Ohio Chapter

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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WANTED: information leading to the identification of this man for creating the world's most amazing and horrifying American chestnut costume.

The Facts:
1. Photo was taken on June 28, 1998 according to date stamp.
2. Photo has been circulated by TACF Chief Conservation Coordinator Sara Fitzsimmons for many years but she has no idea where it came from.
3. Google Image Search returns no matches on the web.
4. Eep.
5. While the nut of an American chestnut does have a tassel on top, an American chestnut bur does not. And we have to assume the green part is meant to be a bur... right?
6. Wow.
7. There are seedlings in milk cartons on the table so it is safe to assume this was a chestnut-related event, and not an open house where fathers in the military are invited to attend a Furry Convention.

If you or someone you love came into contact with this man 25 years and 9 months ago today, please come forward with any information.

Together we can solve one of the greatest mysteries in the history of American chestnut conservation.
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WANTED: information leading to the identification of this man for creating the worlds most amazing and horrifying American chestnut costume.

The Facts:
1. Photo was taken on June 28, 1998  according to date stamp.
2. Photo has been circulated by TACF Chief Conservation Coordinator Sara Fitzsimmons for many years but she has no idea where it came from.
3. Google Image Search returns no matches on the web.
4. Eep.
5. While the nut of an American chestnut does have a tassel on top, an American chestnut bur does not. And we have to assume the green part is meant to be a bur... right?
6. Wow.
7. There are seedlings in milk cartons on the table so it is safe to assume this was a chestnut-related event, and not an open house where fathers in the military are invited to attend a Furry Convention.

If you or someone you love came into contact with this man 25 years and 9 months ago today, please come forward with any information. 

Together we can solve one of the greatest mysteries in the history of American chestnut conservation.Image attachment

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

5. Oh for pete's sake. The female chestnut flower absolutely does have stigmas sticking out of the top of the developing bur.

1996, so 27 years and 9 months ago.

Wedding band visible, so there was some nutty person who wed him!

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Ask away!

Our April 19 Chestnut Chat will provide detailed instructions on how to grow chestnuts. But we need to hear your questions so we know what to cover!

Please add your questions in the comments below and we will do our best to cover them all in the April Chestnut Chat.

Remember there are no dumb questions! We encourage everybody, from complete beginners to seasoned pros, to join in.

Let's grow some chestnuts!

Can't wait for an answer? Check out our Growing Chestnuts page in the meantime at tacf.org/growing-chestnuts
... See MoreSee Less

Ask away!

Our April 19 Chestnut Chat will provide detailed instructions on how to grow chestnuts. But we need to hear your questions so we know what to cover!

Please add your questions in the comments below and we will do our best to cover them all in the April Chestnut Chat.

Remember there are no dumb questions! We encourage everybody, from complete beginners to seasoned pros, to join in.

Lets grow some chestnuts!

Cant wait for an answer? Check out our Growing Chestnuts page in the meantime at https://tacf.org/growing-chestnuts

7 CommentsComment on Facebook

What other kind of trees or vegetation should they NOT be plant near?

Where can we find seedlings? Seeds?

Best place to source from.

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Did you know that TACF has 16 state chapters? They each host a variety of events over the year and here are some that are coming up soon.

Visit our events calendar for more information on these and other TACF happenings. tacf.org/events/category/tacf/
... See MoreSee Less

Did you know that TACF has 16 state chapters? They each host a variety of events over the year and here are some that are coming up soon. 

Visit our events calendar for more information on these and other TACF happenings. https://tacf.org/events/category/tacf/

Thank you to everyone who attended a 40th Anniversary Celebration with their local chapter of TACF.

Top photo: Attendees of the TN Chapter Annual Meeting and 40th Anniversary Celebration, which took place at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Bottom photo: Attendees of the AL Chapter post-meeting enjoying some brews.

To read more about these and many other TACF happenings, visit the link to read our most recent eSprout newsletter. myemail.constantcontact.com/March-2024-eSprout--Documentary-Wins-an-Award--Domain-Change--Plantin...
... See MoreSee Less

Thank you to everyone who attended a 40th Anniversary Celebration with their local chapter of TACF. 

Top photo: Attendees of the TN Chapter Annual Meeting and 40th Anniversary Celebration, which took place at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Bottom photo: Attendees of the AL Chapter post-meeting enjoying some brews. 

To read more about these and many other TACF happenings, visit the link to read our most recent eSprout newsletter. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/March-2024-eSprout--Documentary-Wins-an-Award--Domain-Change--Planting-Resources--TACF-News--Featured-Photo--Chapter-News.html?soid=1106103828995&aid=M8kn7e4P1A4

Thanks to everybody who joined us Tuesday for an American chestnut demonstration planting with Jamie Van Clief (TACF Regional Science Coordinator) and Jon Taylor (chestnut enthusiast extraordinaire) at West Asheville Park's edible garden in Asheville, NC!

To find a planting event near you, vist tacf.org/events (link in bio)
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1 CommentComment on Facebook

Are those the 18-20’s from the TVA plot? Good use for them, glad to see

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