Research
Ohio Chapter TACF Small Grants Program
Grants are available to assist members with active restoration projects within, outreach activities, and scholarly research conducted within the State of Ohio. Click here for Rules, Responsibilities, and Proposal Guidelines.
The Ohio Chapter of American Chestnut Foundation (OH-TACF) was founded largely through the efforts of Ohio scientists and as such has a strong interest in breeding, restoration ecology, and reclamation biology.
Because of the large amount of the land-base disturbed through surface mining in unglaciated Ohio, the chapter has a special devotion towards combining mineland reclamation and chestnut restoration.
Through research funded by the USDI Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, we have explored various ways to regenerate chestnut on previously disturbed minelands. Many post SMCRA lands in Ohio exist has monocultures of non-native species (orchard grass, autumn olive, Lespedeza, etc.) on heavily compacted soils. Natural succession to a hardwood forest community type is virtually arrested and unlikely to occur in normal time frames.
Through much trial and error, we have developed a fairly successful method of planting that results in high survival of bare root seedling plantings. A 48-inch mesh cage protects from deer browsing, a weed mat reduces competition with herbs, gravel reduces mole and vole bark stripping, fertilizer and TerraSorb enhance establishment and promote survival. This method is moderately expensive ($10/seedling) and requires 20 minutes to establish; however, survival is usually greater than 90%. We advocate this method for high quality hybrid seedlings where high survival is desired.
We have successfully used heavy equipment to loosen compacted soils and increase aeration, infiltration, and permeability. We have used a 36-inch ripping bar on a D-6 sized dozer and followed this with a 16-inch surface plow and disk on a large tractor. The above planting method is used after this type of site prep yielding excellent results.
In addition to the studies described above, the Ohio Chapter is currently beginning a program to find surviving chestnuts in Ohio forests, establish demonstration plantings, creating breeding orchards, and advancing various forms of restoration efforts utilizing American chestnut. We welcome all interested parties! Our mission is to keep the American chestnut alive in Ohio for future generations.
If you have any questions regarding current or planned research on American chestnut in Ohio, please contact Brian C. McCarthy at Ohio University.
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Georgia Friends! Trees Atlanta and GA-TACF are looking for volunteers for a workday at the Langhorn Chestnut Orchard in Atlanta on April 27th, 2024.
Trees Atlanta will again be conducting a workday on their Langhorn Chestnut Orchard as part of their 2024 4-0-Forest celebration. Activities include hand-pulling and cutting invasive plants such as English ivy, Chinese privet, and kudzu in a densely wooded area off trail. Physical activity such as bending, pulling, lifting, and kneeling is required. Forest restoration can be physically strenuous - be ready to break a sweat and get dirty and learn a lot while doing it!
This event takes place 9:00am - 12:00pm. Visit the link for more information. www.treesatlanta.org/get-involved/events/conserve-the-4-0-forest-forest-restoration-in-langhorn-c...
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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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