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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:
- Site requirements
- Planting Instructions
- Host Responsibilities
- TACF Responsibilities
Vermont / New Hampshire Chapter Menu
National Facebook
April events! Kicking things off is Chestnut Chat, an event open to everyone, everywhere.
Visit our events calendar for more information on each event.
#explorepage #chestnutchat #events #getinvolved #ActNow
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Check out this article on Clemson News about how scientists from Clemson University, Virginia Tech and The American Chestnut Foundation are using genomic selection to develop trees capable of surviving chestnut blight and Phytophthora root rot.
Read the article to hear more about Clemson's role in studying Phytophthora root rot: news.clemson.edu/clemson-scientists-help-advance-effort-to-restore-the-american-chestnut/
#explorepage #news #environment #americanchestnut #nature
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Good luck
To have the American chestnut tree back would be so great. I remember them. Yep, I am that old!
Would have loved to seen them when they covered the Eastern Forest , Great news on developing a blight and root rot resistant Chestnut
We are not apart from the Earth—we are a part of it. Not something to own or use, but something we belong to. A living part of us, meant to be loved and cared for as deeply as anything else we hold dear.
#restoration #conservation #americanchestnut #chestnut #trees #trending
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“Conservation is getting nowhere because it is incompatible with our Abrahamic concept of land. We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” ― Aldo Leopold
TACF is hiring!
We’re looking for a 2026 New England Restoration Intern to support hands‑on chestnut breeding and forest restoration work across our New England chapters. This paid summer internship offers real‑world experience in plant breeding, field research, orchard management, and conservation science. 🌱
Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them!
Visit tacf.org/employment/ to find out more information and apply!
#americanchestnut #internship #hiring #explorepage #conservation #forestrestoration
Building the future of our trellis orchard one graft at a time! After beginning to train Chinese chestnut trees onto wire last summer, Meadowview Research Farm staff are continuing that work this season by grafting and training American scion onto the same system. By training chestnut trees on wire, our hope is that the canopy is more accessible, making it easier and safer to access all male and female flowers from the ground. Grafting diverse American chestnut scion onto the wire will provide future access to trees from other regions. This careful process of connection and guidance blends strength, structure, and adaptability. #americanchestnut #RestorationInProgress #chestnutresearch #forestrestoration #meadowviewresearchfarms #conservationscience
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Great work!!
That's a great idea and i hope it works for ya'll, Good luck 👍
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