Sugarloaf Mountain Orchard
East Field – Originally planted in 1970 with an estimated 1000 irradiated seeds. Most have succumbed to chestnut blight and phytophthora. However, some 27 remaining trees have been used as mother trees in our breeding program. Also, a backcross orchard of BC3 seeds (Manahan 41 x AG247) and an experimental orchard to study hypovirulence were planted in 2007 . However, most of these trees have been killed by the blight, phytophthora or deer.
To see an article on the chestnuts of Sugarloaf Mountain by Essie Burnworth, click here.
Address:
7901 Comus Road, Dickerson, Montgomery County
Contacts:
The Propers – Stewards
David Webster – Executive Secretary, Stronghold Inc.
Challenges: Deer, Phytophthora, gall wasps, vines.
East Field Location:
Maryland Chapter Menu
National Facebook
Huge thanks to our amazing Bonner Scholars, Maddy, our dedicated Farm Assistant, and Gabbie, our creative Social Media Intern for all their hard work this semester! We’re so grateful for their contributions and can’t wait to welcome them back in August for another season of collaboration.
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms #emoryhenry #bonnerscholars
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Join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Special guests Duane McKenna and Michael Charles will discuss beetle evolution and the rediscovery of a lost species, the greater chestnut weevil.
Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-beetle-evolution-greater-chestnut-weevil/ to learn more and register.
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Why don't they make a weevil that can't have babies? And put them in the wild? So it'll past it to overs so they'll die out!!!
Planting season is here! This week we planted around 140 genomically selected chestnut seedlings at Meadowview's Duncan Farm for seed orchard production. In 5–7 years, this new seed orchard will be used for breeding and collecting open-pollinated seeds to continually improve disease resistance among our trees. Exciting roots for the future!
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms
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out of five trees, I have only one that has survived. Two due to cold killing the tops (16-21 degrees) and two I think killed by squirrels or gophers.
I wrote to you recently and we have one out here in Oregon City OR. In the middle of our woods we just logged. It was planted about 1890. We are mailing out a sample today for you.
Awesome!! 🥰
We're hiring and the deadline is this weekend! Head to jobs.talenthr.io/tacf/nursery-manager/4 to learn more.
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Carolina friends, please join us on May 3rd!
Where: Pryor Orchard in Edneyville, NC - Address and additional details will be provided after you sign up and fill out a waiver.
When: Saturday, May 3rd 2025 at 10:00AM.
Bring: Closed toe shoes (no crocs, sorry!), gloves, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water and a snack or lunch.
Spots are limited, visit theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90477 to sign up.
For more information, please contact:
Regional Science Coordinator Jamie Van Clief: gro.fcat@feilcnav.eimaj
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