PA-NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Spring Growers Meeting,  now scheduled for Saturday, March 29th at the Allen Theatre in Annville, PA. We are in the process of putting together the program. If you would like to be involved with planning this meeting please email the Chapter Administrator at mail@patacf.org.

Below are some photos from our 2024 Spring Growers Meeting

Our current fundraising efforts are focused on two targets. First, we are looking to cover expenses of a controlled burn study at Blooming Grove Orchard and second, we would to offer more competitive wages for our 2025 Orchard Intern.

Few studies have investigated the effect of fire on modern American chestnut plantings. The 2015 planting to be burned was installed and maintained by Blooming Grove Hunting Club, which maintains three large plantings and has been a strong and dependable partner in our restoration work. They are interested in conducting a controlled burn of the area and are collaborating with TACF on measurements both before and after the burn to see what can be learned about the application of fire management in chestnut restoration. The money will help cover burn crew operational costs. This study will benefit our mission by providing a glimpse into how fire may play a role in restoration with American chestnuts, primarily through the reduction of competition which, at this site, is largely regenerating yellow birch..

In addition to offering a valuable educational experience to a young person, the orchard internship provides vital support for orchard maintenance and controlled pollination work at the PSU Arboretum. The Intern provides a second pair of hands assuring that potted trees remain watered and cared for, orchard trees remain protected from wildlife and competing vegetation, and the orchard manager has a safety partner during field work.

This fall we are seeking to raise $20,000, with $7,000 earmarked for a burn study at Blooming Grove, and $13,000 directed toward wages and travel expenses for the 2025 intern.

Make checks payable to PA-NJ TACF & send to:

Penn State University
108 Research A Modular Lab
118 Serviceberry Road
University Park, PA 16802

Or Donate online:  https://patacf.org/donate/

This recipe comes from the cookbook, “Classic Chestnut Cuisine” which is for sale in our online store.

Chestnut Soup Recipe

• • 1 lb. of chestnuts
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 1 minced onion
  • 1 Tbsp. of flour
  • 1 tsp. of salt
  • 1/8 tsp. each of nutmeg and pepper
  • 1/2 cup of chopped celery leaves
  • 1 cup of cream

Mash chestnuts well. Combine with milk and beat until smooth, then set the mixture aside. In your soup pot, melt butter, add onion and simmer until soft and golden. Sprinkle with flour, salt, nutmeg, pepper, and celery leaves. Stir in the cream. Heat and serve garnished with parsley or croutons. Makes about three cups.  Note: All cream soups are ruined by boiling, so be sure to hear just to the boiling point or cook it in the top of a double boiler.

Have you tried this recipe? Let us know.

In order to help achieve our wild American conservation objectives, Chapter Board Member, Lake Graboski is setting up targeted “American Chestnut Conservation Missions”. Each mission will identify areas of special interest to our breeding program. We encourage individual hikers and local conservation groups to join these missions to help search for American chestnuts. 

Mission #1: Southwestern PA (Issued 6/3/2022)

Mission #2 Southern New Jersey

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