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
Grafting is one of the tools we use to conserve large, surviving American chestnut germplasm and ensure it isn’t lost. By grafting scion from important trees onto compatible rootstock, we can preserve valuable genetics and share this germplasm across regions. This work allows exceptional trees to live on in multiple locations, supporting research, restoration, and collaboration while safeguarding the diversity of the American chestnut for the future.
#AmericanChestnut #RestorationInProgress #ChestnutResearch #ForestRestoration #MeadowviewResearchFarms #ConservationScience
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Our Director of Science, Jared Westbrook, was interviewed by Ira Flatow, founder and host of Science Friday, for their podcast. The episode is now available: www.sciencefriday.com/segments/restoring-american-chestnut-tree/
On Science Friday, Jared discusses the multiple approaches taken to improve blight resistance in American chestnut trees, TACF’s recurrent genomic selection program as our main engine for restoration, and what successful restoration looks like.
#americanchestnut #sciencefriday #science #restoration #explorepage #conservation
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About 2017 I put in 5 Dunstan chestnuts. Last summer, I had viable fruit on 2 of them, so in October I put 49 Dunstan chestnuts into moist peatmoss in Tupperware and put them in the fridge. All 49 germinated. I transplanted them into pts with soil 10 days ago, and this morning I have the first appearance of chlorophyll appearing in the shoots that are coming up. The local ShopRite had Italian chestnuts at Christmas. I put 2 lbs of them into the fridge and managed to get 9 to germinate. I will be replanting the Poconos this spring, beginning on our property.
Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor the past while also recognizing how Black knowledge, leadership, and community continue to shape the present. From histories rooted in land and survival to modern platforms and outdoor spaces where connection and representation matter.
Today we’re highlighting Hattie Carthan, who fought against the impacts of redlining and disinvestment by mobilizing her Bed‑Stuy community to restore its trees and protect a landmark magnolia. Her legacy shows that restoration starts with us, an idea at the heart of our work to revive the American chestnut.
Read more about Hattie Carthan: tacf.org/black-history-and-the-american-chestnut/
#blackhistorymonth #americanchestnut #treestagram #explorepage #nature
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So trees DO grow in Brooklyn again?!
Our air pruning bed was constructed in early 2025 and has since been growing hybrid chestnuts that play an important role in our grafting work. Air pruning beds allow us to grow strong, well-branched root systems and make it easy to access high-quality rootstock for grafting. MRF staff are currently grafting using the root stock from trees that were grown in this air pruning bed, so stay tuned to learn more about it next week!
#americanchestnut #restorationinprogress #chestnutresearch #forestrestoration #meadowviewresearchfarms #conservationscience
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Our research just dropped in Science, and the media wrapped it in love.
Here’s your Science Release Wrapped: the most notable mentions, the biggest themes, and the breakout moments that made RGS the star of the week.
Thanks for all the love.
Read the research published in Science:
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw3225
#americanchestnut #spotifywrapped #restoration #science #research #nature #environment #future #media #news #chestnuts #explorepage
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