Vermont / New Hampshire News

Free Membership With The American Chestnut Foundation for Students at VT and NH Institutions of Higher Education

Appeal to Students
New Student Membership Application Form

What is the most important tree that ever grew in eastern U.S. forests?

American chestnut, Castanea dentata

Why was it so important?

• One of the largest trees in the eastern U.S.; measuring 6-8’ diameter at breast height (DBH).
• The tree once dominated portion of the forest across its native range of 200 million acres.
• A wide diversity of wildlife consumed its nuts as an important food source.
• Livestock was fed by foraging for American chestnuts.
• It was an important traditional human food source.

How was the wood used?

• Lumber was light-weight, strong, rot-resistant and resisted warping.
• The wood was used for furniture making.
• Bridge and railroad construction depended on the strength of the wood.
• Tannin extracted from the wood was used to make leather.

Have you ever seen a large American chestnut tree in the forest?

Probably not! It has been nearly driven to extinction by a fungal disease, chestnut blight, caused by the pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica. Small sprouts from stumps is typically all that is found.

Has this magnificent tree been able to survive the blight?

American Chestnut sprouts still grow across the historic range but they eventually succumb to
chestnut blight. A very small percentage of these trees live long enough to produce nuts.

Is there hope for restoring the American chestnut tree to eastern U.S. forests?

Yes, The American Chestnut Foundation, working with SUNY-ESF (Syracuse), has developed a blight tolerant American chestnut. You can learn more here: https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/ and https://tinyurl.com/ACFrestoration.

What are the priorities for American chestnut restoration in VT/NH?

We need your help to locate wild, flowering American chestnut trees. We will harvest and plant
their nuts to grow trees that preserve genetic diversity for use in future breeding programs.

How can you get involved?

Take advantage of the VT/NH Chapter Free Student Membership offer by completing and
submitting the  application form and participate in chestnut restoration activities.

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Reminder: This year's American Chestnut Photo Contest goes all the way through the end of the year, so when you're out hiking or harvesting chestnuts, take some photos and submit them to us!

To learn more about the rules and prizes, visit tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/
... See MoreSee Less

Reminder: This years American Chestnut Photo Contest goes all the way through the end of the year, so when youre out hiking or harvesting chestnuts, take some photos and submit them to us! To learn more about the rules and prizes, visit https://tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Distinguishing features between American and European chestnut would be welcome. I'm sure some American chestnut must have been planted in England before the Boston Tea Party but the species leaves look very similar.

Restoring Trees, Inspiring Hope 🌱 TACF staff Lucinda Wigfield, Jim Tolton, and Brian Henrich joined monitoring efforts for Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) progeny in the Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Led since the 1970s by Dr. Terry Sharik, this collaboration offers valuable lessons from a native tree restoration program well along in reintroduction and long-term monitoring. 🌳

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

Restoring Trees, Inspiring Hope 🌱 TACF staff Lucinda Wigfield, Jim Tolton, and Brian Henrich joined monitoring efforts for Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) progeny in the Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Led since the 1970s by Dr. Terry Sharik, this collaboration offers valuable lessons from a native tree restoration program well along in reintroduction and long-term monitoring. 🌳 #Restoration #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms

Growing the Future of Restoration 🌱 Nursery Manager Brian Henrich and Emory & Henry University Bonner Scholar Maddy Rossi-Dupas prepare Large Surviving American (LSA) progeny seedlings—harvested from Lesesne State Forest and grown at Meadowview Research Farms—for Chapter plantings. Meadowview’s efforts extend far beyond its own fields, strengthening TACF Chapters and fueling chestnut restoration across our range.

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

Growing the Future of Restoration 🌱 Nursery Manager Brian Henrich and Emory & Henry University Bonner Scholar Maddy Rossi-Dupas prepare Large Surviving American (LSA) progeny seedlings—harvested from Lesesne State Forest and grown at Meadowview Research Farms—for Chapter plantings. Meadowview’s efforts extend far beyond its own fields, strengthening TACF Chapters and fueling chestnut restoration across our range. #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarmsImage attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

The TACF and local state chapters do an annual seed sale if you are a member. You can look at this page for more info tacf.org/american-chestnut-seeds-and-seedlings/

Bless you all for doing this critical work. Blight resistant American Chestnut trees in my lifetime would be a dream realized.

Love it!!!

Have you visited our events calendar lately? Fall is prime time for chestnuts, so get out into your community and go on a hike, visit an orchard, or purchase a seedling!

Visit tacf.org/events/category/tacf/ for more information about upcoming events in the American chestnut's native range.
... See MoreSee Less

Have you visited our events calendar lately? Fall is prime time for chestnuts, so get out into your community and go on a hike, visit an orchard, or purchase a seedling! Visit https://tacf.org/events/category/tacf/ for more information about upcoming events in the American chestnuts native range.

The amazing Bette Midler on why she started the New York Restoration Project--and at the 3:15 mark, watch her talk about and plant a chestnut! ... See MoreSee Less

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3 CommentsComment on Facebook

What a wonderful person ! Go Bette !!!!

Patti Clark

Michelle Waskie

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