Chestnut Background
Chestnut Science Resources
- American Chestnut History
- Native Range Map
- TACF Science Strategies
- TACF Resources
- Student Program
- American Chestnut Tree Identification Resources
- How to Plant Chestnuts
- Penn State Listserv – TACF Grower’s List
- Backcross Breeding Chart
- American Chestnut Cooperator’s Foundation
- Grafting Resources
- History of Chestnuts at Sugarloaf Mountain
Tree Identification
Is this an American chestnut tree?
TACF chestnut identification resources
Appalachian Trail MEGA-Transect American Chestnut Project Resources:
- American Chestnut Tree I.D. Resources for Onscreen Viewing
- Booklet Version for printing 20 pp on 5 sheets (both sides)
- Pack Along Version – for printing 8 double sided cards on 2 sheets of cardstock
The above pdf files are based on materials from TACF Southern Appalachian Regional Science Coordinator Paul Sisco’s web site and the TACF Field Guide.
Hypovirulence
Hypovirulence Treatment of Blight Cankers
Hypovirulence treatment outline prepared by Dr. Donald L. Nuss. (C. parasitica strains for tailored biocontrol of chestnut blight on individual trees)
Protocol for treatment of Sugarloaf East Field Trees August 4, 2007
Map of Sugarloaf East Field Trees treated August 4, 2007
TACF Biocontrol information
Grafting
Grafting Resources
Nut-grafting!
January and February are the best times to cut scions from American chestnut trees and graft them onto American chestnut nuts. If they grow, you will have a clone of your scion wood tree that can be planted in a new location. Carl Mayfield, shown above, is an expert on this method of propagation. He graciously allowed us to take video at his nut-grafting clinic last winter, and he wrote out detailed instructions for every step of preparation and nurture, which can be found here:
Student Program
American Chestnut Learning Materials
Links to materials available for download at no charge.
American Chestnut Educational Resources
A list of information provided by The American Chestnut Foundation.
The Legend of the American Chestnut Tree
A book written by students of the Poolesville High School, Kirby Carmack & Nicole Rodriguez, with Illustrations by Michael Torres.
The American Chestnut video by Thomas Nassif
An 18 minute video that tell the story of the chestnut and TACF, documents controlled pollination and shows the basics of hypo virulence.
American Chestnut Loaner Lab (University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and Towson University)
Download the teacher’s manual for the Chestnut Tree Lab. Loaner Lab kits made available to MD schools at no cost. A model for a national package to meet technology SOLs along with teaching chestnut science
Penn State Chestnut Growers Website
Everything a chestnut grower needs to know and much more, including back issues of the TACF Journal and other publications in pdf format.
Hypovirulence information (MDTACF)
This information covers the procedures volunteers can use to treat blight on surviving American chestnut trees.
Maryland Chapter Menu
National Facebook
The PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation is having a Spring Growers meeting on March 28, 2026 from 9:30am - 3:30pm
Expert speakers: Michael Goergen, Allen Dietrich-Ward, Noah Vincent, and Lake Graboski
$30 ticket price includes breakfast and lunch!
All are welcome! Learn more at PANJTACF.org
It will be held at The Centennial Barn at Fort Hunter Mansion
5395 N. Front St, Harrisburg, PA 17110
#americanchestnut #meeting #getinvolved #nonprofit #explorepage
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Sorry I will miss this! I have to be at our SAWN-PA forest workshop.
In collaboration with us, the off-road park, Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA), has participated in planting American chestnut trees across their property.
"Off-road parks do not always have a reputation for environmental stewardship, which makes AOAA’s conservation work genuinely surprising and worth highlighting."
Check out the article "This Rugged Pennsylvania Off-Roading Playground Sits In The Heart Of Coal Country" to learn more about the AOAA: everafterinthewoods.com/this-rugged-pennsylvania-off-roading-playground-sits-in-the-heart-of-coal...
Images from AOAA socials.
#americanchestnut #chestnuts #conservation #outdoorrecreation #explorepage
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TACF’s Director of Development, John, and Director of Communications, Jules, had a great time tabling at an event for the one-year anniversary Tree Museum Birthday Gala. Despite the rainy weather, the gala planted trees, roasted chestnuts, and hosted a ticketed “Tree Walk” that sold out.
#americanchestnut #trees #explorepage #chestnuts #nature
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Meadowview Research Farm’s staff members Jim Tolton and Lucinda Wigfield joined Terry Sharik and Bob Ford in monitoring Round Leaf Birch (Betula uber) plots last week. This rare tree species is endemic to Marion, Virginia, meaning it naturally occurs nowhere else in the world. To help conserve it, progeny tests were planted to study how seedlings from different parent trees grow and survive. During this monitoring visit, we focused on counting male catkins, which produce pollen, that play a key role in reproduction. Tracking flowering and catkin production helps researchers understand the trees’ health, reproductive potential, and long-term conservation success.
#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ConservationScience
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We would like to take a moment to shout out longtime volunteer and board member John Scrivani. John has been working to restore the American chestnut for more than four decades. Check out the article published about him and TACF in Blue Ridge Country Magazine: blueridgecountry.com/newsstand/magazine/the-good-steward/
The article is titled "The Good Steward" by Eric J. Wallace.
#explorepage #news #americanchestnut #conservation #chestnuts
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I met John when he was teaching at JMU. He is a great mentor. Thanks for all you do, John.
Great stuff
We appreciate you, John!