About Us
Our Mission
The Ohio Chapter was founded primarily to bring about the restoration of the American chestnut throughout the hardwood forests of Ohio, where it once flourished. We work with the National Foundation to advance research, education, and public awareness of this important tree species. The Ohio Chapter implements this mission by education and research. Education would include projects such as establish demonstration plantings to acquaint people with the American chestnut and the blight that has almost eliminated by the blight, providing material for education, provide grants to support demonstration plantings and presenting information at appropriate forums. Research would include mine restoration plantings with American chestnuts, reforestation projects including American chestnut, test plantings of hybrid American chestnuts, finding and document surviving American chestnuts in Ohio, and supporting chestnut research in Ohio with grants.
American Chestnut in Ohio
The range of the American Chestnut was mostly restricted to the glaciated and unglaciated Appalachian Plateau region In Ohio. This is roughly the eastern half of the state. The chestnut grew mostly as part of the oak hickory forests and constituted 10-20% of the forests in eastern Ohio. They reached3-4’ DBH. Since Ohio is in the western part of the range the of the tree the blight did not completely decimate the chestnut in Ohio until the early 1940’s. Some large snags persisted for awhile but now almost the only thing left are root sprouts in the understory of the forest and ODNR now lists the American Chestnut as extirpated in Ohio.
Ohio Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
The Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut foundation was established in 2005. The mission of the Ohio Chapter is to support the goals of the TACF through research and education to restore the American Chestnut to its former glory. Education includes demonstration projects to increase awareness, presentations, and publications on the American Chestnut. Research efforts include restoration projects, finding surviving trees in Ohio, and sponsoring research supporting the restoration of the American Chestnut in Ohio and throughout its range.
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Mr. Stephen Rist
Ohio DNR Division of Forestry
Email: ohchapter@acf.org
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mr. Bruce A. Willis
TREASURER
Mr. Ryan Homsher
SECRETARY
Greg Chopko
WEBMASTER
Frank Skalak
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dale Angerman
Dr. Bob Clark
Dr. Carolyn Howes Keiffer
Kristen Lehtoma
Dr. Greg Miller
Tom Mills
Chestnut Links
Chestnut Specific Resources
Ohio Woodland Journal Summer 2021 Page 12
USDA PLANTS Profile for Castanea dentata
Breeding and Growing Chestnut
TACF’s 3BUR: Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol United for Restoration
More General Topics Related to Hardwoods
Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative
USDA Forest Service Publications (and Treesearch)
Silvics of North America
Documents
Annual Meeting Minutes
Ohio Board Mtg F-2016
Ohio Business Mtg F-2016
In The News
Restoring Giants (March 2017) Ohio Cooperative Living. Pages 32-33.
Membership
Membership Form (National and Ohio Chapter)
Ohio Chestnut Inventory
Ohio Small Grant Application
Ohio Chapter Menu
National Facebook
Ohio friends: celebrate the American chestnut on Tuesday, April 23 at the John Bartram Arboretum at Kendal at Oberlin.
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Zoom meeting plans?
Pets of The American Chestnut Foundation: Episode 3
Charlie Renfield Sparkle, aka Charlie Chestnut or “Chichi,” is a certified HLI (Horrible Little Idiot) with over 6 months experience of bringing joy and chaos to the home of TACF’s Northern Regional Outreach Coordinator, Catherine Martini. He was brought home last fall along with the chestnut harvest and has been trying to bury himself in the forest ever since. Charlie is not a wild-type American chihuahua and hasn’t been genotyped yet, but phenotypically we believe he is a Pug-Chihuahua hybrid.
When not digging up various disgusting things in the yard, Charlie is most frequently attacking his siblings or snoring on Catherine’s lap while she checks her emails.
Matilda is the soul-dog and familiar of Catherine. She is a fearsome and powerful wrestler who only plays “Matilda wins.” Her favorite activities include sunning herself, going for long walks in the wilderness, protecting every baby (no matter what species – most recently, bunnies), and giving an amount of kisses way above the recommended daily allowance. Matilda prides herself on her ability to make anyone, even her dog siblings, give up their spot on the couch for her. And let’s face it, she really deserves that spot more than any of us do.
Moreau “Goose” Martini-Riley is a 5-year-old boxer dog who got the nickname of “Goose” because he is so silly. Goose is here for two reasons: to play, and to eat butter – and he’s not allowed to eat butter.
Goose only has one brain cell, which is heart-shaped, so he’s perfectly suited to his job of being the charismatic goof-ball who loves everyone. He enjoys making everyone he meets feel like the most important person in the world and will sneak in a sloppy kiss or two if you let him. Goose loves to help in the garden, mostly by digging holes, but he also loves to hurt in the garden, mostly by digging holes. Goose was born deaf, but he doesn’t know it – he knows sign commands and enjoys sleeping through his siblings’ barking parties.
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Join us on TODAY, April 19, 2024, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EDT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat, where we'll talk all about growing chestnuts!
In this episode, we will cover all the basics of planting, growing, and maintaining American chestnut trees. TACF staff and expert volunteers will talk about how to plant chestnuts from seed and from seedlings, including bareroot and containerized seedlings, as well as considerations for planting in the spring versus the fall. Bring your questions and don’t miss this Chestnut Chat that is sure to become an instant classic.
Visit the link to save your spot! tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-growing-chestnuts/
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Was this episode recorded? I was only able to follow along for a few minutes because I was at work. But, I'd love to see this again.
You can make a difference for people, for an ecosystem, and for a tree.
Join the movement to save the American chestnut by becoming a member of The American Chestnut Foundation today.
support.tacf.org/membership
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One year ago volunteers gathered at Pryor Orchard in Edneyville, NC and planted chestnuts seeds gathered on the Appalachian Trail by NC/SC Chapter member Jon Taylor, who also led a planting demonstration at the start of the event.
To see find out about volunteer and planting events in your neck of the woods, visit our events calendar at tacf.org/events/category/tacf/
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Latest News
Ohio Chapter Meeting September 11, 2021
September 11, 2021 Annual Meeting of the Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation The annual meeting was held virtually via ZOOM. President Carolyn Keiffer told the membership she is retiring from Miami University at the end of the year and the presidency of...
Ohio Chestnut Grant Applications
Ohio Chapter Grant Applications due October 30, 2021!! Grants are available for up to $1000 for any project or plan furthering the American Chestnut by planting, education, or another manner. These grants are available to any people or organizations who would be...
OH Chapter Grants Applications
Posted September 23, 2021 Ohio Chapter Grant Applications due October 30, 2021 Grants are available for up to $1000 for any project or plan furthering the American Chestnut by planting, education, or another manner. These grants are available to any people or...