Maine Chapter

Volunteers Power Our Mission

Many hands make light work! TACF volunteers are interesting, inspired folks you get to know as you work, learn, and grow trees together!  If you crave connection and want to create positive change, Maine TACF is a great place to give and to get both.

We believe that we can recreate the forest community and revitalize our human community at the same time. We’re doing it day by day. Won’t you join us?

With your help we can accomplish these tasks and more in 2024:

Potting — During the winter we’ll gather at a member’s greenhouse to pot up the nuts that will become the seedlings of 2024.

Inoculating — In June we will inject live blight fungus into the bark of about 3000 trees in our seed orchards in Searsport, Phippsburg, Stetson, Hartland, and Winthrop, to see if the trees show any sign of blight resistance.

Evaluating — Trees inoculated in June of 2023 will be evaluated by TACF scientists to see how well they fared against the fungus.

Roguing — From May through October any trees that succumbed to the blight will be cut down and removed from the seed orchards, leaving more room for the other trees.

Pollinating — In July or August, volunteers will transfer pollen collected from our more promising trees to the blooming flowers of other high performing chestnuts. 

Harvesting — In the fall we’ll gather nuts from pure American chestnuts and any hand pollinated “best by best” crosses. The narrow harvest window is usually September 25 through October 10.

Husking— A couple weeks after harvest, it’s all hands on husks to open the spiny burs (with tough gloves) to reveal 2-3 delicious, sweet nuts tucked inside. Hot cider, roasting chestnuts and lively conversation remind us why volunteering is so rewarding.

Learn more about Volunteering

Time is our most precious resource to give. At TACF we treat your time like a valuable gift to the future.  Opportunities abound for volunteers, even those who don’t love field work. To find the best fit for your skills and interests, contact our volunteer coordinator today. She will reply within 48 hours to learn more about you and where you fit among the chestnuts.

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Visit the RAK brewing company on Tuesday, November 12th for this exciting chestnut-related event!

As part of the November Nature on Tap Speaker Series event, Bruce Levine, board member of the MD Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation, will be speaking about the American chestnut.

You'll learn about the rise & fall of the American chestnut, including the history of the American chestnut, why they have become functionally extinct, and the breeding efforts being done by TACF to rescue it.

Location: RAK Brewing Co, 400 Sagner Ave, 100, Frederick, MD 21701
Date and time: Tue, Nov 12, 2024 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Pre-register to get 15% off your tab!

lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pj3mntu
... See MoreSee Less

Visit the RAK brewing company on Tuesday, November 12th for this exciting chestnut-related event! 

As part of the November Nature on Tap Speaker Series event, Bruce Levine, board member of the MD Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation, will be speaking about the American chestnut. 

Youll learn about the rise & fall of the American chestnut, including the history of the American chestnut, why they have become functionally extinct, and the breeding efforts being done by TACF to rescue it.

Location: RAK Brewing Co, 400 Sagner Ave, 100, Frederick, MD 21701
Date and time: Tue, Nov 12, 2024 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

 Pre-register to get 15% off your tab!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pj3mntu

In a recent Virginia Tech News story titled Examining Chestnut Blight in Local Forests, students from a forest health class explored hybrid resistance to chestnut blight at a restoration orchard near John’s Creek. Engaging with experts from The American Chestnut Foundation and the Virginia Department of Forestry, students gained hands-on experience in assessing tree health and understanding breeding programs—skills crucial for their future roles in forest and ecosystem management. View the news story here. news.vt.edu/videos/k/2024/10/1_0nsj1kv8.html ... See MoreSee Less

In a recent Virginia Tech News story titled Examining Chestnut Blight in Local Forests, students from a forest health class explored hybrid resistance to chestnut blight at a restoration orchard near John’s Creek. Engaging with experts from The American Chestnut Foundation and the Virginia Department of Forestry, students gained hands-on experience in assessing tree health and understanding breeding programs—skills crucial for their future roles in forest and ecosystem management. View the news story here. https://news.vt.edu/videos/k/2024/10/1_0nsj1kv8.html

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Why do these seeds cost so much???

Has anyone located a natural strain that is resistant at all?

With your support, this year’s raffle of two handcrafted Kasumi® Damascus chef knives with American chestnut handles raffle raised more than $27,000!

Congratulations to the winners Jeffrey Monaco and Natalie Harper, and thanks to everyone who participated.

Many thanks also to Antique River Logs for generously supplying these unique and extremely rare raffle items.
... See MoreSee Less

With your support, this year’s raffle of two handcrafted Kasumi® Damascus chef knives with American chestnut handles raffle raised more than $27,000! 

Congratulations to the winners Jeffrey Monaco and Natalie Harper, and thanks to everyone who participated.

Many thanks also to Antique River Logs for generously supplying these unique and extremely rare raffle items.

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Many thanks to William Joiner at Antique River Logs for donating these beautiful knives. www.antiqueriverlogs.com

Meet Taz! Taz is a 3.5-year-old Blue Heeler who wreaks havoc every day. She belongs to TACF's Director of Business Operations, Mark. Mark retired from the U.S. Army after 21 years in 2014. After retiring, he followed his wife and children to Asheville, NC. ... See MoreSee Less

The article covers the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) and The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) efforts to restore the American chestnut at Lesesne State Forest. It describes three chestnut orchards: the Connecticut Hybrid Seed Orchard, American Orchard, and Backcross Hybrid Orchard. Each orchard holds genetically distinct trees, contributing to blight resistance research and breeding. Future projects aim to preserve chestnut genetic diversity through further cross-breeding and conservation. For further details, see the original article here: www.associationpublications.com/flipbook/vfa/2024/Summer/8/#zoom=true ... See MoreSee Less

The article covers the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) and The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) efforts to restore the American chestnut at Lesesne State Forest. It describes three chestnut orchards: the Connecticut Hybrid Seed Orchard, American Orchard, and Backcross Hybrid Orchard. Each orchard holds genetically distinct trees, contributing to blight resistance research and breeding. Future projects aim to preserve chestnut genetic diversity through further cross-breeding and conservation. For further details, see the original article here: https://www.associationpublications.com/flipbook/vfa/2024/Summer/8/#zoom=true

1 CommentComment on Facebook

The American Chestnut Foundation I’m looking at planting a few American chestnuts- resistant. Who has them for sale?

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