Finding A Decent-Sized American Chestnut Tree

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[@CricketsBay]

Please contact The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) with the locations of that tree and send leaves for testing in the Spring. There's a Pennsylvania/New Jersey chapter which is very active in research to develop blight-resistant American Chestnut trees.

[@notmyworld44]

This is beautiful news!

[@mariatorres9789]

Try not to sample it with dirty tools, & spread diseases.

[@kevin_hannon]

Do they use the "darling gene" in their research or cross with chinese stock? Or are their trees naturally bred and 100% American? Been looking for non-genetically modified or crossed stock to grow out/breed for my own property, it's been hard to find a good source.

[@jfiery]

​@@kevin_hannonme too

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I came here to say this. The Experimental Farm Network is one of the seed suppliers that sells blight-resistant American chestnut seeds, collected from trees that displayed resistance. While there's no guarantee they'll be immune, the idea is for independent growers to continue the selection process themselves. I've always wanted to try growing them.

[@notmyworld44]

My dad used to tell me of the predominance of the American Chestnut tree in the north Georgia mountains where he grew up in the early 1900s. (I am now 79.). They were everywhere, and were a major seasonal source of income for the poor mountain people in the fall when they would gather the super-abundant nuts off the ground and sell them in towns. The American Chestnut was so ubiquitous they would be a major source of commercial timber in that region, and commercially it was called "acid wood". Dad said it was tragic when the Chinese chestnut blight hit the forests of Appalachia and the American Chestnut began to disappear. It was sad to hear him talk about it.

[@renebrock4147]

Same here. My Dad took me out mushroom hunting one year, and stopped by a tree I had never seen before (I was around 7). It was a beautiful bjg tree, but he a was practically crying as he pointed out the blight galls on the trunk. It was a butternut. I couldn't understand why the idea upset him so, so he led me a little farther into the woods to a massive stump. He told me it was all that was left of a chestnut (he and his father and brothers had salvaged the wood years before), and explained more about the blight and what it meant for the woods and the families around the area. Now we have the walnut and oak blight ravaging our woodlands, and I often think about how people will never know the glory they've sacrificed, bringing in diseases and parasites with so many of the imports. Trouble is, most don't even seem to care.

[@APR613]

There are still some people who do care. I’m one of them. I got six “twigs” immersed in gel, shipped in a packet in the mail. I planted them outside my home. Three survived. Today I have two beautiful crepe myrtle flowering trees, and one Washington Hawthorne. I appreciate the beauty and functionality of trees. They provide oxygen, are a home for birds and squirrels, (well,not so much the thorny one but it does serve all the other purposes), provide shade from the sun, filter out pollution and noise from the environment and are beautiful to behold! 😊

[@josephpearlman4010]

While traveling through the Appalachian Mountains we stopped at an overlook. They had a picture taken of the tree covered mountains in 1899 and another taken in 1950 showing bare hilltops with dead trees covering the landscape as far as you could see. How horrifying to see the damage. Since then they have been recovered in other trees but it must have been a sight to see those majestic trees.

[@ernestdurphy154]

The American chestnut had abundant growth from Maine to north Georgia, and was most prolific in the state of Pennsylvania with vast forests of it covering the entire state.

[@notmyworld44]

@@renebrock4147 Rene, most live in cities or suburbs and couldn't care less. The only hope we have to see America as it once was is our Savior's return. God bless you Rene.

[@charlesmiddleton3247]

I am an older forager by nature... collecting mints, acorns, chestnuts and pine cones. On one of my bicycle routes, I came upon a chestnut tree with all its splendor and seeds on the ground. I stopped and loaded my pockets and lightweight pack I was carrying. I was one happy camper!! Before I left, I thanked the tree for her bountiful harvest and her beauty. Thanks for another great video and your precious time of giving to others. From a Vietnam Era Marine Corps veteran.

[@HickoryDickory86]

That is awesome to hear! Please plant the seeds, and if you get trees, reach out to the American Chestnut Cooperators Foundatiom and partner with them in their research to develop blight-resistant all-American Chestnut trees (no hybrids or GMOs, like those pushed by TACF).

[@charlesmiddleton3247]

@@HickoryDickory86 Thanks for your comment and encouragement. I presently have the chestnuts in forest soil I gathered along with different types of pine cones that have opened up. I gathered about 30 seeds.Thinking on planting them on my Son's property. Will definitely be getting more seeds next fall as no one gathers them except for myself and some squirrels:-). Wishing you good health and happy holidays. Namaste. From a Vietnam Era Marine Corps veteran.

[@HickoryDickory86]

@@charlesmiddleton3247 Sounds like a very good plan! And Happy Holidays and good health to you as well.

[@kevin_hannon]

I've seen chestnut much smaller affected by blight where I am in CT, I've never seen one get that big and not have blight. Finger's crossed it's a naturally resistant specimen that can eventually help to repopulate your woods 🤞

[@wtpollard]

I found my first mature American Chestnut just this past August. I've seen plenty of small chestnuts in the woods up in northwestern NJ and southern NY, but this one was in the NYC metro area, in a large park near where I live, that is heavily used and largely overrun with invasive plants. (Pretty much the last place I would have expected to find a healthy chestnut.) We found some chestnut fruits (green, spiky, unopened) on the forest floor first, and eventually found the tree after searching around. The trunk diameter is at least 10" , and it looked about 60ft tall. TACF confirmed the ID and have it on their register now. As exciting as this was, TACF told us that surviving, mature chestnuts are all assumed to be susceptible to the blight, and have survived through luck in avoiding exposure to the disease, rather than having immunity. That kind of makes sense - this tree was a hundred yards or so off-trail, on a hillside, where no one would ordinarily happen upon it.

[@DonnaMSchmid]

How exciting! I live in an 1895 Victorian house in New Jersey, that is filled with beautiful American Chestnut doors, baseboards, mouldings, and trim. I've always thought how tragic that these trees were so decimated by the blight, almost to the point of extinction...

[@wholeNwon]

In our house as well....really beautiful wood.

[@robbcairl3728]

Cool video Adam, I found a similar sized one a few years ago in Massachusetts. I found it by noticing the spiked shells on the forest floor. None of these had viable nuts in them, I found out chestnuts will produce the husks without fertilized nuts inside. Each year I return, late spring to observe flowering and fall to observe fallen fruit. Still waiting for that first viable seed! Tree is 14” circumference, probably 50’ tall. I showed it to a forester who inspected it and declared it to be disease free. So far

[@crowosu]

Might be a Chinese chestnut. I have the same situation on my farm. Spiked shells don’t develop fruit.

[@robbcairl3728]

Probably not, just because it’s a half hour hike into the deep woods. Odd place for someone to plant a tree@@crowosu

[@robbcairl3728]

Sorry, I made an error, the tree was 19” circumference last fall. I did not measure it this year.

[@crowosu]

@@robbcairl3728 Mine was about about a quarter mile from Chinese chestnut shrubs that my grandfather planted. A plant biologist who has done research on Am. chestnuts said that a squirrel or bird may have moved the seeds that far. The tree is large about 18” circumference but only produces burrs that are empty. He doubted that it was a true American chestnut. Hopefully yours is an American.

[@robbcairl3728]

Interesting. Thanks for the input. Something to ponder for sure.@@crowosu

[@Forevertrue]

My grandfather told me his father told him that back in the 1890s 1 in 4 trees in the Kentucky forest were Chestnut trees. They fed hundreds of deer, and other wild game that is pretty scarce today. Thanks for this, as always.

[@papawinthewoods]

I live in Tennessee near Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. There’s an outdoor American Chestnut Field Research Area. They’ve succeeded in getting chestnut trees to grow at least to the point of having chestnuts. I saw them myself a few months back. On the Cumberland Plateau here in Tennessee, the land looks very much like the land does there in Pennsylvania. Let’s hope for the best!

[@chrisblevins5143]

I live in northeast tenn, and I know where you're talking about. It's beautiful over there. We have some of the most amazing forest diversity in tenn, I hope they survive another few hundred years.

[@14gilbertst]

I read somewhere that the blight needs light to thrive, so if you find a tree that is being attacked you can cover the cankers with mud. I think they also recommended wrapping the mud pack with plastic to keep if covered longer. Of course it has to be within reach.

[@clarsach29]

Where I live (Scotland) you sometimes see Sweet Chestnut (C.sativa) which is really recognisable by its spiky fruits, although unfortunately we don't usually get the long hot summers needed for the nuts to fully develop and ripen....i think the leaves of C.sativa change to yellow but as I say it's the fruits that are the bigger give-away, only horse chestnut is vaguely similar.

[@SusanAnnePowerOfTruth]

Another wonderful video from you ~ originally from Eastern Ohio, I watch with nostalgia as you roam your land. I've been roaming the White Mountains of NH for over 25 years now, we have many things in common with your land. Love watching your videos!!!

[@kirawelty]

I have a dozen root crowns sending up saplings all the time here in southern New England. One of the saplings matured, reached 30 ft tall and 4" diameter, but it caught the blight and died. I have another one about 20ft tall and 3" that I saved from the blight by using rooting hormone, same effect as wrapping the blight area in soil and holding in place (similar to air layering).

[@Wheelloader__]

Cool video Adam. The farm where I grew up in central Pennsylvania. The barn timber frame was built with chestnut. The barn was 90 feet long and the chestnut timbers spanned the entire length. The forest around this farm must have been amazing 150 years ago. Their are still some huge oaks and walnut here. But no chestnut. Not even a small one.

[@connormckean9765]

Wow that’s really cool

[@gosmoothgolight7567]

I really appreciate your channel ... the more I watch, the more gems like this I've learned! I live in Michigan's "Mitt" and have one more challenge to add to my hikes in the woods :).Thanks for sharing ... God Bless

[@denniscleveland669]

A NYS forestry guy told me, that the American Chestnuts, should eventually develop a resistance to that blight. There are two, on the property we had in Albany County, NY. He also told me, that he knew the whereabouts of one that was 2’ in diameter, in his jurisdiction.

[@simonkoeman3310]

The main problem with that is the blight girdles them before they start to fruit. They need to be incredibly lucky to have trees be selected for blight resistance and not have the blight spread fast enough to wipe out the remaining population

[@denniscleveland669]

@@simonkoeman3310 They regrow from their own root stock, so each time they re sprout, they supposedly get stronger.

[@wendyandwalter40]

Not exactly. Because they're growing from the same root stock, they're genetically identical. To develop genetic resistance, they need to produce seedlings from nuts.

[@denniscleveland669]

@@wendyandwalter40 which is exactly what they’re doing. They’re living long enough to produce more resistant strains.

[@wendyandwalter40]

@@denniscleveland669 , I apologize - I was not clear. To develop resistance, they need to reproduce. When a stump produces a root shoot, that shoot is identical (a clone, if you will) to the original...and therefore has the same resistance (or, in this case, lack of) as the original. This doesn't mean it's totally a lost cause - while the fungus generally kills them *just* before they're old enough to reproduce, I sometimes see a sapling that produces a single year or maybe two of 4-6 nuts. That's gonna take a long time to develop resistance, but it will eventually happen. Just not in my lifetime. sigh.

[@HollerHunter]

This is incredibly exciting to me. I have never seen one this big. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope this is just the beginning of their resurgence. Is it possible this tree you’ve found is some sort of hybrid that has developed resistance to the blight?

[@mariatorres9789]

It's just a tree that's remote & been left alone. They used to all grow like that.

[@bookswithatwist-vanvelzerp9262]

My elm died at about half that size - I have THREE Butternuts that are a bit bigger - and hoping their disease passes them up - I have them on the leeward side of a pine windbreak in hopes of the pines stopping the spores or whatever LOL Maybe silly - but they are working so far !

[@crowznest438]

This is a subject close to my heart. That's an exciting find! Chinquapins were also affected by this same blight. The deer population is too large for any of these trees to survive in the wild unless every single one is protected by fencing until too large for them to reach the leaves, even if blight resistant Chestnut or Chinquapin trees were available, at least in my area.

[@AuntyZelda]

I live in western North Carolina and have several wild chinquapin trees growing on my property. They bloom and produce seed annually. Never knew there was an issue with a blight. Interesting!

[@crowznest438]

That's wonderful to hear!!@@AuntyZelda

[@hungryplant3849]

Ive found a huge patch of wild chinquapin, they taste like candy. Chinquapin have a huge gene pool and are mostly blight resistant by now. Best part is they readily hybridize with the american chestnut. I would love to work on a hybrid that has the sweet buttery taste of the chinquapin and its blight resistance, but with the incredible growth rate of the chestnut.

[@crowznest438]

Made my day to hear this. @@hungryplant3849

[@mari-kt1kb]

I live in Washington state where the American Chestnut tree is pretty much blight free. They're huge and abundant here in Spokane.

[@Joe_Bag_of_Donuts]

Unless they were transplanted, Washington State lies outside the native range of the American Chestnut - mostly east of the Mississippi and Ohio River basins. Are you sure they are not Chinese Chestnuts?

[@michaelspunich7273]

If they are abundant and huge, they are probably Chinese Chestnuts

[@mari-kt1kb]

@@michaelspunich7273 nope. I checked they are American Chestnut. The blight has not yet reached us.

[@michaelspunich7273]

I did some research... you are absolutely correct! @@mari-kt1kb

[@mari-kt1kb]

@@Joe_Bag_of_Donuts you can Google that dear. It's not worth arguing over. Have a lovely day.

[@joseymour2574]

Sadly, I watched the decline growing up in Canada. These magnificent stately trees were amazing and common but now hardly any remain in southern Ontario only.

[@MElaughs]

Hope the American chestnuts are coming back soon. My advice as a forager is plant your own. Find your nuts and pick out your top 5 biggest roundest, smoothest, prettiest ones to grow on. It's heartbreaking to not eat those you know will be the sweetest, but it's only fair to give back if you're gong to take away. Get them out in nature around February or March. Plant the trees you have grown on from the same tree near to each other, trees recognise family. UK trees are doing well, thank the lands.

[@shelleypilcher3812]

I was bummed I've missed out on Soo many vieoes. They do stopped showing up in my feed. Glad they are back.

[@sapelesteve]

Interesting video Adam! Let's hope that the American Chestnut develops resistance to blight and makes a strong comeback. 👍👍🌲🌲

[@HickoryDickory86]

The American Chestnut Cooperators Foundation has been doing just that since 1970s with selective breeding programs, beginning with two trees that survived the original blight. 😁

[@LiseFracalossi]

I just saw one the other day that was probably about 20' tall. Right off a path in a conservation area, too. It's always a treat to see one that's managed to survive. Indeed, it was the color that clued me in to it!

[@holistichairapist]

Thank you for always sharing such great information. I was looking at the blight and how it’s affected how we celebrate roasting of chestnuts around the holidays immediately I thought I need to see what Adam says about this tree.❤

[@elliot.norton]

Chestnut smells the best of any wood I have worked with. Very unique.

[@T.Dubya311]

Back in the 1970s we used to just walk into the woods on my property in Indiana and harvest chestnuts every year, but those days are gone. Thanks to the Asian chestnut, my last fully mature chestnut died back in the early '80s...

[@douglasstemke2444]

I take it you are somewhere in Southern Indiana? I didn't realize there were still chestnuts here even as late as the 80s. I need to keep my eyes open for stragglers

[@T.Dubya311]

@@douglasstemke2444 I reckon you could call it west central Indiana. Clay County Indiana. It's a little south of center.

[@magimike1618]

I wish I could have walked through the forests of 5-15' wide 800 year old chestnut trees on the slopes of the Smokey Mountains. Please keep us updated on this beautiful tree you found

[@communistwoman]

My grandfather kept hees back in the day. He has numerous jars of old chestnut honey. Holy crap is it delicious.

[@davidkennedy7431]

Thanks to your videos I've become an avid mushroom hunter. I have been fascinated by the story of the American Chestnut but have never thought I could see one so I've never looked. I will now during my foraging and hiking trips. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@usagi10100]

Im currently working on a few chestnut seeds. Got them in the fridge in moist coco coir.

[@nackyeads2508]

Hi Adam, right after I came in from the woods,I saw this video! I had looked at a tree and wondered what it was and behold! You told me! Thanks so much!

[@StanEby1]

This is great news. The bark looks good. The other comments are very helpful too.

[@urankjj]

Do not confuse with the Horse Chestnut tree, (Aesculus hippocastanum), or Buckeye, as those nuts are poisonous but do look quite simular to the American chestnut.

[@zkablam4121]

Could listen to this guy talk for hours. Just a chill and knowledgeable dude. Is he like. Wild life biologist or is this a hobby for him ?

[@kevinkrochak2546]

Thank you! I always learn something new from your posts.

[@douglasstemke2444]

Very exciting. It would be wonderful if you have found a blight resistant tree. I have followed the research in the field (I am a microbiologist) including research here in Indiana at Purdue. Not in my lifetime, but it would be wonderful to reestablish the tree, provide habitat for Green Salamanders and likely many invertebrates if they can evolve and reestablish their niche in that tree. Congratulations on your find.

[@gailskitchen]

I just found your channel and I love it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to produce quality videos. I’m so happy to find such good content and will enjoy catching up on all your videos.

[@alleghenymountainoutdoors2761]

I found a large American Chestnut tree last year in a State Forest in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. I just checked on it again this year and it’s still doing well and producing chestnuts!

[@sonofabear]

You said you feel a hunch you were going to find a chestnut. Do you feel intuition plays a large part in your foraging? I definitely find more interesting plants, mushrooms and trees when I follow my intuition and curiosity in the forest.

[@sunnywithpuddles]

I grew up in Vancouver BC Canada, my parents bought a small cabin when I was young. there are a several large American chestnut trees in the area about 2' in diameter. My dad had to teach people in the area how to roast and eat them as they were discussing cutting them down do to the spiky husks being troublesome. Grew up with an abundance of them every fall. we collected large burlap sacks full every year and ate them through to the following summer. was a common snack for us to pack for hikes as we roast them for leftovers.

[@sunnywithpuddles]

PS. I'm new to your channel. found you looking for sumac details. Hoping I can find them in northern Thailand where I live now.

[@timmynormand8082]

Thank you Adam

[@BonnieBlue2A]

I’ve seen a surprising number of American Chestnut trees in Eastern TN and Western NC. I do not have any American Chestnut trees on my land in Missouri that I know of. However, I planted a Chinese Chestnut about 5 years ago and something must be pollinating it as it produced chestnuts both last year and again this year. 🤔

[@hiitsmyname6987]

I advise not to plant more foreign trees. (Especially Chinese and Japanese chestnuts). Since those trees carried over the blight to begin with. They may carry other diseases.

[@tigergreg8]

Our family has 55 acres in Western Pa , and I never once heard about Chestnut Trees usually not growing to full growth because of this. Now, I want to walk around and see if we have any on our land. Thanks.

[@benzell4]

Great find Adam!

[@JerseyMiller]

Used to eat Chestnuts as a kid in central Pennsylvania and wondered why i never see them anymore. Great vid

[@daveg2491]

Wow I saw this video on the day it came out and today I just found an American chestnut in the woods down my street! Atlantic County, NJ

[@billross5877]

I have one here that is about 20 inches diameter. Babyed it for years. It produces several chestnuts each year. I live in Virginia in the Appalachian mountains there hundred in these mountains, but don't get more than 4 to 5 inches in diameter.

[@Camo-Dan]

This is such a great tip!! I had no idea it would be easier to find them in the fall. Im in western mass/upstate ny and when I’m out hunting in the fall im going to search for them from now on based of that! Great video/find!

[@LearnYourLand]

Thanks for watching!

[@tonystewart7624]

Good find!

[@lisalynch629]

Thanks for your teaching!

[@chrisw3106]

Good to see you again, Wheelers Way

[@amywilkins]

You inspire me so much. Thanks ❤

[@TheTicktockman321]

As a child, a family friend found some chestnuts and gave each of us one to eat. My dad decided to roast them by the fire like in the song. I remember tgem tasting amazing. Several years later I saw some in the store and bought them. I was so disappounted that they didnt seem to have an impressive taste. It turns out that the ones from my childhood were the real deal but the store ones are common Chinese veriety. I've longed to relive that childhood memory.

[@ErelasInglor]

Very nice and thanks for sharing, I hope you've passed this specimen's ID on to TACF as it may be a great source of pollen for future wild type progeny. It's quite amazing how often folks believe their chestnuts to be 100% Castanea dentata. Often, it is not the case and many end up being early hybrids (C. dentata x sativa) or Chinese Chestnuts. Very thankful for the work on the Darling 58 project to help save this species from extinction as there are no "blight resistant" American chestnut trees as some places try and advertise.

[@HickoryDickory86]

There actually are. The American Chestnut is capable of native blight-resistance. The American Chestnut Cooperators Foundation (ACCF) has been doing that work since the 1970s, and started with two trees that are survivors of the original blight. The GMO strain is entirely unnecessary (but there is a lot of money to be made in it, so no surprise that's where the funding went 😒).

[@ErelasInglor]

@@HickoryDickory86 That is purely false information, I’m sorry you’ve been mislead. The original gmo’s -hybrids which have been time and again faulty since the 1970s and beyond are shown to be a greater source of gene manipulation and unregulated than those modified trees with precision care in introducing resistance. ESF’s work is not funded for monetary gain like the companies using hybrid poplars for “carbon credits”. Native “resistance” is based on hypo-virulent strains that were introduced or inoculated into C. dentata, there are no pure, American Chestnuts that have shown innate resistance of the type we see with other chestnuts around the world. What you are depicting are “cruddy bark” specimens, that are dealing with a less potent blight. Some have been isolated in such a way as to be used in resistance studies, but many of these have succumb, sadly. Thankfully, the hard work of generations in getting us to where we are today to restore via scientific breakthrough on our native trees will bring back this wonderful species in a pure, and unadulterated format vs introducing nonnative genetics.

[@inacholst5070]

Awesome video, very moving. Thank you, Adam!

[@christyassid8871]

What a wonderful find!

[@nancyrea3863]

Good information. Thanks.

[@Will-ll4gv]

So knowledgeable and interesting, thanks Adam

[@jimburns53]

You can now buy American or a cross chestnut tree. We have some here in NC that would get big enough from the big old stumps to have nuts then the next year the blight would kill them again. A few years later it would do it again. They collected grafts and small trees from these and took them out west and they are now blight proof. You can go online and find them to plant and they aren't terribly expensive either.

[@darrylneidlinger5578]

Hey Adam, deer hunt around that! great find stay awesome

[@richardbernard6845]

thank you Adam for another excellent preso:-)

[@kevinesterline622]

Love tree's , wildlife, and this channel. Very cool and interesting information. Thanks

[@Seeitmove]

Thank you!

[@bASICMiner]

I really enjoy the videos you make... I like to learn, and I always seem to walk away with new insight after watching your videos. Thanks. :)

[@justanamerican9024]

Very exciting, thanks for sharing.

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊thanks for sharing. Take care😊

[@cpk313]

I'm in eastern PA, I'll look around here and maybe get lucky!

[@ronaldlinkenhoker5705]

I have found some larger ones that have been reported. They have chestnuts every year, but they do have the blight.

[@AppalachiaDreamin]

Oh man, you should see the big American Chestnuts I have around here in Eastern Pennsylvania. Also our 1850 barn/farmhouse was built entirely with it.

[@r.guerreiro140]

Congratulations on your amazing find! As a fellow forest lover, I share your happiness at finding a beautiful survivor of the invasive blight After learning about the disaster that happened last century, I wondered if any American chestnuts would end up developing natural resistance to the blight, just like the Asian species And I hope you just found the one that won the fungae Anyway, do you know if there is already a protocol for tissue culture of the American chestnut? Another thing I wonder is if it could become a commercially viable species in the cultivated forests of southern Brazil, where the climate is similar to that of your state of Georgia We have already borrowed from you the Pinus taeda and P. Elliot, which today are some of the mainstays of our timber industry If successful, it would be nice to see large populations of American chestnut as a reserve to help you repopulate your forests when this blight is finally tamed

[@seedy-waney-bonnie4906]

I'm in Oregon we have pine and oak mostly.

[@michaelphelps5064]

I have a Chestnut tree on my property. It is more the size and shape of a Dogwood tree. Not tall and straight like the one pictured. It is maybe 20 to 25 feet and more spread out. Each fall It has the prickly balls that fall to the ground. They split open and are immediately scooped up by squirrels or eaten by deer. My grandfather planted it. He was one of the depression children who grew up living off the land in Central Kentucky. He grew hickorynut, walnut, persimmon, and these chestnut trees. He would take me as a child through his natural grocery pointing out the nuts the would collet. He would spend his free time in front of the wood stove with a hammer and pocket knife. Busting the nuts open, filling Mason jars with the edible centers. He was good at cracking them open in such a way that the meat was not crushed by the hammer and the nuts came out in large pieces. Sometimes perfect halves. He was a man who knew how to live cheap, yet well, by using the plants and animals available to him to feed himself and his family. He and Granny seldom set still doing nothing. They were always doing something productive even if it was just putting up Chestnuts while watching Hee Haw on Saturday night. I miss them dearly.

[@RobertusFelicis]

I live in an urban area in CT and there are two beautiful and large chestnut trees which drop their nuts every year and I collect them. Are these trees on my street thriving because it's an urban environment where the blight may not be present? Or are they naturally resistant?

[@winnhill3736]

It could be either of those or possibly something else.

[@wtpollard]

In an urban area, I would expect these to be Chinese Chestnuts, which were commonly planted in parks, for while. TACF has a nice ID guide for distinguishing the handful of chestnut species you might run into. Check out tacf.org/identification/ and tacf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Chestnut-Identification-Presentation-2012.pdf

[@Sheepdog1314]

nice find...maybe take some cuttings and grow a few more?

[@connormckean9765]

Freaking sweet I’ve always wanted to find an American chestnut tree

[@winnhill3736]

I bought 1 at Walmart 5 yrs ago and it's growing and still alive.Got my fingers crossed.Tree planted on my Arkansas farm.

[@mikerobinson9713]

Property across from mine contained several 10" diameter tree's that would produce Chestnut's . Was posted and logged last year I haven't been in to see if they still stand

[@EliRedman]

Another great video. Thank you! Now, what can be done about Chestnut Blight?

[@jamesfriendly]

Thank you!! Nice

[@richardbryant5773]

I have one growing on my property and have found 4 others on walks in the near by woods

[@denniscleveland669]

They taste awesome, but you gotta harvest the nuts quickly, as a tiny worm will make their way into them. It’s amazing, how there’s such a contrast, between the inner and outer portions of the husks.

[@notmyworld44]

That little worm is quite harmless to eat with the nut. It's an insect larva.

[@denniscleveland669]

@@notmyworld44 A little added protein never hurts, but if you don’t eat them right away, they’ll devour the nut meat. We use to put them into the microwave and that little hole will make them spin when they’re done.

[@billross5877]

They are already in the nut while it's growing and eat and bore hole when coming out.

[@stephss]

Short & sweet. gtsy and thanks for the video.

[@ThomasACahan]

I would Be Dancing around that Chestnut Tree... !!!

[@viewer-8396]

Awesome to see❤

[@66bigbuds]

The CCC planted 40 acres of American Chestnuts in northern michigan near by me. I hope they will be ok.

[@SadRahne]

Perfect timing because I'm seeking an answer to year's long questions. I've been living at my house in a semi-rural area in northeast Pennsylvania for 5 years. Two years ago, I wandered about the property and found a single American chestnut! One! And it bore nuts! There weren't many, and I found that I was competing with the deer overpopulation, but I gathered what I could. That was the only year before or since that I've found the tree with nuts. I've since walked the property and surrounding area repeatedly and extensively, and there doesn't seem to be another AC anywhere. So, my questions are: 1. Is it possible that it self-pollinated? I found 1 website that said it's possible, though rare. If so, is it true? Yes?...how often could this happen? 2. How close does another AC tree need to be in order for the trees to pollinate? Tyia. I appreciate all efforts to answer my questions.

[@jerryclark5725]

I once saw an American chestnut with partially developed nuts. I went back the next year to check, but that tree had succumbed.

[@Bret4207]

Thanks, at least now I have an idea what to look for!

[@libbydaddy8610]

I'm seeing many American Elms in northern NJ

[@barbarafritchie2000]

Thanks.

[@jonathankranz2799]

Wonderful! I see the Chestnut stump sprouts all the time, but almost never a tree of this size. Did you see any evidence of fungal "girdling" about a foot, foot and a half from the base?

[@HOPEbus]

Thanks

[@mudpiemudpie785]

Was there any current evidence of blight on the tree you found?

[@dusseau13]

I have two larger than this one and several small ones in Michigan. The big ones are producing burrs but the nuts are small and not plump as they should be. Last time I checked they wanted thousands to have them tested and inoculated. I do not have that laying around. I also have gooseberries which are said to be chestnut blight disease carriers.

[@poodledaddles1091]

Interesting!

[@phyllisrambo3100]

There is also a beautiful American chestnut tree that sits on private property along the road here in Huntingdon county, PA. Had beautiful nuts this year, I will share this information with the foundation, hopefully new owners will know better than to cut the tree down.. thank you all

[@kaboom4679]

We do find the occasional small survivor here . Hopefully , a blight resistant variety can be grown and we can start to re establish this iconic species on its former home range .

[@Vastafari34]

This year we had a tremendous amount of rain, and this year, for the first time, I noticed that Sugar Maples did not have as beautiful autumn colors, rather, they just went from green to yellowy brown and fell off. Could the extra rain have diluted the production of other pigments in the leaves?

[@devorahrose782]

Woohoo! A chestnut!!!

[@carolthomas770]

Not sure where you live but in S Ohio, Sugar Maples were very colorful this year.

[@notmyworld44]

I observed the same thing happening here in the northwest Arkansas Ozarks. A super-abundance of rain, an early severe cold spell, and not much fall color.

[@russellbowlby6313]

I found some in Traverse City Michigan