About Us
Hello from the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation!
We are an active group of Volunteers who work together to help the national effort to restore the American Chestnut back into its native forests. With our Partners, we manage several orchards of hybrid American Chestnuts and full American Chestnuts that facilitate breeding options.
Wild American Chestnuts are still found across Kentucky in their native range forests. While an extremely small number of wild American Chestnut trees survive the blight to grow large enough to produce flowers and burrs, there are many sprouts that grow from the roots of the original trees. Take a look at the original American Chestnut Range Map. American chestnuts like well-drained, acidic sandstone soils. They do not like low acidic clay soils or soils and low areas that hold water.
We invite you to help search for wild Americans and to record them on the free ‘TreeSnap’ app. Or you can contact us via our Kentucky Chapter Facebook Page to let us know their location and if you need help to ID that your trees are full American or a Chinese or Japanese Chestnut, or a hybrid with mixed parentage. You can see general locations of wild American Chestnuts found and mapped to date on the TreeSnap website: https://treesnap.org/ Choose “MAP” from the menu to see general tree locations, with the knowledge that the app moves the exact tree locations by about five miles each to protect the individual trees and the landowners. With the “OBSERVATION CATEGORY” filter box, select “American Chestnut” to remove the visual clutter of other species that are also entered into TreeSnap.
JOIN US. Become a Member. Become a Volunteer. Click on the BECOME A MEMBER button to the right to simultaneously join the national TACF organization, plus the Kentucky Chapter. You will enjoy working beside and developing friendships with many other conservation minded people who are taking a variety of actions to do our part, along with our sister Appalachian state chestnut chapters, to restore this iconic American tree.
Kentucky Chapter Menu
Kentucky Facebook
Requesting KY VOLUNTEERS to help cut out 100 small Trees from TACF/EKU Hybrid Orchard, Richmond, KY Saturday October 5, 2024 Beginning 9:00 a.m. ET
Eastern Kentucky University Taylor Fork Ecological Area along South Side of Campus
Photos from Saturday November 4, 2023 large VOLUNTEER WORK DAY to cut out 600 trees marked by TACF Scientists that were judged as "Poor Blight Resistance"
We only have 100 trees to cut out this year, on Saturday October 5, 2024. We can use up to 10 VOLUNTEERS. Need those who can bring small chain saws and those who can help drag and pile the culled trees. Wear your boots, bring tick spray, drinks, snacks and lunch. 🙂
Also an opportunity to come out and meet us, and to learn more about this important 9 year old Hybrid Chestnut Orchard that is an awesome Partnership between national TACF, KY Chapter of TACF, and Eastern KY University.
If you can come out to JOIN US, please email: Ken Darnell, KY Chapter President dkdarnell@roadrunner.com and kendarnell54@gmail.com so that we can plan accordingly and to provide directions if needed. You can also TEXT Ken at:
859 585 9520 Kids are welcome to come out with you. * * * * Hannah Leeper TACF
1 CommentComment on Facebook
I can come. I have an electric chainsaw that I haven't tried out yet.
SUCCESSFUL 2024 KY CHAPTER ANNUAL MEETING at Eastern Kentucky University and TACF/EKU Partnership Regional Hybrid American Chestnut Orchard
Saturday August 24, 2024
40 attendees together produced an Awesome Annual Meeting in the EKU Science Building Atrium. Presentations by:
Dr. Jennifer Koslow, EKU Professor and KY Chapter Vice President
Dr. Will Pitt, TACF President and CEO
Dr. Vasiliy Lakoba, TACF Research Director at Meadowview, VA Orchards
Cassie Stark, TACF Regional Science Coordinator
Hannah Leeper, TACF Outreach Coordinator
Michael French, Green Forest Works and former KY Chapter Board Member
Ken Darnell, KY Chapter President, Meeting Emcee
Charlie Saunders, KY Chapter Board Member, acting Treasurer, Silent Auction & 50/50 Raffle
Patti Darnell, KY Volunteer, Snacks, Lunch, Social Leader
Dr. Albert Spencer, EKU Professor Emeritus, Master Woodcrafts Display
Followed by an optional Regional Hybrid American Chestnut Orchard Tour one mile south of campus, with 24 joining us after the business meeting
We will be deciding date and location of next KY Meeting by end of October and send out "SAVE THE DATE"
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was great to see so many new and old faces!
I live in Jeffersontown ky. Suburb of Louisville and I have been harvesting chestnuts for years from a local tree .. and I’m curious to know if it is an American Chestnut.. I think it might be .. I can send samples if interested.
We Have 12 Seats Open at ANNUAL KY TACF MEETING on EKU Campus Saturday August 24th
All of our KY Members have been offered seats at our ANNUAL MEETING. We still have 12 seats available. There is no charge to attend. Sandwich Lunch is provided at no cost.
Reservations required to attend for you and a Plus One guest, if you wish.
We have several presentations by TACF Leaders in the morning followed by an optional tour of the TACF / EKU Partnership Regional Hybrid Chestnut Orchard on the south side of Campus after lunch.
If you are interested in seeing detailed AGENDA and attending, please email to: Ken Darnell, KY Chapter President dkdarnell@roadrunner.com
Kentucky Division of Forestry Jennifer Koslow @The American Chestnut Foundation
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hi Joe. I just sent an email confirming a seat for you at our ANNUAL MEETING. We have an exciting Agenda, led by key TACF Leaders coming to visit with us. dkdarnell@roadrunner.com Will see you Saturday August 24th **** Ken
I plan on attending. How do I make a reservation? TU
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