Vermont / New Hampshire News

Pollination Frenzy

The VT/NH Chapter of TACF recently completed an ambitious American chestnut pollination season. Eight wild trees were cross-pollinated in seven different towns.

Craig Tufts, pictured, pollinated a tree that he planted in his Concord, NH back yard seven years ago. Tim Elliot worked with landowner, Bruce Wilson, to pollinate a tree on Bruce’s Dover NH property. Our thanks to Bruce for leading us to this tree.

The blue ribbon goes to Chapter Location Committee member Chris Leask who pollinated six trees: two in Mason, and one each in Greenville, Temple, Wilton and Merrimack. All in NH.

Thanks to everyone who came forward in response to our call, letting us know the status of trees you own or know of, and the locations of new ones. We couldn’t pollinate every tree, but yours may be a target next year or the year after. The availability of members who know how to pollinate, accessibility without a lift, proximity and timing are all challenges every year, and we’ll endeavor to do better matching resources for this annual “dating game” each year.

Nuts from these trees will be harvested in late September, stored over winter and potted in February. Their saplings will be planted in Chapter Germplasm Orchards (GCO) early next summer. Trees growing in GCOs are pure American chestnuts. Those that survive chestnut blight long enough to flower will be pollinated with transgenic chestnut pollen following Federal approval for distribution of the blight-tolerant transgenic tree developed by the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at SUNY Syracuse.

TACF and its 17 Chapters are currently planting GCOs and developing strategies for introducing trees grown in them all across the historic American chestnut range. This biotechnology approach to restoration is the most promising option for widespread restoration. Nobody ever said it would be easy.

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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
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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
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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

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

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/

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.
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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

The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Michael Goergen has been appointed as the organization’s new President & CEO and will begin in mid-September 2025. He will succeed interim President & CEO Bruce Levine.

A strategic executive with more than 25 years of leadership in the forest products and climate sectors, Michael has driven innovation, sustainability, and transformative partnerships throughout his career.

To learn more about him, visit tacf.org/michael-goergen-named-president-ceo-of-the-american-chestnut-foundation/
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The American Chestnut Foundation’s (TACF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Michael Goergen has been appointed as the organization’s new President & CEO and will begin in mid-September 2025. He will succeed interim President & CEO Bruce Levine.A strategic executive with more than 25 years of leadership in the forest products and climate sectors, Michael has driven innovation, sustainability, and transformative partnerships throughout his career. To learn more about him, visit https://tacf.org/michael-goergen-named-president-ceo-of-the-american-chestnut-foundation/
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