Research and Breeding
Here is information and some links to the types of research and breeding activities that GA-TACF supports.
Mother Trees
Chapter members spend hours searching the mountains and hillsides of Georgia for American chestnut root sprouts that can be placed into our breeding program. One of the Chapter’s first pure American chestnut trees was found on Springer Mountain by Thomas Fowler and placed in the breeding program during the Chapter’s first breeding season. Since then many other trees have been located with the “Klaus” tree near Warm Springs bringing attention world wide as the most southern tree in the piedmont area.
Without the help of volunteers identifying new trees, our breeding program would come to a halt. Each “mother tree” can only be used to cross with one type of resistant pollen from TACF’s Meadowview Research Farm to produce about 100 backcross trees. This is usually accomplished within 2 years. The more trees we find, the more diverse the gene pool will become.
Orchards
Once nuts are harvested from the resulting backcrosses a suitable orchard must be located to plant them. Berry College was the first to offer a site that would house over 200 trees. The University of Georgia’s Mountain Research and Education Center in Blairsville became our second backcross orchard. Since then we have received many offers for orchard sites that are now in the testing stage. We test for soil suitability, predator protection and overall tree care to determine the best locations for advanced backcross trees. If you are interested in hosting a backcross or demonstration orchard, please contact us at gachapter@acf.org.
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If you live anywhere near Blairsville GA, we want to give you a heads up about a planting event On Tuesday Feb. 14, we plan to plant 20 pure American chestnut seedlings at a new site at the UGA Mountain Research and Education Center (GMREC). We are looking for a few folks to help out (not hard at all) and to potentially help look after the seedlings occasionally after planting. GMREC has a staff and local volunteer group, but it's always nice to have our GA-TACF members and others involved in such things. In any case, if you think you could help out, please let us know at gachestnut@gmail.com and we will put you on our shortlist of volunteers for that site. The alternate date will be March 2.
What time will you start? I live a couple of hours away and might not be able to make an early start (plus, with Georgia weather, it might decide to snow that day).
Volunteers needed at the Flint orchard in Waleska this Friday Jan. 13!
This is a short notice request. Our new chestnut planting at the Flint orchard has come under attack from wild hogs. Our existing deer fence was not up to the task, so we are going to add some more robust wire fencing. We need about three sturdy helpers to help install the wire. We will meet at 10AM at the work shed area and car pool to the orchard site. Directions are below. Bring gloves, a snack if desired, appropriate clothing and footwear for the orchard, it may be muddy. We'll provide water, materials, and tools. Please let me know if you are able to assist.
Jack Rogers
GATACF Chapter President gachestnut@gmail.com
Directions to the site (Austin Flint Farm):
From Waleska, GA, home of Reinhardt University.
1) Head north on Rt. 108 (Fincher Road).
2) In about ¾ mile, turn left onto Pleasant Arbor Road.
3) In a ¼ mile, turn right onto Puckett Road.
4) In another ¾ mile, turn left onto Noah Road (at a bend in the road).
5) In about 250 yds, stay left on Noah Road at a fork.
6) Continue downhill to cross a bridge over a small stream and bypass a small home on the left. Continue up the hill, look for a barn and some work sheds on the right. Volunteers and/or signage will direct you to the orchard location from that point.
Dr. John French gives an on-the-spot lecture prior to the fence-fixing crew's work. Thanks so much for the help!! Photo courtesy of Tom Taylor.
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