This summer, we’re aiming to produce 1,000 hand-pollinated nuts for our genomic-assisted breeding program, and each one is a vital step toward restoring the American chestnut. Producing a single nut takes time, tools, and teamwork. From pollination to harvest, every step is a vital part of the process to ensure that each nut has the best chance possible to grow into a more blight-resistant tree. Here’s what goes into a single $25 nut: Pollination Bag: $5 Hand Pollination Process: $5 Harvesting t

🌰 It’s National Nut Day! 🌰 What better way to celebrate than by helping restore the most iconic nut tree of them all: the American chestnut. When you donate $25 or more to our End of Year Campaign: One Tree, Many Hands between Oct 22–31, you’ll be entered for one of three chances to win a Seed Level membership with The American Chestnut Foundation! 🌱 Seed Level members receive a subscription to Chestnut magazine, early access to wild-type seedling sales, and four chestnut seeds with intermedi

These are some high-value nuts. And Chester’s got 1,000 to gather. Each $25 nut is hand-pollinated, harvested, and carefully stored as part of our breeding program to restore the American chestnut to its native range. This isn’t just about one squirrel—it’s about rebuilding a forest, one nut at a time. 🌰 Help us grow 1,000 nuts by June 23 📅 Donate today to help Chester reach his goal: https://support.tacf.org/nuts #OneNutAtATime #ChestnutRestoration #ChesterTheSquirrel #TheseNutsMatter #SaveTh

One of the greatest ecological disasters the US has ever seen. Chestnut blight wiped out the American chestnut tree in less than 50 years.⁠ A tree that once made up nearly 25% of the eastern forests was reduced to a functionally extinct species.⁠ ⁠ The Asian fungus Cryphonectria parasitica was accidentally introduced into the United States in the late 1800s. While a few diseased chestnuts were noted in the 1880s and 90s, it wasn't until 1904 that the pathogen was identified in New York City. Fro

Chestnut blight changed everything. Watch how this deadly fungus transformed a once-mighty tree. | The American Chestnut Foundation

This magnificent American Chestnut is a delight to observe. I'm disturbed by the presence of blight on the bark. #treesofinstagram #trees #nuts #disease #leaves #rare | Cherie Ann Rowe