to the most resistant 16% of the trees planted, and will continue to sort to the best 2% ***

We had a great time, thank you for showing us the ropes around the orchard!

Thanks!

Connie Wilson

Next VOLUNTEER WORK DAY EKU / TACF REGIONAL CHESTNUT SEED ORCHARD

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

With four successful recent VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS now complete at EKU's deer fenced, Hybrid Chestnut Orchard, we have one more Work Day scheduled for this year.

Several EKU Biology Grad Students will join us to complete final details of trimming out sprouts, trimming along the fence, and replacing bird warning pink ribbons around the perimeter of the fence.

Join us. **** Bring loppers, hand pruners, pruning saws, water, lunch, leather shoes. Or, just come to meet fellow "Chestnutters" and to see our trees. 🙂

If you need directions to the orchard, text Ken Darnell: 859 585 9520 Or email: dkdarnell@roadrunner.com
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Next VOLUNTEER WORK DAY     EKU / TACF REGIONAL CHESTNUT SEED ORCHARD    

TUESDAY    NOVEMBER 14th    10:00 am - 2:00 pm

With four successful recent VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS now complete at EKUs deer fenced, Hybrid Chestnut Orchard, we have one more Work Day scheduled for this year.   

Several EKU Biology Grad Students will join us to complete final details of trimming out sprouts, trimming along the fence, and replacing bird warning pink ribbons around the perimeter of the fence.

Join us.    ****    Bring loppers, hand pruners, pruning saws, water, lunch, leather shoes.   Or, just come to meet fellow Chestnutters and to see our  trees.     :-)

If you need directions to the orchard, text Ken Darnell:     859 585 9520              Or email:    dkdarnell@roadrunner.comImage attachment
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