On Saturday, March 5, Penn State Cooperative Extension will sponsor a program on efforts to bring back the American Chestnut at the Forest County Cooperative Extension Office from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost of this workshop is $20 per person.
Penn State Extension Educators Scott Weikert and Gary Micsky, will highlight what has been accomplished locally, why it is important, and explain how you can get involved in this worthwhile endeavor.
Interested landowners, sportsmen, and others will learn how science and volunteers are working together in bringing back this important species. Participants will also learn the techniques used to plant and protect American chestnut seeds as well as how to determine the best site for planting. A limited amount of American and Chinese chestnut seed will be available for those interested in participating in an on-going site and grower assessment study. This will require the participant to provide some simple feedback to us via a short survey.
Article Photos
A healthy American chestnut today. Most healthy American chestnuts are found on the edge or outside of the American chestnut’s original range, where blight is not prevalent. Tall straight trees like this one can still be found at the West Salem stand in Wisconsin. However, the stand recently became infected with blight and these majestic trees will soon also succumb to the deadly pathogen. Courtesy American Chestnut Foundation.
To register, contact Penn State Cooperative Extension in Forest County at 755-3544 no later than Wednesday, March 2.
Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Scott Weikert in advance of your participation at 755-3544.