PA-TACF
Pennsylvania Chapter
The American Chestnut Foundation
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| ACTIVITIES | |
| PA-TACF depends on volunteers across the state to make our breeding program a success. Check our activity calendar to find an event near you, or call our office at 814-863-7192. There are many events throughout the growing season. | |
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Plantings. Volunteers plant American chestnut seeds each spring. Site preparation, weed control, and tree tubes are essential to help get the seedlings off to a good start. |
Children can help too!
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Pollination. Starting in June, when the male flowers begin to emerge, teams of volunteers venture around PA to prepare the trees for pollination by stripping the male catkins from the limb to reduce self-pollination, then covering the female bur with a weatherproof bag.  Pollinating American chestnut survivors in Howard, Pennsylvania |
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 Check our event calendar for an activity near you
Become a member, and help bring the "King of the Forests" back to PA
Your extra donation to the PA chapter can help buy supplies, plant more trees... |
We then wait until the bur is receptive - about two weeks - and return with the selected pollen, make the cross and replace the bag to wait until the fall harvest.
Orchard Maintenance. Conservative estimates indicate the Chapter spends about 6,000 volunteer hours each year maintaining our orchards. Most of this maintenance is done during the growing season from May through August and consists of landscaping, fertilizing and herbiciding.
Inoculation and Selection. Hybrid trees that are about 4 years old and 1 1/2 inches in diameter are inoculated with the chestnut blight to evaluate their resistance level. Those showing the best resistance and the best American characteristics are selected to continue in the breeding program.
Harvesting and Seed Storage. The Chapter’s volunteers harvest approximately 3,000 to 8,000 chestnuts per year depending upon the next year's planting requirements. The bounty includes hybrids, American, and other species such as Chinese, Japanese, European or chinquapin.
Inserting inoculumOutreach and Education. Volunteers display at outreach events and are available to give presentations on a state-wide or regional basis, educating the general public about the history, blight problems, and recovery of the American chestnut.
814-863-7192 phone | mail@patacf.org