The North Carolina / South Carolina Chapter
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Our Mission

The mission of the NC/SC Chapter is to assist in the work of The American Chestnut Foundation in bringing about a revival and a renewal of the American chestnut tree as a prominent part of the forests of the United States of America by strengthening the organization’s financial and membership base, education, public awareness, and research activities.

Once there were over four billion American chestnut trees in the United States. One out of every four trees in the Appalachian forests was a chestnut! From Maine to Mississippi, American chestnut trees thrived and matured as the dominant species, towering over their neighbors the oaks, hickories, and tulip poplars. And they were huge. One tree near Waynesville, NC, was over 17 feet in diameter — 53 feet in circumference!

Foresters called the American Chestnut “the most useful tree in the woods”, because it provided abundant food for wild animals and livestock, a cash crop for mountain farmers, a light, yellow-colored wood for furniture, and rot-resistant lumber for fences, utility poles, and siding.

In 1904 the chestnut blight disease, caused by an Asian fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, was discovered in the Bronx Zoo of New York City. The blight spread quickly by air and on the bodies of insects, birds, and animals.

By the 1930´s, almost all the mature chestnut trees in the Carolinas were dying back to their roots. Thanks to soil organisms, however, many of the roots remain alive, sending up small sprouts that constantly die back from the blight even today.

Now, with an approach called backcross breeding, the American Chestnut Foundation and its Carolinas Chapter are working to revive this great King of the Forest. Within a decade, we expect to have blight-resistant trees ready for testing in North and South Carolina. It is our hope and expectation that the American chestnut will resume its place as a significant species in our forests. The members of the Carolinas Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation are heavily involved in reaching this goal: finding surviving trees, pollinating them, harvesting seed, and planting orchards for eventual reforestation. We sincerely appreciate the dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm of our members and ask you to join us in our efforts to save this great tree.

NC/SC Chapter Board of Directors

Peggy MacDonald, Leicester, NC, President
Nate Osborne, Leicester, NC, Vice President
Open Position, Secretary-Treasurer
Haiying Liang, Clemson, SC, Membership and Outreach Officer
Jon Taylor, Asheville, NC

 

NC/SC Chapter Website Administrator
Kimberly Greenway, Asheville NC

 

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Two American chestnut hybrids showing off their early spring leaves. These trees were planted about 10 years ago behind Lucy Herring Elementary in West Asheville. ... See MoreSee Less

Two American chestnut hybrids showing off their early spring leaves. These trees were planted about 10 years ago behind Lucy Herring Elementary in West Asheville.Image attachmentImage attachment

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Approximately how tall are the trees?

Maryland Friends!

The spring meeting of The Maryland Chapter of the American Chestnut
Foundation will be at the Gaithersburg Library, Meeting Room 3 on Saturday,
April 26, from 10:30 – 2:30. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The meeting will begin with an update on the TACF chestnut restoration program. Our featured speaker will be Donald Edward Davis, scholar, former Fulbright fellow, and author of The American Chestnut, An Environmental History. The American chestnut tells the story of the American chestnut from Native American prehistory through present day efforts to restore the American
chestnut to its former place in the eastern deciduous forest.

You do not want to miss this presentation and discussion!

Visit the link to learn more and register! tacf.org/event/maryland-chapter-spring-meeting-5/
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Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌿

We're sending a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing volunteers who show up, dig in, and make a real difference. Your passion and dedication help us grow stronger every day—thank you for being part of the movement!

#volunteerweek #americanchestnut
... See MoreSee Less

Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌿 Were sending a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing volunteers who show up, dig in, and make a real difference. Your passion and dedication help us grow stronger every day—thank you for being part of the movement!#volunteerweek #americanchestnut

It's time for an update on the Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) process. Staff and volunteers, including Hannah and Christine from our Asheville office, have been diligently collecting leaf tissue samples from seedlings produced by our first RGS crosses, which were carried out in the summer of 2024. Last week, each tree was tagged for identification, ensuring accurate tracking throughout the genotyping process. The DNA from these samples will be sequenced, and the resulting data will directly inform and enhance our ongoing breeding program.

#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms
... See MoreSee Less

Its time for an update on the Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) process. Staff and volunteers, including Hannah and Christine from our Asheville office, have been diligently collecting leaf tissue samples from seedlings produced by our first RGS crosses, which were carried out in the summer of 2024. Last week, each tree was tagged for identification, ensuring accurate tracking throughout the genotyping process. The DNA from these samples will be sequenced, and the resulting data will directly inform and enhance our ongoing breeding program.#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms

Join us tomorrow, Friday, April 18, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.

Got questions about growing chestnuts or tips to share? Join us for the Chestnut Growers Town Hall! Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting, this event is your chance to connect, share insights, and learn from experts. Ask your questions on topics like site selection, soil nutrition, varmint control, and more. Our expert panel will answer questions and share their top growing tips. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the chestnut restoration community!

Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-chestnut-growers-town-hall/ for more info and to register.
... See MoreSee Less

Join us tomorrow, Friday, April 18, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.Got questions about growing chestnuts or tips to share? Join us for the Chestnut Growers Town Hall! Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting, this event is your chance to connect, share insights, and learn from experts. Ask your questions on topics like site selection, soil nutrition, varmint control, and more. Our expert panel will answer questions and share their top growing tips. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the chestnut restoration community!Visit https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-chestnut-growers-town-hall/ for more info and to register.
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