Virginia News

Volunteer Now!

Current Opportunities to Volunteer!

Working with the Public

Plantings are planned for Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna on May 3 and at Mount Vernon at a date in the spring to be determined.  We are looking for a few volunteers to help with (a) planting the trees, (b) monitoring the seedlings until they get established, (c) developing interpretive material to tell Garden visitors the chestnut story, and (d) organizing the ceremony surrounding the planting.  If you have time and interest, please contact VA TACF at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav or (540) 364-1922.

Working with Nature*

Opportunities abound for help in planting, pollinating and monitoring American chestnut trees in our orchards.  For more information, and to volunteer, contact us at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav or (540) 364-1922.

*Risk Advice.  Many activities in support of VATACF put volunteers into close contact with nature.  This poses a number of potential risks volunteers need to consider.  These include exposure to insects, poisonous plants, snakes, difficult terrain and strenuous activity.  VATACF expects volunteers to inform and protect themselves against these risks and cannot accept responsibility for failure to do so.

Behind the Scenes

Staff the VATACF Office.  Multiple volunteer opportunities exist to help staff the Virginia Chapter of TACF office in Marshall, VA.   The duties involve learning enough to answer questions from visitors to the office and over the phone, helping to manage volunteer activity, as well as performing related clerical duties in support of VATACF’s mission to restore chestnut trees to Virginia.  These volunteer opportunities are part-time and hours can be flexible to meet your schedule.  You will have the fun of meeting and working with committed volunteers and interested members of the public and learning about the science and organizational efforts in support of VATACF’s mission.  For information, or to volunteer, contact Kathy Marmet at moc.liamg@temramyhtak.

Communications Assistants Wanted!  VATACF is looking for one or more persons to assist in enhancing communications within our diverse and rapidly growing organization.  Volunteers will help maintain the VATACF web site (vachestnut.org), help write announcements and notices, locate photos and illustrations and help manage VATACF’s use of social media.  Special opportunities exist for persons with skill in producing videos for the web.  The work can be conducted at our Marshall, VA, office or from any location with internet service.  The work requirements are flexible and can be organized to fit your schedule.   Volunteers will have the satisfaction of  working with modern technologies and helping to organize and energize the reintroduction of the chestnut tree to American forests.  For more information, or to volunteer, contact us at ten.nozirev@tuntsehcav.

Video Editor and YouTube Guru.  VATACF wants to produce short video productions on a variety of topics to be used for training volunteers and educating the public about a variety of aspects of restoring the American chestnut tree.  If you have skills in video production, including filming, editing and creating YouTube videos, then we have an important role for you to fill.  Work schedules can be organized to fit your needs.  You will gain experience in producing and editing high quality video productions and enhancing VATACF’s educational and training program.  You will have the satisfaction of seeing your work on the internet and in use in field trainings all around the Commonwealth.  For more information, or to volunteer, contact Norman Reid ten.sehguh@diernjta.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Don’t see anything that fits?  We have many more needs than we have listed here.  Match your interests and skills with our needs by filling out the online volunteer interest form.

We will get back to you to work out something that meets your interests and our needs!

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June is packed with activities! There are numerous provisional field work projects that haven’t yet been added to the Event Calendar. If you’re interested in participating in your Chapter's planting, pollination, and various field tasks, please contact them to express your enthusiasm. Additionally, consider subscribing to their newsletter, which regularly provides updates on upcoming events.

Check out our event calendar: tacf.org/events/category/tacf/

#events #fieldwork #americanchestnut #nonprofit #volunteer
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June is packed with activities! There are numerous provisional field work projects that haven’t yet been added to the Event Calendar. If you’re interested in participating in your Chapters planting, pollination, and various field tasks, please contact them to express your enthusiasm. Additionally, consider subscribing to their newsletter, which regularly provides updates on upcoming events.Check out our event calendar: https://tacf.org/events/category/tacf/#events #fieldwork #americanchestnut #nonprofit #volunteerImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Barbara Stovall

The USDA has announced its desire to shut down or repurpose the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), putting TACF’s important chestnut orchard at risk.

This orchard is especially valuable because the trees are growing in soil naturally affected by Phytophthora root rot (PRR), allowing researchers to evaluate disease resistance under real-world conditions. It includes predominantly American chestnut hybrids that have shown promising resistance and could soon provide a vital source of seed for restoration efforts.

We are asking members and volunteers to contact their representatives in Congress and urge continued access to BARC to help preserve this irreplaceable research and restoration resource.

#americanchestnut #contactcongress #calltoaction #conservation #environment
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35 CommentsComment on Facebook

Does the blight that affects the American chestnut live in the soil or is it airborne? I own several acres that once was a surface coal mine. The reclaimed soil is void of microbes (some consider it sterile). Empress trees grow on it, as well as many native species that don’t do so well in a mature forest. I’d like to try chestnut but not sure if it’s worth the investment.

That is a Chinese chestnut not an American chestnut

I hope they keep it open. These orchard are so important for forest restoration efforts. I created one for Butternut.

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It was so much fun to get out and nature and be a part of a community. Volunteer and check out events with your state Chapter to see what you have been missing!

Click the link in our bio to visit the "Volunteer" and "Events Calendar" links under "Get Engaged"

#explore #getinvolved #volunteer #americanchestnut #conservation
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Excellent, Maryland TACF, Maryland Maryland Chestnut Festival

Have you been wanting to learn more about chestnut blight? I thought so!

Check out the article: www.aol.com/lifestyle/orange-gashes-tree-bark-023000711.html

#americanchestnut #explore #restoration #nature #news
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Have you been wanting to learn more about chestnut blight? I thought so! Check out the article:  https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/orange-gashes-tree-bark-023000711.html #americanchestnut #explore #restoration #nature #news

1 CommentComment on Facebook

That's just Bigfoot pruning around

Amazing work being done by the West Virginia Chapter! ... See MoreSee Less

Amazing work being done by the West Virginia Chapter!Image attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

Well done West Virginia TACF Chapter !!! * * * *

Thank you!

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