Virginia Chapter

Resources and Programs

In this section you will find information about the American chestnut and efforts to restore it to America’s woodlands. Included is information on the science behind the American chestnut breeding program, educational resources and materials, and reference information about chestnuts.

Information for Chestnut Growers

A.T. MEGA-Transect Chestnut Project

TACF Grower’s List – A way to communicate with other American chestnut restoration growers about issues related to growing chestnuts – link to Penn State web site

Planting Time is Coming!  – Guidelines for starting seedlings

TACF Resources – link to TACF resources web page

Hypovirulence Resources – MD Chapter web page

Grafting Resources – MD Chapter web page

Penn State Chestnut Growers Website – Everything a chestnut grower needs to know and much more, including back issues of the TACF Journal and other publications in pdf format.

The American Chestnut video by Thomas Nassif – An 18 minute video that tells the story of the chestnut and TACF, documents controlled pollination and shows the basics of hypovirulence.

Teaching Materials

Lesson Plans and Class Materials

The American Chestnut Tree Story

A short pamphlet designed for 4H middle school students.  It contains information about the American chestnut tree, a children’s story and other information.

Lesson Plans by Shelley Casey – NSF Kenan Fellows Program at NCSU

Students will study how biotechnology is being used to develop a blight resistant tree. They will engage in hands-on activities that have students apply their knowledge of DNA and genetics to simulate the steps needed to find the genes for resistance and insert them into an American Chestnut tree. Lessons are designed to be used for any level of Biology student and do not require high tech equipment.

Issue 11 Compass Magazine

A great resource for classroom use, with good photos and basic information along with an introduction to some advanced scientific work.

From the Woods – Chestnut Brochure

This four-page, full-color publication tells the history of American Chestnut, the blight that wiped it out, and research on blight resistant chestnut trees. It is part of an educational series for youth (2004).

Games for Kids

Fun games kids can play while learning about the American chestnut.  Downloadable pdf files.

Charlie Chestnut Workbook Labels

Doris Goldman Coloring Book

Created by Pennsylvania Chapter volunteer Doris Goldman.

Additional Resources

Resources for Data Collectors

Please download and print the map(s) and corresponding count report form(s):

Virginia and north:

http://sfr.psu.edu/public/chestnut/reports/mega-transect/at-maps

South of Virginia:

Maps & Charts S of VA

Other Forms:

Kit & checklist – 2013

Large Tree Chestnut Report – 2013

Large Tree Table Report – 2013

Count Report Form – 2013 (Use only if large tree report or table are not available)

Chart_Trail_Change

A.T. National Park Research Permit

Blue Ridge Parkway Permit – 2013-2014

Shenandoah National Park Research Permit

Virginia Chapter Menu

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And harvesting continues! This report from the TACF The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation has a great description of the process, what happens after the nuts are picked and processed and also how we work with so many partners like Berry College who helps process the harvested nuts. Also pictured is Kathy Patrick, the volunteer of the year for the entire southern region of TACF. Thank you, Kathy, for your dedication and hard work. We will see you at the Fall Meeting! Note: some of these nuts were harvested at Anna Ruby Falls by staff Member Matt Summers! ... See MoreSee Less

And harvesting continues! This report from the TACF The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation has a great description of the process, what happens after the nuts are picked and processed and also how we work with so many partners like Berry College who helps process the harvested nuts.  Also pictured is Kathy Patrick, the volunteer of the year for the entire southern region of TACF. Thank you, Kathy, for your dedication and hard work. We will see you at the Fall Meeting! Note: some of these nuts were harvested at Anna Ruby Falls by staff Member Matt Summers!Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

11 CommentsComment on Facebook

Do you ship seeds

This is amazing!

Is there any way to get some seedlings

Let us hope this is exceptional news, I wish we could grow chestnuts here in Kansas zone 6.

I'd love to have an American Chestnut tree in my field.

Hope to see more saplings at Shieling State Forest soon. I walk thru every weekend.

They’re fallin in Southern Ohio!

Do you ship seeds or saplings? If so will they grow in northern Michigan

Newbee here, why does the tree bark look so narly?

I remember my college days at SFA in Nacogdoches Texas 1st year dendrology . On our lab one week we were sampling trees in a neighborhood close to campus instead out in the woods. We came up on a so called (ringer) or a tree not included in our textbook. Because I had spent a lot of time in North Carolina I recognized right off as an American chestnut and got to go home early. Now how it got there nobody knows but it’s still there torturing new dendrology students today under the watchful eye of the forestry department at SFA,

They are selling saplings at fryberg fair for $20 each.

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Carolinas Chapter member Jon Taylor recently spent 10 days collecting chestnut burs from 18 wild trees spanning Alabama to Connecticut. This was his third annual chestnut harvest, and the nuts he collected will get planted in several different germplasm conservation orchards. The goal is that some of these will eventually become mother trees and receive transgenic pollen.

1st photo: An American chestnut tree on the Appalachian Trail in central Pennsylvania

2nd photo: Jon Taylor with newly discovered American chestnut tree in Connecticut
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Carolinas Chapter member Jon Taylor recently spent 10 days collecting chestnut burs from 18 wild trees spanning Alabama to Connecticut. This was his third annual chestnut harvest, and the nuts he collected will get planted in several different germplasm conservation orchards. The goal is that some of these will eventually become mother trees and receive transgenic pollen.

1st photo: An American chestnut tree on the Appalachian Trail in central Pennsylvania

2nd photo: Jon Taylor with newly discovered American chestnut tree in ConnecticutImage attachmentImage attachment

30 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank for your efforts Jon!

Way cool!

I would love to get some blight resistant trees so I could spread the chestnut 🌰 tree love 🌳

Awesome!

Found some chestnuts while hiking in the Smokies this week.

Wonderful!

I truly hope that this effort is successful. It would be a great thing to see the chestnut become a major tree once again across the Eastern to Central US.

Good !

Nice finds! Here is the one I found on my farm. Western PA It's around 50 feet tall.

I am curious how to order seedlings? We've got acreage in Western NC mountains and we'd love to plant lots of these.

My mom has a sizable one in her yard in Brevard, NC with no signs of blight. It has seeds every year.

A question for the experts…would it be possible to grow a tree in zone 5b Chicago? Congratulations on this wonderful mission.

Such important work. ❤️❤️❤️

The tree on #1 looks more like a shagbark hickory than a chestnut. I have both growing on my property.

I really need some seedlings!!!

Looks like my chestnut tree

These are blight resistant?

I had a chestnut 🌰 tree that got to be 40 inches round and plenty of chestnuts but one year it got dark and looked like it caught the blight. It was a shock to me because my papa had planted it from a seed. I have 2 more That look like bushes. But I’m afraid they also are prone to catching the blight.

I love anyone on a mission, but I especially love THIS mission. Thank you.

Is there a report of any in Red Creek, NY?

There is a grove in Orleans, MA.

I know where some of these are in Middelsboro Kentucky where I grew up

Are these just blight survivors found out in the world? We had a chestnut tree in our yard growing up in the 90’s in Northern Virginia. So many yummy nuts from that tree. Not sure if it’s still alive. 😢

I have in my possession a rustic “chest” that my paternal grandfather made on or before the turn of the century in Clinton MD He put little wheels on it for easy mobility. Thick, roughly cut CHESTNUT. A treasure.

Will ANY live in North Dakota? Even as small trees?

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It's harvest time. Recently we've been sharing a lot of posts displaying all the activities of our volunteer chapters. We hope you can see all the support and work it takes toward this mission by a small, grassroots organization. With the help of our volunteers, orchards, TACF staff and Meadowview Research Farms, we've been able to plant, distribute and harvest so much since our founding 40 years ago. Here's a brief recap:
>2 MILLION chestnuts harvested
>400,000 American chestnut trees planted
>185,000 seedlings distributed to our partners and 16 volunteer chapters in 21 states and orchards.

The work continues. We appreciate every contribution.

Give today at: www.facebook.com/donate/846539177024846/
... See MoreSee Less

Its harvest time. Recently weve been sharing a lot of posts displaying all the activities of our volunteer chapters.  We hope you can see all the support and work it takes toward this mission by a small, grassroots organization. With the help of our volunteers, orchards, TACF staff and Meadowview Research Farms, weve been able to plant, distribute and harvest so much since our founding 40 years ago.  Heres a brief recap:
>2 MILLION chestnuts harvested
>400,000 American chestnut trees planted
>185,000 seedlings distributed to our partners and 16 volunteer chapters in 21 states and orchards.

The work continues. We appreciate every contribution.  

Give today at: https://www.facebook.com/donate/846539177024846/Image attachmentImage attachment

37 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank you for all your tireless work on this effort, it is so very appreciated. 

Donated! I was the first one! Woohoo! I love all chestnut revival - best wishes!

Very interested in planting some chestnut trees but not sure how to get seed.

How can I get a part of this? I live in Ohio and have 30 acres. I would love to plant some chestnut trees.

Can you suggest how to sprout the seeds that I’ve collected?

Harvested yesterday in NW CT for the CT chapter!

Where can you buy American chestnuts

Do you have a State Chapter in Oklahoma where I could get some seeds or young trees to re-plant?

I would love to plant some seeds or plants. In middle Tennessee

👏👏👏👏

I'm sure they can grow in northern Indiana, but I've never seen any to buy. I would love to add one in my 5 acres!

I am germinating walnuts for my property in NEW BEDFORD ma. I have plenty of room if you have and extra plants

How can we get seedlings. I always collect chestnuts

Would love to have chestnut trees once again here on our family farm of 56 acres here in MD.

Will they grow in northern New Mexico. We have cold winters and hot summers. If so I would like to get seedlings

Hello from north georgia.

Where can I get one

Will they grow in Florida

Will these survive in central Texas with the extreme heat and drought and limestone soil?

I have a chestnut tree I started 2 years ago and need to transplant it somewhere. I’m in Boston Ma any suggestions

1…will they grow in Utah? 2. If so, how do I get seeds to grow and then replant in mountains

I would be interested in a seedling

I have 5 acres in NC I want to grow some on

I would love too help!

Is there a Michigan branch? I would like to add some to our collection/nurseries.

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5 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

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