Virginia News

November 10 Roanoke Meeting Report

Roanoke Meeting Provides Views of Past and Future of American Chestnut in Virginia

From mouse-eaten remains of trading records found at one of the few remaining mountain trading posts in southwest Virginia, Dr. Ralph L. Lutts provided attendees at the Virginia Chapter Annual Meeting a close-up view of early Twentieth Century history of American chestnut trade.  Dr. Lutts was the keynote speaker at the meeting held November 10 at the Roanoke Higher Education Center. His research focuses on Bedford, Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson and Patrick counties and includes data gleaned from historic trading records saved in a drawer at the still-operating Mayberry Trading Post in Patrick County. His presentation included slides of individual customer ledgers from the early 1900s showing cash, scrip and barter transactions. These records showed many barter transactions where chestnuts were used as payment during the fall harvest season.  Indeed, the Mayberry Trading Post received so many chestnuts at the height of the chestnut trade that the building was reinforced structurally to hold the weight of chestnuts stored in the upper story.

Because freshly harvested chestnuts are perishable, traders transported them by the horse-drawn schooner wagonload from the many mountain community trading posts to railway stations where they were shipped by express rail service to Richmond and other east coast cities. Agricultural census records analyzed by Dr. Lutts showed that trade in American chestnuts blossomed after the arrival of rail service in mountainous counties, peaked as the blight approached from the north, and crashed once the blight arrived in southwest Virginia.

Dr. Lutts is an environmental historian. He lives in Patrick County near the Meadows of Dan and serves on the faculty of Goddard College in Vermont, using technology to teach remotely.  His publications include, “Like Manna from God: The American Chestnut Trade in Southwestern Virginia” (2004).

Dr. John Scrivani, Vice President for Science and outgoing President of the Virginia Chapter, reported on the status of work in Virginia to restore the American chestnut to Virginia’s woodlands.  In addition to providing an overview of the ongoing efforts to breed blight-resistant American chestnuts, Dr. Scrivani described some of the planned steps and likely technologies that The American Chestnut Foundation and the Virginia Chapter will use as they move through the processes of breeding, testing, and reforestation toward the ultimate goal of re-establishing the American chestnut to its former role as a keystone species in the forest and a significant economic resource for people.

At a brief business meeting, Chapter Members elected four new Board Members: Carl Absher from Blacksburg, Scott Kasprowicz from Middleburg, Katy McCune from Charlottesville and Robert Lawrence from The Plains. Members also elected  Jack LaMonica as President, John Scrivani as Vice President for Science, Kathy Marmet as Vice President for Education, Dick Olson as Secretary, and Charles Mackall as Treasurer.

Virginia News Chapter Menu

National Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

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

8 CommentsComment on Facebook

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?

View more comments

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
... See MoreSee Less

8 CommentsComment on Facebook

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.

Can you advise on the percentage of success of these nuts to generating a nut producing tree? I’m working on restoring 80 acres and would like to attempt to have some American dominant gene trees on the property that produce nuts but don’t want to take the risk of $100 for four nuts to only find out the percentage of success is still relatively small. Sorry for the likely noob question

View more comments

👍 ... See MoreSee Less

👍Image attachmentImage attachment

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Is this possibly in the Chestnut family?

There are two work opportunities on June 7, 2025 for members of the WV Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation.

The first is at the U.S. Forest Service property at 459 Nursery Bottom Road, Parsons. Work will begin at 10:00AM at the 'American Chestnut' sign. We will lay out spots for a 100-tree orchard that will be planted next spring. We also will weed the existing orchard and conduct other miscellaneous tasks. Bring gloves, water and lunch. A bathroom is available.

The second opportunity is at Jennings Randolph Lake north of Elk Garden in Mineral County. Forty American chestnut trees will be planted at the Roger Craig campground. Work will begin at 9:00 am. Bring gloves, water and a snack. This work is conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
If you are available to assist at either of these two work sites, it will be much appreciated.
... See MoreSee Less

There are two work opportunities on June 7, 2025 for members of the WV Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. The first is at the U.S. Forest Service property at 459 Nursery Bottom Road, Parsons. Work will begin at 10:00AM at the American Chestnut sign. We will lay out spots for a 100-tree orchard that will be planted next spring. We also will weed the existing orchard and conduct other miscellaneous tasks. Bring gloves, water and lunch. A bathroom is available.The second opportunity is at Jennings Randolph Lake north of Elk Garden in Mineral County. Forty American chestnut trees will be planted at the Roger Craig campground. Work will begin at 9:00 am. Bring gloves, water and a snack. This work is conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.If you are available to assist at either of these two work sites, it will be much appreciated.

What an incredible tree the American chestnut was! As The American Chestnut Foundations continues its decades-long work to restore this species, we welcome you to join the cause!

Become a member, volunteer with your local chapter, or simply spread the word about this incredible tree. Visit support.tacf.org/membership to get started.
... See MoreSee Less

25 CommentsComment on Facebook

They can bring back a dead wolf from hundreds of years ago but they won’t bring back something useful like the American chestnut

I still have the audubon society, saying my chestnut tree, horse chestnut, has the largest girth in the state of michigan... The tree is gone, but the stump is still standing there.Proud.

And they are all gone because of humans

View more comments

Load more