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The Bur Newsletter
In the latest issue of The Bur Fall 2023
• Patience and Fortitude Needed (Again)
• District Director Reports: What’s happening in New York State
• Bill Powell’s Retirement
• NY-TACF’s Annual Meeting
• ESF research updates
Darling 58 American Chestnut Public Comment Period has Ended
Thank you to everyone who showed their support for the Darling 58 blight-tolerant American chestnut tree by submitting a comment to the USDA!
More information can be found on SUNY ESF’s American Chestnut Project webpage or at The American Chestnut Foundation’s Resources page.
Erik Carlson’s Interview on the Talking Biotech Podcast
Erik Carlson, an ESF graduate student, discussed the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project on Talking Biotech Podcast. In November 2021, Erik published a paper in Molecular Plant Pathology on the new lines of transgenic American chestnuts developed with the win3.12 inducible promoter from poplar (Populus deltoides), which drives OxO expression. The oxalate oxidase gene from wheat confers elevated chestnut blight resistance in American chestnut. The podcast discusses the background of the project, where the project stands, and the regulatory environment of repatriating a forest with engineered trees.
Pollination Workshop
ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project discussed their outcrossing plan, as well as how to pre-bag American chestnut female flowers, how they collect transgenic Darling 58 pollen, what to do when pollen is received, how to perform controlled pollinations, and how to protect nuts from animals during a virtual pollination workshop.
The workshop, beginning with a 20 minute video, can be view through TACF’s Chestnut Chat Series event listing.
The Village Chestnut Tree Podcast
All across North America and Europe, trees are under mortal threat. In The Village Chestnut Tree podcast, Emmett Hoops discusses American chestnuts and what’s being done to save them.
Latest Episode: Years End Ideas
The Chestnut Tree Video
Produced by the Templeton Foundation, one of our donors.
American Chestnut Seed Engraving
Sergey Jivetin creates elaborate engravings on the shells of seeds, including a series carved on American chestnut seeds depicting TACF’s American chestnut restoration efforts. On the first image below, the lower right-hand nut illustrates the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project’s insertion of the Oxalate Oxidase gene into the American chestnut genome. The second image is a larger representation of that nut. To see more of Sergey Jivetin’s work, check out his website, Furrow Seed Engraving Project.
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National Facebook
We want to thank YOU this Giving Tuesday! Your donation of $20 or more automatically enters you for a chance to win our gift box of the following items:
✨2 TACF beanie hats
✨2 TACF baseball hats
✨2 TACF notebooks
✨2 TACF orange bandanas
✨2 TACF patches
✨2 TACF canvas bags
✨2 TACF jar openers
(and yes, it’s enough for you and a friend to share)
To Enter:
Donate $20 or more towards our End of Year Appeal fundraiser to be entered in the drawing.
Giving Tuesday Donation Link: www.facebook.com/donate/25074377115495320/
QUALIFICATIONS:
Enter by NOON Friday December 1st.
The winner will be contacted by Saturday, 12/2 so make sure to check your inbox! If we don't receive a response back by the end of the day, we'll sadly have to move on to the next winner. Items will be shipped to US addresses only.
Let's make Giving Tuesday a day to remember! Share this post on your stories or with friends, so we can inspire even more acts of kindness. Together, we can make a positive impact and create a ripple effect of generosity.
STAY TUNED:
December will be full of more chances like this to win!
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Thank you so much to The Green Tunnel Podcast for releasing this engaging episode about the American chestnut tree! TACF’s Ciera Wilbur, Lab Manager at The American Chestnut Foundation's Meadowview Research Farms, is interviewed extensively, along with author Susan Freinkel.
From The Green Tunnel:
“The American Chestnut was one of the most magnificent trees in North America. On today’s episode of The Green Tunnel, we’re going to explore how it lived, how it died, and how – with the help of scientists, non-profit organizations, and passionate volunteers – it just might repopulate the Appalachian Mountains once again.”
Visit the link in the comments below to listen to this great podcast episode!
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank your for your wonderful contributions to this episode and the important work you do!
This is wonderful. Go Ciera Wilbur!!
start selling young trees
November is Native American Heritage Month, and the day after Thanksgiving is Native American Heritage Day. TACF recognizes this important opportunity to listen to the voices of this community, so we’re sharing the article, “The History of Thanksgiving from the Native American Perspective.
From the article:
“Steven Peters, a Wampanoag Tribe spokesman, was asked about his views on Thanksgiving and the fact that most people still gather to eat turkey and give thanks. Here's what he had to say:
"I think it's great. My ancestors had four harvest festivals throughout the year. Gathering with family, enjoying our company, sharing our blessings, and giving thanks for all that we have is a good thing. I say have more thanksgiving events throughout the year. I also ask that you take a moment in that day to remember what happened to my people and the history as it was recorded and not the narrative that we had been given in the history books."
Visit the link in comments to read the entire article.
We're hiring! The Director of Development is a full-time position based out of our Asheville, NC office. Please visit our employment page for more information about this great opportunity.
tacf.org/employment/
1 CommentComment on Facebook
🐑💼😄🌬⛱Tough times don’t last, tough people do💫https://poosit.vercel.app/
Our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 23rd, and the following day, November 24th.
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