Maine News

Calling Volunteers to Chestnuts Across Maine

Chestnuts Across Maine (CAM) is an exciting, new initiative of the Maine chapter of TACF.  Our chapter is partnering with land trusts, state parks, schools, and town squares in Maine to establish small plantings of American chestnuts on lands open to the public.  This is a long-term, multi-generational commitment that achieves many of the goals of TACF.  Moreover, CAM gives you a way to activate and to engage others in your community to return the American chestnut to a field or forest near you.

Maine has more wild living chestnuts than any other state, making it our chapter’s duty to conserve their genes for future breeding.  As you probably know, the only way to keep Maine’s wild chestnut genetics alive is to grow them.  While our large Gene Conservation Orchards are useful, blight can establish and rip through one in a few years.  CAM aims to disperse Maine genetics across the state in small groupings as a form of insurance.  Not only will the miles between them serve as a layer of protection but this initiative brings chestnuts closer to our members and their communities.

We are starting small but thinking big!  In 2024 we launched CAM and planted 9 groves of trees with help from 9 partner organizations and land trusts. Their enthusiastic embrace of this vision and commitment of time and resources reassures us that we are on the right path.  Within 5 years we’d like to have chestnuts growing within a one-hour drive of all of our members. Within 10 years we plan to reduce that to one half hour.

Think of each grove as a nearby spot where you can help grow chestnuts and engage others in the restoration of the American chestnut to Maine. If you’re game to get involved in a small but valuable role, you might just be a candidate to lead or join a local Chestnut Restoration Team.  Explore the Chestnuts Across Maine webpages for more details and contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Eva Butler at moc.liamg@fcaeniam.reetnulov to figure out the best fit for your time and talents.

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Just another day working to bring back the American chestnut. 🌰 ... See MoreSee Less

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I have a hybrid chestnut sapling that did good for a few years after planting. This year the leaves turned yellow, then brown, then completely fell off. Any ideas what could cause this? The tree appears to be alive still. Thanks.

Especially if you're under a canopy of American chestnuts... ... See MoreSee Less

Especially if youre under a canopy of American chestnuts...

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Unless, of course, it's fall. Then the chestnut seed pods are falling from the trees and creating a floor covered in pins and needles so sharp that it puts sweetgum to shame. You wouldn't want to be laying under the chestnut canopy then!

I live in Barboursville, WV and wanted to know if i can buy a seedling or how i go about acquiring one! Thank you!

The SHADE TREE COMMISSION in NEW PALTZ New York is interested in planting some CHESTNUT trees on Chestnut Street (Rt. 32). We would like to receive help from you if possible. New Paltz is a historic town and in the past there were MANY Chestnut trees here, Presently there is only ONE Chestnut tree which I grew from the nut of an elegant, large tree when it was sadly cut down. If there are any Chestnut trees available, or if you have any suggestion that might help us in this quest we would be greatful. Thank you for your attention., Shelly Ottens (moc.oohay@obobnyllehsih)

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Today was the last day of controlled pollinations in the southern region. Many thanks to the NC/SC Chapter members who came out to help! ... See MoreSee Less

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Thank you for your hard work!

I'm in south Arkansas. We had miniature Chestnut call chink a pin which got wiped out in the 50s. I have found two this spring 2025. They are small.

Hello, is this a chestnut tree?

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This summer, we’re aiming to produce 1,000 hand-pollinated nuts for our genomic-assisted breeding program, and each one is a vital step toward restoring the American chestnut.

Producing a single nut takes time, tools, and teamwork. From pollination to harvest, every step is a vital part of the process to ensure that each nut has the best chance possible to grow into a more blight-resistant tree.

Here’s what goes into a single $25 nut:

Pollination Bag: $5
Hand Pollination Process: $5
Harvesting the Nut: $5
Shucking & Storing: $5
Equipment & Fuel: $5
Total per Nut: $25

By supporting just one nut, you’re helping us bring the American chestnut back to our forests. Support a handful, and you’re helping to rebuild an entire ecosystem.

This nutty campaign only runs from June 3 to 23, and we’ve got 1,000 nuts to grow. Join us!
support.tacf.org/nuts
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Would the Chestnut tree grow well in the upper Midwest?

Question, why don’t you just plant the seeds/trees in an orchard and let nature pollinate them? That would reduce the cost exponentially and sell the seeds by the bag full? So people can then plant them in mass? Also, Why only 1000 seeds when one tree can produce more than that?

Howdy. He have four American Chestnuts together, growing opposite of several Chinese. They are about 20 years old. An interesting study.

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Is this possibly in the Chestnut family?

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