Vermont / New Hampshire Chapter

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How can I get a chestnut tree?

The TACF National Office, Asheville, NC, provides chestnuts to members only. Bare root ‘pure’ American seedlings are offered through the TACF journal “Chestnut” in early Spring. Potentially blight-resistant hybrid Chinese/American chestnuts are available to Seed Level Members. The blight-resistance of these trees cannot be guaranteed; they are for initial testing and research and are not available to the general public. Blight resistance seems to be directly correlated with the percent of Chinese chestnut in the hybrid genome. Note that these seeds or seedlings are not being sold but are a benefit of membership. By participating as a seed level member, you help TACF continue to do its important work and continually improve material for release.

“Pure” American chestnut seeds (nuts) are available in the Spring to VT/NH Chapter members on a limited basis. These trees are not blight-resistant, but they are fun to grow and will sometimes live many years. This ‘free nut’ offering with video growing instructions is available to VT/NH Chapter members each spring while supplies last. These are wild American chestnut seeds, and as is true with all American chestnuts, are susceptible to blight. An email notice about this offer is sent to members late winter.

Instructions for planting and growing chestnuts can be found on the TACF fact sheets web page.

Do you think you’ve found an American chestnut tree in Vermont or New Hampshire?

Please collect a leaf and twig sample, read these instructions, print a locator form and submit to:

Kendra Collins, TACF New England Regional Science Coordinator
USFS Northern Research Station, 705 Spear Street
South Burlington, VT 05403

Are you interested in hosting a chestnut orchard?

Please read the planting manual for more information about what is involved with growing chestnut trees. This manual was developed for Pennsylvania, but the considerations outlined are applicable to Vermont and New Hampshire as well.

Educational Planting Guidelines

An educational planting is an opportunity for host organizations to partner with TACF. TACF will provide an appropriate number of Possibly Blight Resistant Chestnuts (generally five or six) for the host to plant in highly visible locations. The host agrees to join TACF and install interpretive signs. The benefit to the host is a living educational addition to ongoing programs. This outreach activity is a membership-building and volunteer recruitment strategy for TACF.

Planting Guidelines include:

  1. Site requirements
  2. Planting Instructions
  3. Host Responsibilities
  4. TACF Responsibilities

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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/
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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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