Results of ongoing research at Michigan State University indicate several available fungicides can significantly reduce brown rot in chestnut Chestnut rots pose a serious threat to the global production of edible chestnuts (Castanea spp.) significantly affecting their quality and marketability caused by the fungus Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi smithogilvyi was first detected in Michigan in 2016 the incidence of brown rot has steadily increased with as much as 9% of the chestnuts processed by the largest cooperative in Michigan showing symptoms of brown rot at harvest The disease is characterized by a gradual browning of the kernel that develops in the field or after harvest Recent research at Michigan State University has identified several preventive fungicide treatments that can effectively reduce infection rates and overall disease severity As the prevalence of this disease has increased around the world researchers have been studying its life cycle and disease cycle to understand how and when the pathogen infects chestnuts There are two types of infections in the disease cycle The primary infection is caused by sexual spores that overwinter protected by a reproductive structure on dead plant material on the orchard floor these sexual spores are released from the understory and create secondary infections that develop asexual spores which are spread by rain splash wind and insects and cause new infections in a repeating cycle during the growing season cool temperatures again trigger the development of overwintering spores which then persist into the following growing season and start the cycle all over again The spores from the secondary infection cycle can infect flowers It is also important to note that the fungus can exist as an endophyte not causing disease or symptoms—simply surviving on plant parts and debris these endophytic populations become pathogenic when optimal conditions and opportunities for infection occur rainfall and humidity levels coincide with female flower bloom spores can move to and germinate on female flower parts entering the plant through the flower and establishing infection in the developing nut embryo Fifteen different fungicides were tested in the lab to determine their ability to reduce fungal growth The fungicides were selected based on research regarding the infection cycle of G difenoconazole and mefentrifluconazole) and Bacillus-based products were most effective at suppressing G Seven fungicides were also tested under field conditions with a series of bloom-time applications The results of these trials indicate that two applications one at early bloom (Photo 2) followed by a second application two weeks later There is evidence that a third application when the nut is ripening may further decrease disease levels in orchards experiencing high disease pressure from wet/warm weather conditions or historically high infection rates Inspire Super (active ingredients difenoconazole and cyprodinil) and Tilt (active ingredient propiconazole) were the most effective at suppressing brown rot in the field trials Bacillus subtilis fungicides and zinc or potassium phosphonate also significantly reduced disease levels Despite phosphorus acid products showing lower fungicidal activity in the lab trials This disparity between lab and field efficacy is likely because phosphorus acids work as defense inducers which improve tree health and resistance to biotic factors and invitro trials were performed on petri plate colonies that don’t have the ability to replicate the chestnut tree’s response to the product Because of the risk of resistance development rotate each application between one of the conventional fungicides (Inspire Super or Tilt) and one of the foliar nutrients (potassium or zinc phosphonate) keep trees properly pruned and fertilized to reduce brown rot infection specifically the removal and proper disposal of plant debris (hot compost bury or burn) is important to limiting overwintering spores and disease pressure in subsequent years nuts should be collected as soon as possible to limit soil contact Nuts should be transported to the processing plant and cooled as soon as possible to slow the development of any latent infections Processors should limit the amount of humidity and water utilized during processing and storage to minimize disease development This work is supported by the Midwest Chestnut Producers Council Michigan Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and many Michigan growers This work is also supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S Check out the MSU Fruit & Vegetable Crop Management Program Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work This information is for educational purposes only Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Subscribe Now The American chestnut is a lost Appalachian treasure one Portuguese community holds close a relative of the bygone nut By Caroline Hatchett October/November 2024 The Portuguese word saudade expresses all the emotions mixed up with longing for place Saudade—that feeling swept through me in Curral das Freiras an interior valley on the Portuguese island of Madeira and a community defined by its isolation and principal crop In the hamlet and on the surrounding steep slopes I found chestnut reverence as I imagine it existed in Appalachia a century ago—in Western North Carolina where I camped every summer of my childhood and in the Tennessee mountains that produced my reserved This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Castanea dentata grew for forty million years in North America the blight had decimated some four billion chestnut trees—and a way of life—as chronicled in Donald Davis’s book The American Chestnut which I read on a direct flight from JFK to Madeira Corkscrew roads delivered me from Madeira’s capital of Funchal to Eira do Serrado I watched mist roll over volcanic peaks as if they were the Great Smokies carved by millennia of erosion and rockslides the only way out of the valley was to climb at first under the shade of chestnut trees The valley walls amplified the trail’s music: Pollinators buzzed over blackberry blossoms a historian from the island’s Regional Directorate of Culture a landowner bequeathed the valley to the Convent of Santa Clara whose nuns ran a farming operation from afar The sisters resided in the larger city of Funchal and paid foremen to oversee production; poor settlers worked the land and forfeited much of their harvest for the privilege of a homestead the sisters fled to the valley to escape a pirate’s raid I beheld the snaking trail I had just descended from the terrace of Sabores do Curral The restaurant serves cane syrup–drizzled chestnuts a rustic chestnut soup with pork and sweet potatoes the owner of Vale das Freiras bottles sweet chestnut liqueur I accessed a small chestnut museum with artifacts of a working life: baskets into which men thrashed off chestnut skins Madeira’s earliest settlers brought the Castanea sativa variety with them to the island It shares a common ancestor with the American chestnut whose genetics split off soon before the two landmasses ripped apart the town hosts a festival with every imaginable chestnut foodstuff best for a day visit as part of a longer stay in Madeira visit the church with Santa Clara enshrined in stained glass Locals dammed a stream to form a swimming hole known as Poço dos Chefes; I bathed with a school of rainbow trout and sunned on the rocky banks There are a few home rentals nestled in the valley I slept in Funchal (ensconced in the luxury of the Savoy Palace hotel) Families supplemented their diets with chestnuts as well as wild foods whose harvest the nuns did not demand Virgínia Camacho grew up among twenty-seven siblings and half-siblings here She showed me how her mother cooked pots of an endemic tuber called brigalhó over a wood fire She pressed until I accepted cordial glassfuls of homemade ginja and she led me to a shed perched over her downstairs hearth When I asked if she knew any chestnut songs she belted out a tune in twangy Portuguese Curral das Freiras’s remoteness preserved this folk culture—and most likely spared its chestnuts from disease locals found that Asian chestnut gall wasps had invaded A common root fungus has also plagued trees a chestnut specialist from the Regional Directorate of Agriculture says the cure for the latter must be applied tree by tree many of which are too dangerous for her team or landowners of advanced age to access the chestnut festival director imported 250 kilograms of nuts conservationists in the States have worked to breed a blight-resistant American chestnut Hopes surrounding a genetically modified tree were dashed just this year when researchers found that it was vulnerable to fungus the Directorate of Agriculture has attacked the gall wasp by releasing a second parasitic wasp into the valley’s chestnut groves It also launched a program to promote new plantings and better irrigation; Portugal will modernize the valley’s chestnut processing facility to diversify output Viera da Luz will know if they have eliminated the gall wasp Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain wonderland still sparkles These top-notch bakeshops let flour-free customers have their cake—and pies The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate It’s officially the holiday season, which means it’s the best time of the year to test your skills baking gingerbread cookies for the first time and romanticize roasting chestnuts on an open fire For the majority of us who don't have access to a personal hearth the good news is: It’s easy to attain perfectly sweet buttery chestnuts just from roasting them in your oven We asked the experts to round up the best tips and tricks to make roasted chestnuts from the comfort of your own kitchen “Feel them between your fingers and make sure that the skin is not too dry as well,” Hamm says How do you cook chestnuts so they peel easily?Once you’ve brought the chestnuts home, rinse them of any debris. The next step is to score them. Cut an “X” through the shell of the chestnut, but make sure not to pierce the skin that lies underneath, explains Michelle Gooden This is an important step not to skip — if you don’t score them you risk the chestnuts exploding in your oven soak the chestnuts in water for at least 1 hour although you could even leave them overnight Soaking the chestnuts helps them to get a little softer before roasting It’ll also make it much easier to peel the skin off later on To roast the chestnuts in the oven, start by heating your oven between 400 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, Hamm says. Spread the chestnuts across a baking sheet Pop them in the oven for about 10 to 25 minutes To make sure the chestnuts are evenly roasted How long you should leave them in for will depend on the size of your chestnuts (the smaller the size If you leave the chestnuts in the oven for too long Once the shells of the chestnuts start to pop open you can season and eat to your personal preference,” says Gooden Absolutely. Chestnuts pack a punch with a variety of vitamins and minerals that have antioxidant properties (think magnesium and potassium). These nutrients promote heart health by regulating your blood pressure and lowering your risk of cardiovascular diseases Unlike most nuts, chestnuts are also lower in calories and fat “They're also unique amongst other nuts because they provide a significant amount of vitamin C,” Hamm notes This is particularly beneficial for boosting immunity and supporting skin health Chestnuts also have a high fiber content, Gooden says. Foods high in fiber help slow the digestion of carbohydrates, which in turn can help control blood sugar levels. For this reason, chestnuts could be a great snack option for someone living with diabetes Healthy snack ideas: Try out these nutritious pairings next time the hunger hits [roasted chestnuts] still provide a great source of antioxidants and fiber The American chestnut was once a dominant tree of the eastern U.S known for its rot resistant wood and ample production of wildlife-supporting chestnuts survivors still exist today in several national parks in the greater Washington The American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) once occupied forests as far south as central Alabama and as far north as Maine and southern Ontario they made up more than half the mass of living trees the non-native chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) was introduced and quickly spread through forests of the eastern U.S almost all American chestnuts in their native range were dead But because the blight fungus does not kill the root system of trees American chestnuts persist today in natural areas as re-sprouts from blight-free root systems and the fact that the National Capital Region (NCR) is part of its native range many people are interested in bringing American chestnuts back to NCR forests National Park Service staff from the National Capital Region Network Inventory & Monitoring (NCRN I&M) program inventoried American chestnuts in eleven NCR parks in 2014 We collected location information for each living tree measured diameter at breast height (dbh) of all stems greater than 1 cm dbh classified each tree’s position in the forest caonpy and recorded the visual presence of blight symptoms and reproductive structures including flowers and fruit We found living American chestnut trees in every National Capital Region park except Antietam and Manassas (see table below) Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go More than fifteen thousand people are awaited on Saturday and… The great novelty of autumn is the meeting of chestnuts,… hiding costs or “trickling” them – dark patterns… A record number of corporate mergers took place in Hungary… As May marks the last month of spring and the… Hivatalos Matesz audit adatok Trade Magazin Retail chain ranking 2023 Retail chain ranking 2022 Retail chain ranking 2021 Telefon: +36 30 826 4158 © 2023 GRABOWSKI Kiadó Kft | Minden jog fenntartva Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission my mind was blown to learn what kind of man white women imagined when using the descriptor “tall they’re just thinking of a strong-jawed guy who isn’t blond an actor who looks as if he was sculpted from marble by the hands of a loving and generous god He first captured my attention with his breakthrough role in John Singleton’s 1991 drama Boyz n the Hood Then he was Lance Sullivan in the 1999 launch of The Best Man franchise (If that role had been played by someone with even an ounce less charisma and onscreen presence the character — a former rake who suddenly has concerns over his fiancée’s purity — would fall apart.) He appeared in a flurry of television parts in the aughts and 2010s — Nurse Jackie Rosewood — but I always come back to his role in the 2001 film Two Can Play That Game a war-of-the-sexes romantic comedy starring Vivica A Fox as a high-powered professional woman who comments on the tricks men play and how to combat them and I wore that DVD out watching Fox’s character the similarly accomplished attorney Keith Fenton (Chestnut) and a great cast (Mo’Nique and Tamala Jones are highlights) into a delectable cocktail But its greatest moments capture what has ultimately propelled Chestnut’s career-long position as a sex symbol: the particular way he looks at a woman but with genuine respect — a combination that gives the impression that he truly loves being around us the CBS series in which Chestnut plays — you guessed it — the hottest version of Dr John Watson this side of Lucy Liu’s Elementary who worked on Liu’s silly but surprisingly emotionally attuned Sherlock Holmes-inspired procedural Watson is clearly aiming for a similar sentiment: It opens on the apparent death of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls He goes as far as to jump in the raging waters to save his friend but is left with a traumatic brain injury Sherlock left his companion wealth and a medical clinic to run as he sees fit navigating the ripple effects of his brain injury making peace with the current state of his relationship with ex-wife Mary Morstan (Rochelle Aytes) and running the clinic with a quippy set of underlings who are doctors who also do detective work Does Watson take itself a touch too seriously in crucial moments of its premiere Is the idea of casting Randall Park as Moriarty and asking him to play intimidating the height of comedy But I am curious to witness how it all shapes up and whether it can calibrate its own sweetness and curiosity into a worthwhile brain-smoothing excursion Let’s be honest: What’s keeping me engaged with the series is Chestnut who is clearly having fun finding the cunning in a character like Watson It helps that 31 minutes into the first episode the writers find an excuse for Chestnut to take his shirt off When I say I almost gasped looking at this 56-year-old man with abs upon abs so cut it looks like touching his edges would draw blood But what’s even more alluring is the regard and care behind Watson’s gaze a dynamic that Chestnut easily communicates by simply holding eye contact with the authenticity of a real movie star but only some of them thrive long enough to make a “medical drama with detective elements” feel like the sexiest thing on television Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York The inaugural “Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival” took place Saturday at the Castanea Fire Company Picnic Grounds near Lock Haven It’s meant to celebrate the area’s chestnut history and raise awareness for recovery efforts for the American chestnut tree which is functionally extinct in North America Two members of the Hooskow Chainsaw Carvers were outside the event carving wooden sculptures The group travels to Clinton County every fall for the Chainsaw Carvers’ Event A chainsaw carver at the Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival works on a sculpture of a squirrel holding a chestnut were later available for sale at the event and it looks like they’re doing a squirrel with a nut,” said John Gradel He later confirmed they were carving a chestnut Gradel said the township is named after Castanea dentata which is the scientific name for the American Chestnut tree people that have lived in the township for like 30 years didn’t realize what Castanea actually stood for,” Gradel said Hundreds of people packed in to listen to live polka music Bob Kennedy and Dan Gales worked the table selling those sample chestnuts Kennedy and Gales are both from Lock Haven and say they’ve eaten chestnuts their whole lives “You got to soak them in salt water for about an hour,” Kennedy said “Then you gotta score them to open up a little bit with a sharp knife put them on a cookie sheet and bake them for 20 to 30 minutes.” Kennedy said the chestnuts should pop open and be ready for eating The Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival ran out of roasted chestnuts about an hour after opening Visitors expressed disappointment when the polka band made the announcement but some said it was a good sign that the festival was well-attended Chestnuts are protected by a spiky outer layer and a shell The festival ran out of roasted chestnuts about an hour after opening There were several informational stands for people to learn more about chestnuts “Chestnuts and other kinds of trees are a very important food source for wildlife so we’re here representing that,” said Shawna Burkett a lieutenant with the Pennsylvania Game Commission Burkett said the Game Commission is working to introduce hybrid chestnut trees Many of the chestnuts currently in the U.S The American Chestnut Foundation also had a stand at the festival “The chestnut tree has been reduced from a forest tree species to a forest shrub that often does not reproduce,” said Lake Graboski a regional science coordinator with the foundation “It is actually a functionally extinct species.” He says a fungus introduced in the late 1800’s is to blame for the American Chestnut’s downfall Graboski says people planted Japanese and Chinese chestnut trees that co-evolved with the fungus and were immune But that fungus spread and destroyed American chestnuts from the inside Graboski said there are some American chestnuts that have survived the blight The American Chestnut Foundation had several chestnut samples on display showing their spiky outer layer also known as “burs.” Photo: Sydney Roach / WPSU “And so part of our mission in trying to breed trees that are resistant to the blight is we’re looking for these trees and trying to cross them together to see if we can use that to help increase the chestnut’s blight resistance A young chestnut tree infected with blight The blight destroys the tree from the inside Graboski said the American Chestnut Foundation wants to bring the tree back to its native range in the eastern United States The foundation has a chapter headquartered at Penn State “Our approach is to try to use every tool at our disposal,” Graboski said Graboski said he’s hopeful for the chestnut’s future since the blight cannot kill its roots organizers hope it will also expand in the years ahead with more decorations and maybe some local roasted chestnuts to enjoy township officials say they’re putting together plans to celebrate the state’s oldest surviving American chestnut The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently discovered the two-foot-wide tree in nearby Sproul State Forest Several vendors were set up at the Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival including this stand which featured woodwork Sydney Roach is a reporter and host for WPSU with a passion for radio and community stories She's a graduate of Northern Cambria High School and Westminster College in New Wilmington Ceredigion: On another warm autumn day before the grey blur of winter I find that the September gales denied me my seasonal nutty snack A mature sweet chestnut tree stands by the path at the field edge boat-shaped leaves ease downwards through the still air but this year I have arrived too late to enjoy the plump astringent nuts that fall in groups from spiked cases Unlike its toxic cousin the horse chestnut the nuts make excellent eating – but only a few specimens remain here the gales of September having brought many of the seed cases to the ground before their time This tree evokes memories of almost forgotten autumns of days with my father when as a child I explored the depths of the New Forest on Sunday forays finding with friends hidden stands of sweet chestnut in the Teign valley of Devon emerging with pockets bursting with nuts to roast – hissing – on the fire after carefully piercing them to avoid explosions dropping away from the obvious trail and across to the southern bank of the river the matted vegetation and fallen tree trunks that almost block the stream speak of a less ordered landscape Parties of sparrows bicker loudly in the undergrowth while ducks feed and preen in the pools and riffles that signify the old age of the river The grey cobble bank of Tanybwlch beach marks the seaward end of the Afon Ystwyth and I pause here to note the freshening breeze and darker cloud moving up from the south There is a sense of a change in the season that this could be the last of the warm autumn days before we descend into the wet grey blur of early winter Country diary is on Twitter/X at @gdncountrydiary Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian’s Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at guardianbookshop.com and get a 15% discount The story below is from our March/April 2025 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today A farm in Stewartsville will become a sanctuary for native trees It is not every day that one has the opportunity to rescue a family treasure and improve the environment and learn a little history His ancestors’ 225-acre farm in Bedford County slipped out of his immediate family’s ownership a few years ago — going to a cousin — and he was presented with the opportunity to retrieve it — and the old homeplace — which still stands He leapt at the opportunity and has created a sanctuary for newly-planted trees creating a semblance of the native forest that once was a part of the property These 8,500 new trees will not be for sale when they mature They will remain a haven for wildlife and for the cleaner natural environment that has been replaced for many years are in the process of restoring the farm to the land his ancestors cleared 175 years ago About 35 acres of it will be home to native trees some of which will be American Chestnut hybrids that were erased by a disease The first owner of the farm was Ferguson’s third great-grandfather Helping to sustain the farm were a group of slaves — a fact that makes both Ferguson and Dykes uncomfortable Among the enslaved was a woman who was Booker T and descendants remain involved with the property “The Dearing land and the people who lived on it represent Virginia’s complex racial dynamic and the growing commitment among institutions and individuals to better represent Black history,” says Ferguson most of which is provided by six government agencies (including the USDA) “We are in the final stages of conservancy easement,” Ferguson says “It’s been around for a while,” says Ferguson “I’m told this is the single biggest individual project [of this type] anybody can remember.” Many of the others are corporation-generated Mark Ferguson and Alexander Dykes work to restore the farm on the land of his ancestors Ferguson and Dykes are small business professionals who own a makers’ market in downtown Roanoke and an online magazine Ferguson has written for various publications about Appalachia for 14 years The couple counts “the thrill of rebuilding a forest” among their blessings The story above is from our March/April 2025 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today Digital Edition Index Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker black stem borer activity has likely started in southern Lower Peninsula The current weather pattern has been colder than in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula and warmer than normal in southern Michigan There has also been a strong north/south gradient in terms of precipitation; the heaviest precipitation has been across the Upper Peninsula and the north/central Lower Peninsula only received less than 0.25 inches over the last week there is a big difference between southern lower Michigan while the Upper Peninsula is behind normal there is chance for precipitation in upper Michigan that will move southeast (0.25-0.5 inches) a high pressure system will move in and bring cooler Canadian air The 6-10-day projections call for warmer and slightly wetter than normal conditions although this could change slightly since the 8-14-day forecast calls for near normal temperatures and potentially drier conditions for the first week of May Special thanks to Jeff Andresen. View the most recent MSU agriculture weather forecast It is a busy time of the year for orchard activities. Growers may be removing mouse guards, dusting off the irrigation and preparing for fertilizer application. This is also a great time to collect soil tests samples and paint trunks to reduce southwest disease Growers should also be kickstarting their scouting program specifically looking for overwintering mite populations and trapping for black stem borer pick up a commercial test at your local Extension office Black stem borer will infest and damage a wide variety of woody plant species Black stem borers are attracted to small trees with less than a 4-inch trunk diameter and stressed trees that produce ethanol Female borers create tunnels in trunks to lay their eggs These tunnels damage the tree’s ability to translocate water and nutrients Overwintering adults become active in late April or early May after one or two consecutive days of 68 F or higher often coinciding with blooming forsythia or greater than 100 GDD50 Adult black stem borers are very small (0.08 inches long) Use a simple ethanol baited trap to monitor for activity starting in mid-April Traps should be placed near wooded areas adjacent to the orchard and at a height of 1.6 feet Hand sanitizer is an easy and accessible bait but should be refreshed every few days Traps can consist of just a pop bottle (or similar container) with around a 0.5-1 cup of hand sanitizer and an entry hole added Traps can be hung along the orchard perimeter vulnerable trees and positive trap catches or a history of damage will need to apply a trunk spray to prevent damage The time to spray an insecticide for this pest is when females are flying in the spring and before the colonize trees Young trees near the perimeter of orchards it is impossible to visually monitor adults to determine the optimum time to apply an insecticide so trapping as described above is recommended to detect adult activity and apply treatment Pyrethroid insecticides applied as trunk sprays have shown the most promise in reducing the number of new infestations within a season. For a list of registered pyrethroids for use in Michigan chestnuts, refer to the Michigan Chestnut Management Guide European red mite is another pest to be on the lookout for early in the season European red mites overwinter as eggs in bark crevices and bud scales and are the most commonly observed species in Michigan chestnut orchards about the size of the head of a pin with a single stipe or hair that protrudes from the top (this is not always visible) Eggs can be viewed with a hand lens or the naked eye once you have established what you are looking for Scout for overwintering eggs and early nymph activity in the spring to assess population levels in the coming season overwintering eggs hatch and nymphs move onto the emerging leaves and start feeding Adult European red mite are red in color and have hairs that give them a spikey appearance Adult and nymph feeding occurs primarily on the upper surface of the leaves This first generation is the slowest of the season and typically takes a full three weeks to develop and reproduce This slow development is due to the direct link between temperature and mite development can complete their lifecycles much faster with as little as 10 days between generations under ideal conditions Consider documenting the levels of predacious mites in your orchard If healthy populations of mite predators exist they will continue to feed on plant parasitic eggs and nymphs and can be an effective component of your mite management program Predaceous mites are smaller than adult European red mite and twospotted spider mite but they can be seen with a hand lens and typically move very quickly across leaf surfaces If you are unsure what is causing symptoms in the field, you can submit a sample to MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics. Visit their webpage for specific information about how to collect, package, ship and image plant samples for diagnosis. If you have any doubt about what or how to collect a good sample, please contact the lab at 517-432-0988 or pestid@msu.edu This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture As we head into the winter months there’s no better time to enjoy chestnuts as a sweet or a flavor-enhancing ingredient in hearty soups and stuffing Chestnuts are incredibly nutrient-dense. They have a distinct nutritional profile that differs from most other nuts: they’re rich in antioxidants it’s no secret that chestnuts can offer immense benefits for your health we asked the experts to break down everything you need to know Chestnuts are considered to be a nutritious, low calorie snack option. A typical one ounce serving of chestnuts is 70 calories, which is roughly equivalent to eating a piece of fruit, says Emily Wilcox Gier a registered dietitian and associate professor of Practice and Dietetic Internship Director Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University Chestnuts can be enjoyed either raw or cooked — the biggest difference between the two is their flavor profile you may find them to be a little bitter (this is because chestnuts contain tannic acid) Roasting or boiling chestnuts brings out their sweetness and it can also make them a little bit softer and easier to digest Are chestnuts good for you?“Chestnuts are interesting because they're different from other nuts nutritionally,” Wicox Gier says An ounce of chestnuts has a very low caloric content in comparison to other nuts Perhaps one of the most surprising benefits of chestnuts is that they have a rich antioxidant profile. Chestnuts are rich in vitamin C, says Dave Bridges an associate professor of Nutritional Sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan From a single serving of chestnuts, you can reach 11% of your vitamin C daily requirement, says Bridges. Chestnuts are also an excellent source of polyphenols such as gallic acid and ellagic acid, he adds. These antioxidants are integral for fighting free radicals Chestnuts contain 1.5 grams of fiber per serving Eating chestnuts can be beneficial to obtaining some fiber but it is still not nearly enough to meet the daily recommended fiber intake of 25 grams for adults Chestnuts also contain small amounts of magnesium Chestnuts’ nutritional benefits largely stay the same no matter if they’re raw or cooked Boiling chestnuts may reduce their concentration of water soluble vitamins (such as vitamin C) When comparing chestnuts to almonds side by side one is not necessarily healthier than the other — it really just depends on what your health goals are Chestnuts and almonds have contrasting nutritional profiles chestnuts have an incredibly low calorie content per volume whereas an ounce of almonds is 170 calories if you’re looking for a low-calorie food that will fill you up Almonds have significantly more protein you don't even get a gram of protein in one ounce of chestnuts you take in six grams of protein,” Wilcox Gier says Almonds also have about 45 times more fat than chestnuts if somebody's looking for a snack that might sustain them a little bit longer almonds might do a better job of that because of their fat and their protein content,” she says while chestnuts have a vastly different nutritional profile when compared to other nuts they still offer immense health benefits as a low-calorie the next time you stop by your local supermarket remember that chestnuts can be an excellent addition to a well-balanced diet More: Pecans are a good snack, ingredient – but not great for this If you click on a link and make a purchase we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you the non-native chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) was introduced and quickly spread through the forests of the eastern U.S because the blight fungus does not kill the root system of trees "The American chestnut remains a symbol of both the loss of biodiversity due to human actions and the potential for restoration and recovery through scientific advancement which we are thrilled to take part in." -Edgar Deskins The Midwest Chestnut Producers Council annual educational and business meeting will take place Saturday The Midwest Chestnut Producers Council (MCPC) Annual Meeting is held in collaboration with Michigan State University Extension and includes grower networking opportunities educational presentations and a brief business meeting This meeting serves as the premier networking and educational event for the Midwest chestnut industry The meeting is open to the public and offers a great opportunity for both novice and veteran growers to learn from each other and MSU faculty.   Who: Current or prospective chestnut producers  What: Midwest Chestnut Producers Council Annual Meeting  Where: Clarksville Research Center located at 9302 Portland Road in Clarksville The cost of registration is $20 for MCPC members in good standing and $75 for nonmembers Dues and registration fees must be paid at the door Attendees may sign up to join the MCPC at the event Register now  For more information about the program or registration please contact Erin Lizotte at taylo548@msu.edu Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs services and activities.  Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Erin Lizotte two weeks prior to the start of the event at 231-944-6504 or taylo548@msu.edu Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.  Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race Vegetable & Organic Horticulture Management Program Post-doc researcher Giorgia Bastianelli continues long tradition of chestnut research at MSU An official website of the United States government KENTUCKY—American chestnut once spanned more than 200 million acres from Maine to Georgia and as far west as the Mississippi River The American Chestnut Foundation is working to return this tree to its former glory One of their significant goals is to find a genetic variant of the American chestnut that can survive the chestnut blight the foundation recently partnered with the USDA Forest Service to plant 64 seedlings in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area with the goal of creating a strain of American chestnut that is unique “This project seeks to preserve that unique DNA,” said Darnell who also explained that Land Between the Lakes offered a unique opportunity for the project American chestnuts in Land Between the Lakes are among the farthest western examples of the species making their DNA different from other strains The foundation is interested in having as large a bank of chestnut DNA as possible to look for aspects that can be combined to produce that resistance That interest has brought them to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky “Wild chestnuts in the LBL forest are unique,” said Ken Darnell president of The American Chestnut Foundation’s Kentucky Chapter There are American chestnuts with DNA that the foundation does not have large amounts of The best way to accomplish that DNA acquisition is to collect some actual nuts from the trees partners mapped existing chestnuts and took cuttings from existing American chestnut trees in Land Between the Lakes which were transported to the Forest Service’s Southern Research Station nursery in Mississippi to be grafted with young sprouts of Chinese chestnuts The trees’ symbiotic relationship allows the American chestnut to grow as long and as quickly as possible thanks to the Chinese chestnut’s resistance to root diseases The aim is to keep the seedlings alive for at least five to seven years to provide full American nuts The grafted chestnut trees are expected to succumb to the blight in a few years they don’t have additional levels of resistance against it the hope is that these trees will produce fertile nuts before potentially succumbing to blight it’s extremely rare to find a mature American chestnut within its native range due to a fungus called the Asian chestnut blight The blight infects tree trunks and kills everything above the infection point the fungus is not able to survive underground to infect the root system it is frequently then reinfected by spores of the blight since the trees are not pure American chestnut the hybrid trees and roots will be dug up and burned as they die Allowing the hybrids to grow would only increase the number of Chinese chestnuts and go against the goal of restoring full American chestnuts This cycle of death and rebirth has kept the American chestnut from being completely extinct but keeps it at a state of functional extinction as the American Chestnut Foundation puts it One aspect of that functional extinction is that very few nuts are produced anymore since it is rare for the resprouted chestnut trees to survive long enough to produce nuts The ecological and cultural importance of the American chestnut tree has made restoration efforts a priority for federal agencies Together they have been working for decades to create a blight-resistant tree that will help to restore the once-great American chestnut population You can learn more about American chestnuts by watching this Forest Service video about the American chestnut. Additionally, The American Chestnut Foundation released a documentary about its work, titled Rescuing the American Chestnut The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. most of these hybrids were created by a first generation crossbreed followed by crossbreeding the hybrid with pure American Chestnut and repeating the process multiple generations until a hybrid is created having 90+% (don’t remember the exact figure) American Chestnut some of those are almost entirely American Chestnut but still retain genes for blight resistance I’m in west suburbs of Raleigh and we have chestnuts through our woods here but in the reservoir park I live next time I have 5 on my property that I grew from nuts on an old chestnut tree on my property They are easy to sprout but hard to raise due to deer loving the leaves and new growth branches I had an arborist visit my property to look at some oak trees He found the Chestnut blight growing on the base of several oak trees around the property He said that it did not damage the oaks but was a source of future fungus to any nearby chestnuts I happened to have a bag of FeSO4 which I used as a fungicide on my yard I applied it to the base of my oaks and within 2 days it had killed all of the fungus but having lived with 6 chestnut trees on the property… I feel chestnuts belong roasting on a open fire… a big open bonfire One of the worst trees to have on your property people seriously need to know the truth about this tree before they put one on their property Pretty much the whole season of the tree is a pain In spring you get the fuzzy bits that cover everything and dye everything including your car paint permanently brown if you don’t remove the fuzz immediately everyday then when the chestnuts fall especially the Chinese and Hybrids they dent the crap out of your car and hurt like hell when they hit you I’ve had to pull the spikes out of my toddler so many times and it’s like performing surgery (worse than stepping on a cactus) If you don’t pick up every single spikey shell they stay in the yard for years and break off in your foot And unless you extremely stay on top of it guaranteed your chestnut tree will get infected by chestnut weevils Then your picked buckets of chestnuts will have grubs coming out of them and filling your living room floor If you feel you must have a chestnut tree please for your family’s sake make sure it’s on the edge of the property and not near any normal traveled pathways If you are really interested in learning the facts about efforts to restore the American Chestnut you should join the Facebook page American Chestnut Research and Restoration And then read all the old posts and the new posts to correct many of the misconceptions and incorrect facts posted in the article and the comments There aren’t any American Chestnuts that are proven to be blight resistant However there are individuals trees that appear to have recovered from the blight But none have been proven to be blight resistant https://www.facebook.com/groups/esfchestnut/ Our chestnut trees on my property have been pruducind chestnuts since 1964 and still going strong I have a true American Chestnut tree in our yard My Father grew one from his tree which came from a sprout coming out of a stump of tree in the forest He was a science/biology teacher and remembered the huge groves of American Chestnut trees before the blight hit I live in Pennsylvania and am delighted to see the interest in this most majestic beneficial tree the hybrids is how we got into this mess anyway- the Asian chestnut was sold here and infected the American chestnut with the blight to start with they were able to track the demise outward from the delivery locations from one importer Are these the same as what we in Ohio called “Buckeyes” My mother and dad called them “conkers” and would play a game with them threaded onto a piece of twine trying to “conk” them together They used to grow in local parks when I was growing up in the 50’s I believe I may have located an American Chestnut (Castaneda dentata) I obviously have never seen an authentic American Chestnut Tree I would really love to see if there is anyone with more experience would like to see this tree I have taken photos all year from flower until after hard frost I also beat the deer and squirrels and got 1/2 bushel of nuts These are not native American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) but most likely Chinese chestnuts (C mollissima) or perhaps a hybrid F1 between the two While some American chestnuts do manage to survive the blight Genetically modified versions are very early stage and it will be quite a few years before either bioengineered or conventionally bred American chestnuts that resist the blight will be available – 5 years is very optimistic And the othere is a chestnut tree that has survived the chestnut blight An offshoot of an native american chestnut tree.I would go with the original.We have enough genetic engineered plants in this world They are true American Chestnut trees from the Georgia grove Try to plant the American trees not the Chinese hybrids would be nice to hear about successful efforts in locating and breeding 100% genetically pure Castanea Dentata give the real deal a chance; we shouldn’t give up on them Would like to plant a few trees in the cuyahoga valley national park I will never see them for I’m 79 years of age but just knowing some one will be getting some will make me happy And ground it’s the most healthy flour you can have packaged roasted chestnuts are incredibly expensive while bulk chestnuts are seasonally available (and the roasting process is neither quick nor easy) I welcome efforts that could lead toward more access to chestnuts Are these the horse chestnuts of yesteryear that were nearly decimated by blight in the early 20th century I am interested in purchasing 4-6 seedlings for planting in our area to purchase some nuts or bare Roos plantings from you Can I order nuts or bare roots plantings from you for that purpose I would like to have a few seed or nuts to plant will gladly pay for the trouble.pobox7: smithers,wv 25186thanks I plan on planting an orchard when I retire in five years in Michigan planted 2 trees a few yes ago both bare root about 4 feet high this year got 3/4 of a 5 gal bucket all big nuts.wiĺ never know how many we actually got because squirrel and chipmunk would beat us to them not sure if our deer got any .trees grew very fast now about 50 ft amazing..later planted 10 more not to many nuts yet about 30 feet .might have planted to close I was surprised that The American Chestnut Foundation was not mentioned Does this organization have any affliction Are these chestnuts 100 % American Chestnut or a hybrid Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a65fea9373758bc32b8833d505a6c1c0" );document.getElementById("d718f084d2").setAttribute( "id" Joe James stands in front of a hybrid Chinese and American chestnut tree in his orchard in Seneca James is working with the American Chestnut foundation to restore the tree to its former glory A blight canker on one of Joe James' chestnut trees in Seneca Chestnut seed on one of Joe James' hybrid chestnut trees on his orchard in Seneca A young chestnut hybrid on Joe James' orchard in Seneca The American chestnut dominated Appalachia and the eastern U.S Christian spent six years in Myrtle Beach before moving to the Upstate making a mess in the kitchen or running around Spartanburg SENECA — Joe James was a little boy when he first saw a mountainside full of dead trees He was tagging along with his father on a sales trip through Tennessee and North Carolina when they pulled over to catch the view what caused all these trees to die?’ he asked It wasn’t lightning. His dad told him of the once-dominant American chestnut and the blight that wiped them out Somebody needs to do something about it,’” James recalled Between 1904 and the late 1940s, about 4 billion American chestnuts were lost to an invasive airborne fungus from Asia. The chestnut blight was introduced in New York likely from an imported Asian-variety chestnut The fungus had evolved alongside the Asian trees Its range at one point extended as far south as the Florida panhandle Phytophthora cinnamomi — root rot — killed many southern trees likely spreading through North America in the 1700s The parasite lives underground but can’t survive freezing weather so the mountain and northern trees were unaffected choking the trees off from their roots until they died loggers and others cut as many down as they could before they were rendered useless A few large trees escaped blight and loggers alike Some that died have continued to shoot up new sprouts from their root systems in places unaffected by phytophthora The country’s largest trees still drop thousands of nuts a year in Washington and Oregon planted by westward-bound settlers in the 1800s Now 78 years old, James is helping the American Chestnut Foundation bring back a version of the American chestnut that can survive in the wild The surviving trees’ progeny are critical to their effort His 250-acre farm in Seneca has around 600 hundred hybrid chestnuts with genes from American and Chinese trees which he’s breeding and culling to create predominately American lineages imbued with the Asian trees’ resistance to blight and root rot The retired doctor has grown more than 33,000 trees since he started experimenting in the late 1980s “For something that important that did so much to be gone forever it’d be well worth it to do for future generations.” Few remember how Appalachian forests looked before the blight “I think it’s really hard to comprehend what it would mean, how dramatic it was,” said Don Hagan, a Clemson University forestry professor. “It’d be like ‘What if all of the oaks died?’” Chestnuts made up 1 in 4 trees in their native habitat and were one of the biggest and fastest-growing trees in the eastern forests The largest among them could grow more than 100 feet tall with trunks 15 feet wide Each tree dropped thousands of energy-rich seeds every year the nuts would pile ankle-deep on the forest floor Every omnivore and herbivore ate them — including people which don’t produce a consistent number of acorns each season It provided a valuable food source in the fall when other vegetation was wearing thin “I call it the wheat of the forest,” James said The people of Appalachia fattened their cattle on the chestnuts They gathered and sold them by the trainload to the north where they’d be roasted and sold on street corners Their lumber was used by carpenters of all sorts; their timber was used by tanning factories They inspired one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time So are most people who witnessed their greatness who was a young man when the chestnuts disappeared He was born in the 1920s and grew up in Hendersonville “So he was sort of that link across generations where I could talk to him and he could talk about what it was like," Hagan said there are only around 4 million left in their native range Save for a few dozen large trees that managed to escape the blight most that exist today are new shoots that have sprouted from the roots of long-dead giants “The statistic that’s important is that over 95 percent of those are less than one inch in diameter,” said Jamie Van Clief American Chestnut Foundation’s southern regional science coordinator Van Clief learned about the chestnut at the University of Vermont where she studied forestry and environmental science The scale of the devastation inspired her to intern with the American Chestnut Foundation After stints with the Peace Corps and USDA “It has been named one of the greatest ecological disasters for a reason,” she said “It really stuck with me because the scale of 4 billion trees is incredible.” the American Chestnut Foundation has led efforts to bring back a tree with blight and phytophthora resistance the trees need diverse genetic backgrounds with all the best American traits from different regions trees in the north tended to flower later in the spring than their southern counterparts A new crop of trees would need genetic backgrounds from both The trees also need to retain their resistance to indigenous diseases that they’d have to deal with in the wild A restoration of this scale has never been attempted before so the foundation is using a variety of approaches including breeding genetic modification and a method of infecting and weakening the blight called hypovirulence "We’re throwing a bunch of things at the wall scientists take genes that imbue blight resistance and insert them into the American tree’s genome but researchers are still figuring out which resistance genes produce the best results they’ve found that it’s not just one or two genes responsible for blight resistance Far fewer genes are associated with resistance to phytophthora James believes he’s maybe 20 years away from getting a hybrid tree that could survive in the wild fewer of his hybrid trees are dying than when he started in the late 1980s with a bunch of hybrid seeds that succumbed to root rot “I think the chestnut right now is emerging from the state of being susceptible to root rot to a non-susceptible state,” James said It takes the tree out of the gene pool before it can provide any nuts or flowers Breeding blight resistance is taking longer James found a subset of his trees have some blight resistance but thinks it will take several generations to establish it “That’s gonna slow us down as far as bringing the tree back for the tree to survive in the wild in any significant number Everyone involved in the project is optimistic Foresters have to take the long view and trust that the work they’re doing today will have an impact later on “I don’t know if I will see chestnuts fully return to the East Coast in my time,” said Van Clief “But the work that I’m doing today wouldn't have been possible without the people who have been doing this for the past 20 or 30 years.” A human may get lucky to see a hundred years of age The biggest American chestnuts could live several times longer “What is important to remember is that we’re not on a human time scale,” Van Clief added “Going through the multiple generations that are necessary to get this tree population to be resistant is gonna take tree time and not human time.” Follow Christian Boschult on Twitter at @ChrisHBoschult or contact him at 864-665-1706 News tips/online questions: greenville@postandcourier.com Subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: only for someone else to dismiss it as an “old chestnut” Have you ever heard someone tell a tired old joke Jokes aren’t the only thing to get labeled this way. Everything from well-trodden movie tropes to overplayed songs, old anecdotes, and trite clichés and stereotypes might be called a “chestnut”—anything, as the Merriam–Webster Dictionary puts it that is “repeated to the point of staleness.” But where does this bizarre expression come from The connection between chestnuts and old stories is far more recent, and though there are a few theories about its origin, experts believe the most probable is that this sense of chestnut first emerged in theatrical circles in the United States in the mid-19th century it is exactly six years since … I mounted a mule at Barcelona from the thick boughs of a cork-tree—PABLO: A chestnut this is the twenty-seventh time I have heard you relate this story Although the play wasn’t too popular with critics it still proved enough of a success with audiences to warrant a move to the United States And so long as theatrical folklore is to be believed it was the cast of one of the American productions that apparently gave us our old chestnut In an article in the in the mid-1880s Hanley recounted that he had been touring a production of The Broken Sword when one of the actors began telling a funny anecdote backstage “Everybody interrupted with shouts of ‘Chestnut!’ ” Hanley explained “It clung to the company all the season and Admittedly, there are a couple of rival versions of this tale each mentioning a different actor in a different city and a different touring performance of Broken Sword There are also competing theories about chestnut being a corruption of the words just not; the family name Chestnut; or stories involved patrons of a theater on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia But it seems that Dimond’s play is the most likely origin of our old chestnut—unless all of these stories turn out to be nothing more than old chestnuts themselves © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved host of The List Show and Throwback on YouTube editor of Mental Floss's book The Curious Reader she covered everything from natural disasters to bridge engineering to the science behind sci-fi movies for Popular Mechanics magazine Her work has appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine He is the author of word origins guide Haggard Hawks and Paltry Poltroons Mental Floss may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.",{"type":"6o","value":"h0"},"AR_1",{"type":"6o","value":"h2"},"This article contains affiliate links to products selected by our editors as well as products provided to Mental Floss for review purposes d) {\n h = h[d] = h[d] || {\n q: [],\n onReady: function(c){ h.q.push(c) },\n };\n d = o.createElement(u);\n d.async = 1;\n d.src = n;\n n = o.getElementsByTagName(u)[0];\n n.parentNode.insertBefore(d \"https://www.datadoghq-browser-agent.com/us1/v5/datadog-rum.js\" Initialize Datadog RUM and then measure TTFB/FCP\n window.DD_RUM.onReady(function() {\n // 3a Initialize RUM\n window.DD_RUM.init({\n applicationId: 'f3f16add-4ebf-4aad-9bb4-adb13da4d17e',\n clientToken: 'pub53fad8ec1eea29e2f92980d95072da2f',\n site: \"datadoghq.com\",\n service: \"voltax-sites-www.mentalfloss.com\",\n env: \"prod\",\n sessionSampleRate: 100,\n sessionReplaySampleRate: 0,\n trackUserInteractions: true,\n trackResources: true,\n trackLongTasks: true,\n defaultPrivacyLevel: \"mask-user-input\",\n });\n\n // 3b Measure TTFB & FCP once the page fully loads\n window.addEventListener('load' {\n ttfb: ttfb,\n fcp: fcp,\n });\n\n // Optional: log them to console for debugging\n console.log('[Datadog RUM] TTFB:' Jokes aren’t the only thing to get labeled this way. Everything from well-trodden movie tropes to overplayed songs, old anecdotes, and trite clichés and stereotypes might be called a “chestnut”—anything, as the Merriam–Webster Dictionary puts it The connection between chestnuts and old stories is far more recent, and though there are a few theories about its origin, experts believe the most probable is that this sense of chestnut first emerged in theatrical circles in the United States in the mid-19th century Although the play wasn’t too popular with critics In an article in the in the mid-1880s Admittedly, there are a couple of rival versions of this tale There are several theories as to where this phrase came from—and none of them involves the nuts highlights different aspects of the region’s food ecosystem This week she offers a recipe for chestnut gnocchi with Italian sausage and escarole Click here to subscribe. For previous stories, go here don’t even get me started.) I make gnocchi fairly often but these gnocchi are a little different — they’re made from chestnuts that I gathered in a cemetery just be sure you’re not picking up horse chestnuts THANK YOU to everyone who shared the “Superabundant” newsletter over the past few weeks — and WELCOME to our new subscribers Your fall and winter are about to get a whole lot cozier (Sorry not sorry in advance for the heavy-handed use of food puns.) Hungry for more? Get a bit of Italian Portland culinary history on the Produce Row episode of “Superabundant” The news sparked a huge discussion among OPB staffers about favorite greasy spoons and breakfast diner standbys (shouts went out to Cameo Cafe and Tom’s Pancake House in the Metro Area but I have to add nods to Southern Oregon too — the chicken fried steak at Kozy Kitchen and the Apple Peddler’s biscuits and gravy are both solid) Readers: If your favorite diner closed, what dish would you miss the most? Let me know in an email and maybe I can hack the recipe for a future newsletter Last week I received an email from Lisa Power, who manages the seed library at Banks Public Library and had just read the story about Oregon beans that OPB reran She had some of the beans from the now-defunct Ayers Creek Farm (the owners but because these varieties are no longer being grown commercially she wanted to reserve them for gardeners who’d be willing to be seed stewards — to preserve the Boutards’ legume legacy and keep these unique varieties alive Seeds of the varieties Gaston Borlotto, Wapato White and Othello’s Pebbles went to Charlene Murdock co-founder of the teaching farm Foodways at Nana Cardoon the seeds made their way to the environmental education group EdenAcres to grow in their B-street Learning Garden in Forest Grove (home of the Tuality Plains Seed Library) and Sarah Newton who runs Fox Farm at Free Orchards Elementary School in Cornelius News of the “Ayers Creek Collection” spread like fireweed among seed savers and other varieties developed by the Boutards have surfaced a former Ayers Creek Farm employee is now managing the bean collection at B-street I’ll be over here crying my eyes out because it’s just so heartwarming to see folks care this much about a humble bean Find out more about these organizations at the links below: City of Banks Seed Library Foodways at Nana Cardoon B-street Learning Garden Fox Farm at Free Orchards Elementary School it was lovely to hear from so many of you last week — I’ll be mailing out garlic chive seeds to a whopping 20 readers ✨ I saw a buy one/get one deal on pork tenderloins (I’m powerless against a BOGO!) so I tied and rubbed one down with coarse salt black pepper and caraway seeds and roasted it on a bed of sliced onions and dried pears with a splash of stale rosé When it was almost done I smeared it with homemade fig-plum sweet and sour sauce to glaze The dried pears soaked up all the flavorful juices and got really jammy with the onions and fruit sauce ✨ In the spirit of clearing freezer space (OK I may have slightly overdone it on the BOGO pork) I pulled a tub of golubtsy filling that I’d stashed for a rainy day but instead of using the seasoned rice and ground beef to make actual cabbage rolls I just simmered chopped cabbage in the tomato sauce and then stirred in the rice/meat mixture Sour cream and chopped fresh dill went on top ✨ I was sort of craving yakisoba but wanted a less gloopy-sweet sauce, so I made the Filipino version, pancit Canton, instead. (Happy Filipino-American History Month but was also able to disappear a couple leftover grilled hot Hungarian sausages The sausages worked pretty well in the dish since they’re not that different from longanisa but I added a little five spice to give it more of a lap cheong flavor Recipe: Chestnut gnocchi with Italian sausage and escaroleChestnut gnocchi with Italian sausage and escarole — foraging your own chestnuts isn’t required You haven‘t really lived until you’ve nibbled a warm chestnut straight from its shell earthy-sweet flavor and soft texture like a roasted yam a chestnut party definitely pairs better with a good old-fashioned bobbing for apples (or caramel apples if slobbering into a communal bucket of floating Honeycrisps conflicts with your COVID-19 protocols) Adding to the atmosphere was that we were foraging in the cemetery near my house without even realizing chestnuts’ connection to spooky season if you don‘t have the time or proclivity (or don’t feel like spending an hour peeling them) peeled and vacuum-sealed or jarred chestnuts will work just as well 8 ounces roasted chestnuts (about 6.5 ounces peeled) 8 ounces Italian sausage (sweet or hot; bulk or links with casings removed) ½ cup finely grated crumbly cheese like Pecorino or Asiago cheese Note: A previous version of this newsletter stated the Tuality Plains Seed Library was housed at Fox Farm; it’s located at B Street Learning Garden Tags: Superabundant newsletter, Superabundant, Food, Recipes, Recipe, Food And Farms Federal funding for public media is under threat Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now Michigan is the leading producer of commercial chestnuts in North America chips for brewing beer and many more products chestnut growers reported demand consistently exceeds their annual harvest Given that most (90%) chestnuts consumed in the U.S Michigan growers have ample opportunity to expand production to meet increasing domestic demands.   an increasing number of Michigan chestnut producers have experienced serious damage from the lesser chestnut weevil (Curculio sayi Gyllenhal) This native insect likely evolved with American chestnut (Castanea dentata) but is now an important pest in chestnut orchards in many eastern states.  Adult beetles cause little harm but larvae feed and develop inside chestnut kernels in fall grub-like larva can destroy a chestnut (Figure 1) and weevil larvae emerging from fresh chestnuts on countertops or shelves can wreck consumer confidence (Figure 2) it is difficult to identify affected and healthy chestnuts without cutting kernels open to check for larvae.   This bulletin provides information about chestnut weevils in Michigan Potential management options to reduce damage before and after chestnuts are harvested are also addressed.   Chestnut weevil adults congregate and mate on burs in September (Figure 3) corresponding to approximately 2,500 cumulative degree-days (DD) using a threshold temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (DD50F).   Adult female weevils use their specialized mouthparts at the end of their long snout to chew a hole through the bur and shell of the chestnut into the kernel This leaves small black bruises on the shell of the nut (Figure 4C-D) extend their ovipositor into the hole in the kernel then lay several eggs just inside the shell of the nut (Figure 4E-F; Figure 5) These eggs hatch in one to two weeks and the white or cream-colored larvae (Figure 2) feed on the kernel for approximately five weeks (Figure 4G) Mature larvae chew circular exit holes through the shell of the nut (Figure 4H) then drop to the ground and burrow into soil larvae will still chew an exit hole and emerge from the nuts they construct smooth-walled pupal chambers (Figure 4I) where they will remain for several months Most larvae will pupate the following fall (Figure 4K) then emerge from the ground as adults coinciding with bur and kernel development remain underground through a second winter These insects will pupate and emerge from the soil as adults the following year in late spring or early summer typically congregating on blooming catkins (Figure 4J) This two-phased underground diapause (dormant period) results in a biennial cycle of weevil density in orchards with high and low populations occurring in alternate years weevil populations are consistently higher in odd years compared to even years.   Homemade and commercial traps to monitor emergence or activity of adult chestnut weevils (Figure 6) are available There are no commercially available lures to attract weevils to the traps and none of the traps are highly effective at capturing adults.   A rough estimate of current weevil densities can be attained using a simple limb tapping technique tarp or drop cloth beneath the canopy so that the edge of the cloth is just outside the longest branches Shake or strike branches over the drop cloth with a long pole or stick they drop from the canopy and play possum (feigning death) for a few moments These weevils can be easily captured and counted Weevils tend to congregate and may not be uniformly distributed within an orchard Sampling two to four aspects of at least 5 to 10 trees per acre should provide a good indication of the current weevil population in the orchard.   High or even moderate densities of chestnut weevils can become a serious problem within commercial orchards Unmanaged weevil populations can infest more than 60% of harvested chestnuts and a few growers have reported losing 90% of their harvest due to weevil feeding Larval feeding along with the frass excreted by larvae inside chestnut kernels renders the nuts foul and unmarketable (Figure 1) It can be even more problematic if larvae emerge after consumers have purchased fresh chestnuts (Figure 7) Weevil larvae crawling across a marketplace shelf or a countertop can ruin the appeal of fresh chestnuts for consumption or future purchases.   Adult weevils are most abundant and active in fall after burs mature and kernels have completed development they can be found in orchards throughout the growing season 4% of weevils were captured before catkin bloom (mid-May – late June; approx 8% were captured during catkin bloom (late June – mid-July; approx 15% were captured as burs developed after catkin bloom was completed (mid-July – late September; approx while 73% were captured after kernel development was completed in fall (late September; approx Timing cover sprays of insecticides is an essential aspect of controlling adult weevils Most insecticide labels encourage applicators to avoid insecticide applications when trees are blooming (late June – mid-July; approx 800 – 1,300 DD50F) to minimize potential harm to pollinators Although chestnut trees are wind pollinated chestnut catkins attract an array of pollinators Insecticide sprays to control chestnut weevil adults can be applied in early to mid-September (approx most adult weevils have emerged from the soil to mate and lay eggs in mature burs and kernels Always read pesticide labels and be mindful of pre-harvest intervals before making an application.   It is important to treat harvested chestnuts to stop development of weevil larvae inside the kernel as quickly as possible Two options for post-harvest control can significantly reduce numbers of weevil larvae developing and emerging from harvested chestnuts: water curing and hot water submersion. Water curing is a simple treatment that was traditionally used to kill weevils and other pests in harvested chestnuts This process involves submerging chestnuts in room temperature water and allowing a partial lactic fermentation process to occur over the course of 7 to 9 days chestnuts can be dried for several hours then refrigerated until sold This treatment requires no expensive equipment and can be a practical tactic for hobbyists and small producers using standard 30-gallon ice chests (Figure 8).  and more efficient option for controlling weevil larvae in harvested chestnuts Chestnuts must be submerged in water heated to 120 F (49 C) for 15 to 20 minutes then allowed to dry at room temperature Large commercial operations often use a commercial vegetable blancher or similar piece of equipment to treat pounds of chestnuts at one time Hobbyists can use a sous vide (Figure 9) or an outdoor burner to treat smaller batches of chestnuts.  It is essential that nuts reach an internal temperature of 119.6 F (48.7 C) This ensures that more than 99% of larvae will be killed Size of nuts affects how rapidly internal temperatures increase during submergence should be submerged for 15 to 20 minutes while smaller chestnuts need to be submerged for 10 to 15 minutes Use a thermometer and probe to periodically check water temperatures and internal temperatures of nuts from each batch to ensure consistency.   Managing chestnut weevils in commercial orchards is increasingly a challenge for Michigan growers and processors There is minimal allowance for pest presence in the market due to the grub-like appearance of the larvae and high degree of damage caused by larval feeding Growers can use properly timed insecticide sprays to reduce adult densities and egg laying while processors can use post-harvest treatments to kill weevil eggs and young larvae before they cause noticeable damage to nuts Combined efforts on both fronts can minimize chestnut weevil problems and help Michigan’s thriving chestnut industry continue to expand.   DOWNLOAD FILE When autumn arrives in Catalonia (in northeastern Spain), the air is filled with the aroma of roasting chestnuts, marking the beginning of La Castanyada – Catalan for “the chestnut festival.” Held on the eve of All Saints Day on November 1 yet somehow in the air since early October offering a heartfelt way to honor the memory of loved ones Deeply rooted in local culture and Catholic devotion La Castanyada remains a meaningful tradition that bridges past and present generations Although the festival originated as a harvest celebration it is now closely associated with the Catholic feast of All Saints Day families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves with flowers normally before attending Mass to pray for the souls of the departed La Castanyada also brings the community together for a comforting meal of seasonal foods such as roasted chestnuts in Catalan) are the centerpiece of this feast roasted over open fires and shared with family and friends welcoming atmosphere with the smoky aroma of roasted chestnuts earthy treats bring comfort and nourishment as the cooler days of fall set in A key part of the celebration are panellets small almond-based cakes that come in a variety of flavors and decorations Traditionally made with marzipan and pine nuts panellets are rolled into bite-sized balls and baked until golden Other variations include toppings such as coconut These sweets originated in monasteries and were once used as “blessed food” to share after some religious celebrations They are now closely associated with this time of year and remind participants of the simple joys and spiritual nourishment that come from gathering together La Castanyada is now a joyful feast of remembrance Although it shares the same season with Halloween focusing less on costumes and festivities and more on gratitude offer unique ways to mark the season and remember the connection between the living and the dead the customs of La Castanyada coexist comfortably with modern influences making room for both thoughtful memory and fun this festival offers a unique opportunity to pass on the meaning of All Saints and All Souls to younger generations in a festive yet meaningful way Children not only enjoy the chestnuts and sweets but also learn about the importance of honoring their ancestors and remembering the saints who have gone before them as well as praying for the souls in purgatory As families gather to roast chestnuts and share sweet panellets they are reminded of the bonds that unite them across time and the hope that in the Communion of Saints we are never truly separated from those we love Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you Please make a tax-deductible donation today Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news A Wheel of Fortune contestant had a holiday season they’ll never forget after appearing on the iconic game show on Tuesday (December 17) and making a hilariously wrong guess on a festive-themed puzzle The contestant in question was Phil McManus from Palmer who faced off against Matt Komma from Riverton Things got off to a rough start for McManus in Round 1’s “Same Letter” category where he attempted to solve a three-word puzzle Despite having control of the wheel and filling in all but two of the letters McManus struggled to come up with the correct answer the puzzle board read: “C H O C O L A T E S / C H E S T N U T S / & / C H I _ N E _ S.” an “I,” McManus decided to solve This allowed Komma to swoop in with the correct answer McManus’ wrong response cost him $9,550 putting him on the back foot for the rest of the episode found McManus’ response hilarious and took to social media to share their reactions “That was my shopping list last weekend.” “Christmas theme episode of Wheel of Fortune Love Wheel of Fortune but where do these contestants come from #chickens,” wrote another Chocolates, Chestnuts and…. #WheelOfFortune pic.twitter.com/1gVC8h952F — AC  (@ACinPhilly) December 18, 2024 “When I think of chocolates and chestnuts the next word I think of is chickens,” said another “He really screwed up lol right after he screwed up by saying chocolates chestnuts and chickens I bet that goes viral,” added another “Treat yourself a round of sausage! And chickens!” wrote one fan, referring to a memorable wrong answer from an episode in November where a contestant guessed “Treat yourself a round of sausage.” “Did that man look at that puzzle and say Chocolate “Phil got me crying right now,” said one commenter and… chickens like that don’t even make sense,” another added While he might not have won Wheel, McManus did get to tick another thing off his bucket list. During the show, the Massachusetts native told host Ryan Seacrest that he was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and basically “handed a death sentence.” Afterward and I actually went last night for the first time,” he said before revealing “I’m actually in remission now.” Sign Up This holiday season it's probably not American chestnuts roasting on an open fire because the species is nearly extinct Researchers at SUNY-ESF are working to develop blight-tolerant American Chestnut trees American Chestnut Trees were threatened by disease more than 100 years ago This chestnut blight is caused by an invasive fungus that enters the bark of the tree a couple of different acids and enzymes that can kill the tree tissue,” Andrew Newhouse the director of the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project at SUNY-ESF the living tissue under the bark of the American chestnut." Newhouse says more than 99% of American Chestnut Trees that would produce big nut crops are gone — so people have turned to other sources and there are some of those food varieties of chestnuts that are very good to eat and can be grown here as well," Newhouse said "But those aren't the same as the trees that we would want to restore to a forest and would have the same ecological interactions as full American chestnuts did.” But Newhouse said they’re working to revitalize the American chestnut by adding a new gene to the tree to allow them to survive in the face of blight "It's not preventing the trees from being infected by blight but rather it's allowing them to survive with less damage.” Blight is so widespread in our forests so hope of eradication or planting trees in new locations where it's not found isn’t an option Newhouse said the results of the genetically modified trees have been promising so far And he acknowledges there won’t be a single solution to restoring chestnuts but is hopeful the work being done is an important step in the broader realm of restoration Federal approval for public distribution of the SUNY-ESF tree was delayed after scientists noticed a labeling mixup between the Darling 58 and Darling 54 though Newhouse says the two are nearly identical with the difference being where the blight-resistant gene is inserted into the tree’s genome OLEAN — On the south side of Mount Hermann Jim Brady walked along the logging trails of his personal Hundred Acre Wood As he guided more than 60 visitors Saturday Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed With an episode from our holiday archives all about chestnut trees Stick around until the end of the episode for an update on the latest science too.MADDIE SOFIA: You're listening to Short Wave Maddie Sofia here with Short Wave reporter Emily Kwong.KWONG: Hey You've been delving into the mystery of what happened to one of the most significant trees in the United States we'd buy them roasted on the streets of New York you honestly can't go anywhere this time of year without hearing Nat King Cole sing about them You know what I'm talking about.SOFIA: I do.SOFIA: [NAT KING COLE "THE CHRISTMAS SONG (CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE)"] Chestnuts roasting on an open fireKWONG: It just sets the mood.SOFIA: Right?KWONG: You know what time it is why haven't I ever seen a chestnut tree in the United States most of the 4 billion chestnut trees on the Eastern seaboard had died are all imported from Europe and Asia.SOFIA: Huh.KWONG: And if you ask people from Appalachia where the chestnut was an important species for the ecosystem and the economy this tree represented a way of life that was lost Rex Mann of Kentucky says his father never got over it.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]REX MANN: He never became reconciled to that loss He was-- he was always hopeful that something would happen that the tree would come back.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: Now Rex is one of the many people bring a version of the American chestnut tree back and tapping into the very genetics of the tree to do it.SOFIA: Today on the show the death--KWONG: And potential rebirth--SOFIA: --of the American chestnut tree How science is trying to give this functionally extinct tree a fresh start.KWONG: And how that has created some controversy.SOFIA: OK The mysterious disappearance of the American chestnut tree He's retired from the US Forest Service and really knows the trees of Southern Appalachia he gave a TEDx Talk that opened with this memory of sitting around the fire as his father told chestnut stories.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]MANN: He's talking with great passion about what the tree meant to his people And the never failing crops of chestnuts that nurtured the mountain people.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: It's a beloved tree an estimated 20% of the Appalachian forest Farmers could lean on chestnuts as feed for their hogs And the nuts were so valuable that residents in the Smokey Mountains gathered bushels for trading purposes.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]MANN: Take them to the local country store And they would swap them for things that they had no money to buy like shoes for the kids.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: But Rex a mysterious and deadly fungus was discovered on trees in New York City They likely came from a nursery stock of Japanese chestnut trees And this blight began to spread down the coast most of the four billion chestnut trees were dead or infected with blight fungus.SOFIA: OK so what does this fungus look like?KWONG: OK it's a parasitic fungus with a bright yellow orange color It can grow underneath the bark looking like these orange gashes creating these actively fruiting pustules.SOFIA: Pustules are never good.KWONG: Yeah it cuts off nutrients and water to the rest of the tree And for America's forests to change so dramatically just when the Great Depression hit and people really relied on these chestnuts Rex remembers as a kid walking through the aftermath.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]MANN: What I saw when I was growing up was what I would call the gray ghost they were still standing in the forest.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: Important footnote-- the blight doesn't actually kill the root system of these trees American chestnut trees-- Jared estimates there are about 400 million now-- are basically shrubs sprouting from the roots And they get infected by the blight and are killed back before reaching sexual maturity It's like the whole species has been condemned to eternal infancy.SOFIA: The poor little trees never get to grow up.KWONG: Exactly on other trees that don't get sick from it the American chestnut tree was declared functionally extinct.SOFIA: Right And Rex remembers a researcher lecturing to his forestry class basically saying they're gone.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]MANN: I remember him saying And they had just given up all hope.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: But Maddie there might be hope.SOFIA: Chestnut tree hope.KWONG: Something like it a group formed the American Chestnut Foundation Rex Mann has been a long time of the Kentucky chapter has the foundation's strategies for bringing back a version of the American chestnut tree that can fend off the fungus.SOFIA: So it can grow and essentially reproduce on its own in nature.KWONG: Yes this man named Bill Owens recorded a song to help them raise money.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]BILL OWENS: Like manna from heaven.[END PLAYBACK]SOFIA: Oh he did.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]OWENS: To feed the people and the animals.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: Sung alongside his very famous niece chestnut treeSOFIA: Dolly!KWONG: The one and only.SOFIA: Is this real?KWONG: That's Dolly Parton And she released this song a few years ago for this whole effort thank God for second chances." And it's science that's giving this tree a second chance.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]JARED WESTBROOK: My name is Jared Westbrook I work for the American Chestnut Foundation.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: Jared is the director of science there overseeing this three-pronged initiative to restore the tree.SOFIA: Tree-pronged approach scientists have been experimenting with crossbreeding the American chestnut with the Chinese chestnut tree which does not get sick from the blight.SOFIA: OK they've taken these offspring and performed a special kind of crossbreeding called backcrossing that reinforces the traits of the American chestnut tree There's three generations of these hybrids at the foundation's research farm in Virginia.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]WESTBROOK: So we've planted hundreds of thousands of trees at this farm And now we're selecting the 1% most resistant trees.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: It's still slow going and maybe not the best strategy because Jared's realized that blight resistance is not a simply inherited trait after all.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]WESTBROOK: So there's a lot more genes involved And as you do more crossing to American chestnut you get trees that are less blight tolerant.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: So traditional breeding has its limits The more you make these trees American chestnut-y attacking the blight itself by infecting it with a virus.SOFIA: That's probably fine I'm not worried about that at all.KWONG: But it's kind of-- it makes sense this strategy has been effective in Europe But the problem in the US is you'd have to go around and individually infect each spot of fungus on the tree and that is just--SOFIA: Not realistic.KWONG: So much work.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]WESTBROOK: But we can't go out to the forest and treat 400 million trees with this virus every year So it's too labor intensive for large-scale restoration but it works for our breeding efforts.[END PLAYBACK]SOFIA: So what about prong number three but also the most controversial for some folks So think about corn or cotton.SOFIA: Got it.KWONG: OK we've added new genes to those agricultural crops to protect them from insects or allow them to tolerate certain weed killers.SOFIA: Yeah And members of the New York chapter wondered could we do something like that for the American chestnut tree Researchers at the State University of New York their College of Environmental Science and Forestry They chose a gene naturally found in wheat and a lot of other grass plants and inserted it into American chestnut trees They planted that first transgenic tree outside the lab in 2006 And their hope is that such a tree will be planted in the wild someday.SOFIA: And how does this gene affect the American chestnut tree?KWONG: OK so this gene is responsible for creating an enzyme which has the ability to combat oxalic acid And oxalic acid is what's ultimately attacking trees that have been infected with the blight fungus So this gene is essentially protecting the tree from being totally consumed by the fungus.SOFIA: Right so these trees have been genetically modified at this point.KWONG: That's right Researchers at SUNY call these samples Darling American chestnut trees And before they can be planted in the wild they have to pass federal regulatory approval they all have to sign off.SOFIA: And what are these regulatory agencies looking for?KWONG: Basically they'll want to know how these transgenic chestnuts are impacting the environment around them They'll want to know about tree growth rates and pollen flow A lot of testing to be done on trees that are still pretty young And that's made some people very nervous.SOFIA: Right Some people are worried about genetically engineered trees and other things being released into the wild.KWONG: Yes two members of the foundation's Massachusetts Rhode Island chapter stepped down over this A group of activists released a white paper saying this would be a "massive and irreversible experiment." They're fearful this could change the ecosystem in ways we just can't predict And Jared gets where these critics are coming from.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]WESTBROOK: It messes with people's idea of what is natural or what is nature And we're doing an interventionist approach to a problem that humans caused in terms of bringing in introduced pathogens that the native species are naive to and they're susceptible to.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: Basically it could open the door for genetically engineering other trees And there's public opposition to that idea.SOFIA: Big questions out there is the poster child for raising those questions What lengths are we willing to go to to bring back trees Jared argues that because the American chestnut tree was such a keystone species in its heyday that this tree is worth all the trouble.[AUDIO PLAYBACK]WESTBROOK: It would be very difficult to try to resurrect all of the species that have gone extinct as a result of human intervention But if we were selective about choosing keystone species that have a large ecological effect I think that is where the intervention is justified.[END PLAYBACK]KWONG: And the public can weigh in on these decisions regarding these transgenic chestnut trees when they're up for federal review next year.SOFIA: All right Thank you for sharing with us the scientific saga of the American chestnut tree.KWONG: Such a saga.SOFIA: Yeah.KWONG: You're welcome Maddie.[MUSIC PLAYING]KWONG: Since this episode first published five years ago the American Chestnut Foundation withdrew its SUNY's Darling transgenic chestnut project I got in touch with Jared Westbrook again to explain why And he said the foundation found issues with the transgenic trees in the long term including diminished blight resistance and slow growth who directs the chestnut restoration project there told me over email that the college has made improvements to their program since these concerns came to light and he defended the viability of Darling trees against blight in the long term "No single tool or approach will fully solve the problem of chestnut blight but we believe that biotechnological approaches can be a safe and effective part of the solution." As for the American Chestnut Foundation too-- that their main strategy at the moment is version of prong one where the foundation uses genomics to select the very best hybrid trees and ultimately create a line of progeny with blight resistance woven into their DNA at birth Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information Become an NPR sponsor For more Fields of Mistria game help, check out: CASTANEA — Chilly temperatures couldn’t stop hundreds of area residents from braving the cold for the Inaugural Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival. The festival, held at the Castanea Fire Company Picnic Grounds near the Lock Haven City Airport on Saturday afternoon, drew in hundreds of individuals — and that was just in the first hour. The festival was spearheaded by the Castanea Township Recreation Committee, which wanted to highlight the connection of the township to the chestnut. It featured live music, chestnut-based foods and beverages, vendors, exhibitors, portable ice rink and s’mores over outdoor burn barrels provided by Cub Scouts from Troop 711 in Lock Haven. Committee member Diana Andrus’s husband, Mike, even designed and created two large cutouts of the festival’s mascot — Chas — which offered the opportunity for a photo shoot. Keeping with the chestnut theme, the recreation committee had 500 roasted chestnuts to hand out to individuals at the start of the festivities. According to Committee Member Brady Carnahan, they ran out of chestnuts within the first hour of the festival. “We were so packed for that first hour,” Committee Chair Rick Schulz said. Schulz said he and the committee were thrilled with the reception of the inaugural event. “We’re overjoyed. We were hesitant about having a winter event because of weather concerns and whether the public would respond,” Schulz said. “We’re quite happy with the turnout. We increasingly are seeing people at the booths from outside of the county, too. Which, of course, makes us even happier.” Schulz said about 20 vendors turned out to set up shop inside the Castanea Picnic Grounds facility to sell their products. “We’re hoping to grow more and more each year and focus on the chestnut tree and so forth,” he said. Schulz thanked the support of the Clinton County Commissioners, Clinton County Tourism and the township’s supervisors for their support in making the event possible. He also gave a shout out to the 40 volunteers that helped ensure the event ran smoothly. “I do sincerely appreciate the efforts of the committee and many of our volunteers that have supported us in making this event successful,” he said. Saturday’s event saw musical performances by John Stevens Doubleshot Polka Band along with area favorite Private Stock Trio. Individuals were able to enjoy the live music while perusing various vendors and enjoy a drink from Bald Birds Brewing or Oregon Hill Winery. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A consultant paid to review security at the official residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh ... Copyright © 2025 Ogden Publications of Pennsylvania, LLC | https://www.lockhaven.com | 9-11 W. Main Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745 | 570-748-6791 by Julia Lee but unlike the other plants you find around the colorful world Juniper will task you to find water chestnuts she’ll teach you how to cook water chestnut fritters we explain where to find water chestnuts in Fields of Mistria You can find water chestnuts in set spawn locations in The Narrows There’s quite a few growing in the water directly south of the museum They appear as small sprouts along the edge of the river there were five spots along the river where the water chestnuts spawn and respawn Water chestnuts take about four in-game days to respawn so we recommend holding on to a few of them before selling off or using the rest just in case you need them during this respawn period You can also buy them sometimes from Balor’s merchant wagon for 25 Tesserae each though his shop seems to rotate on a random basis so this method of grabbing chestnuts isn’t really reliable Outside of the initial quest where they’re requested you can eat the water chestnuts for three HP and stamina each you can use water chestnuts to make better animal feed for your ranching needs You can cook the chestnuts into water chestnut fritters Notably, Juniper, one of the romance candidates, likes receiving water chestnut fritters as a gift, so they may be worth cooking with her in mind. The best of Polygon in your inbox, every Friday. Festival of the Holidays has officially kicked off in EPCOT, and we have been BUSY showing you everything there is to experience at the most holly jolly EPCOT festival of the year The one thing that really intrigued me was the Roasted Chestnuts, which are truly roasted over an open fire! A bag costs $6.25, and I was really looking forward to trying this classic holiday option. While the team and I enjoyed the salty, roasted flavor of the chestnuts, the thing with chestnuts is that you’re not supposed to eat the outside of them, only the inside. And when I tell you these were nearly impossible to break open, that’s not an exaggeration. AllEars Myranda and I visited this booth together, and she wasn’t a fan of them at all. I think you’ll enjoy them if you’re a fan of chestnuts, but I discovered here that chestnuts aren’t my favorite (I much preferred the Cinnamon-glazed Pecans and Cinnamon-glazed Cashews for $6 each here, and there are Cinnamon-glazed Almonds available too). Not wanting to be wasteful, though, I stuck them in my bag to carry around with me for the ENTIRE rest of the day as I covered other parts of the festival, thinking I would reach for them throughout the day as a little snack. Well, that never happened, so instead, I just walked around the whole day with a bag of chestnuts IN my bag, and yes, it did make my bag smell just like Christmas. At the end of my day, I did break one open again, and surprisingly, I think the flavor and texture improved after sitting all day! Unfortunately, the chestnuts were even HARDER to break it open, so that was pretty ironic. Let’s just say that these are an acquired taste…and I really tried my best to like them. It also left my hands pretty covered in chestnut residue, so you’ll likely want to wash your hands pretty frequently if you’re snacking on these throughout the day. Overall? Chestnuts? Pretty weird. I don’t see the appeal — sorry, squirrels! Looking for our review of the festival as a whole? Check out our new video below! Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney World news and reviews! What booth are you most looking forward to at this year’s Festival of the Holidays? Tell me in the comments! TSA just banned an essential travel item from checked luggage! We're sharing the hottest deals on LEGO sets on Amazon! Six Flags has just announced that they're CLOSING on of their theme parks entirely this... Don't forget about this change coming up for Disney World hotel guests! We spotted three brand-new Disney Loungefly bags online, and one of them is already selling... If you adore Butterbeer from Harry Potter as much as we do, these TWO new... Disney quietly dropped a hint about the 2025 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Check out some of the things you shared that are slightly "different" on how to... Only true Disney adults are packing these items for their Disney World trips! Let's talk about why every Disney Adult is buying an Oura Ring from Target right... These are the new Loungeflys that everyone will be wearing to Epic Universe. We found the best ALDI deals you'll want to pack for your next Disney World... I love this Disney World restaurant but I don't think you should go to it! It's official. This is the cheapest Disney Loungefly you'll find on Amazon today! Disney World brought back a huge perk, and it's free! Big news, travelers! If Mexico City’s been on your bucket list, it’s about to get... USA Today just released the results of a poll it took for best theme park... What happens when half of the rides in one park close on your Disney World... 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Volume 8 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1561027 Introduction: The European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a historically and ecologically important tree in the Iberian Peninsula The species now faces challenges related to the abandonment of traditional management practices although the potential impact of the later on chestnut potential range remains unexplored Methods: We assessed variations in chestnut potential range under different climate change scenarios in the Iberian Peninsula by studying the current and projected habitat suitability of the species across distinct biogeographical regions (Atlantic and Mediterranean) and Regions of Provenance (RoPs) Environmental static (topography and soil parameters) and dynamic (bioclimatic variables) factors were used to build Species Distribution Models (SDMs) Future habitat suitability projections were based on an ensemble of five global circulation models (GCMs) for two climate change scenarios included in CMIP6 The SDMs were constructed using the Random Forest algorithm Results and Discussion: Our model achieved an accuracy of 86.82% with high sensitivity (89.91%) and specificity (83.73%) Favourable chestnut habitats were linked to wetter regions and included factors associated with annual and seasonal precipitations Optimal conditions for chestnut trees include precipitation exceeding 800 mm/year and mean temperature ranging from 10-15°C Future projections suggest a potential habitat loss for chestnut and slight changes in net primary productivity The Regions of Provenance exhibit varying levels of resilience with the Mediterranean regions being particularly vulnerable We highlight the need to develop mitigation strategies to facilitate chestnut resilience in the face of threats related to climate change Better understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on habitat suitability for chestnuts will help to identify the most appropriate actions across space considering future potential climate scenarios we assessed the potential impacts of climate change on chestnut potential range across the Iberian Peninsula considering both current and projected habitat suitability We also conducted a comprehensive analysis of the potential impacts of climate change across established chestnut ecological regions (areas where species thrive under uniform conditions) To address the climatic heterogeneity of the area and facilitate specific comparisons and analyses two types of territorial divisions were used: the biogeographical the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions (where chestnut are present); and the Regions of Provenance (RoPs) regarded as ecologically homogeneous areas for the species Figure 1. (A) Map of the Biogeographical Regions in Europe from 2016 onwards (source: European Environment Agency) and (B) Regions of Provenance (RoP) with presence of sweet chestnut. Source: (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (ICNF), 2018; Alía Miranda et al., 2009) which divides the territory into ecologically analogous zones independent of species we restricted our analysis to occurrences separated from each other by >200 m while a minimum distance of 1,000 m was selected for absences to match NFI sampling intensity we used 4,505 occurrences and 56,498 absences for subsequent analyses 3,128 georeferenced occurrences were located in the Atlantic biogeographical region 1,359 in the Mediterranean and 18 in the Alpine region has been excluded from the biogeographical regions analysis to remove multicollinearity we excluded those variables with a Spearman’s pairwise correlation coefficient > |0.7| or a Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) > 5 to exclusively assess the importance of predictors in the Atlantic and Mediterranean biogeographical regions all predictors were considered for modelling without exclusions empirically derived model that includes valuable information for management considerations Both environmental variables as climate change variables were cropped to fit the study area, reprojected to GRS84 (EPSG: 4326) and resampled to a 100 m resolution by bilinear interpolation. These processes were conducted using the terra package (Hijmans et al., 2022) in R 4.3.1 software the presence/absence data were split into two data sets with 80% allocated for training and 20% for validation purposes The RF model was trained on a balanced sample achieved through down-sampling with an mtry value computed as the square root of the number of predictors and including 1,000 trees The predictive performance of RF models was assessed with the validation data set through sensitivity and specificity (i.e. the numbers of correctly classified presences and absences Spatial predictions were returned in terms of the probability of the target pixel and then converted into binary outcomes using a conservative threshold of 0.4 at a spatial resolution of 100 m climate change scenario and time interval was generated an ensemble of models was generated using both mean and median values for each scenario and time interval and binarized using the above-mentioned threshold Binary maps were used to assess significant differences in elevation and productivity (NPP) in future scenarios by applying the Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney test (at α = 0.01) and using the mean of the current scenario as the reference for comparison Net Primary Production (NPP), commonly used to evaluate the responses of the terrestrial carbon cycle to climate change, depends on climatic variables (Lieth, 1975). Previous studies by Pérez-Girón et al. (2020) show a negative correlation between NPP and mean temperature variables (MAT MATmin and MATmax) and a positive correlation between NPP and latitude while no correlation was found with mean annual precipitation (MAP) To assess changes in the spatial distribution of environmentally suitable habitats for chestnut under current and future climatic conditions, scenarios and temporal intervals, we used the biomod2 package (Thuiller et al., 2023) to compute the species stability the latter of which was calculated as the difference between gains and losses In order to map the changes on the chestnut distribution we categorised the species change as stable (change equal to zero) slight (values from (−)1 to (−)24) moderate (values ranging from (−)25 to (−)49) and extreme (values equal to or greater than (−)50) The key precipitation and temperature variables were chosen to compute significant habitat associations by comparing the occurrences of sweet chestnut within a habitat against a randomly distributed set of points. The comparison was implemented with the shar package (Hesselbarth, 2021) and a significance level of 0.01 was applied These bioclimatic factors are essential for understanding the dynamic nature of chestnut habitats across the Iberian Peninsula influencing critical ecological aspects such as vegetation composition Temperature breaks were established every 2.5°C and 300 mm steps were chosen for precipitation The resulting positive species-habitat associations were used as a reference framework for future predictions within RoPs Within the framework of the source regions changes in habitat suitability for chestnut were analysed on the basis of future projections These analyses quantified the percentage differentials between gains and losses for RoPs with a minimum land area of 100 hectares for representation encompassing a total of 33 distinct regions of origin across the Iberian Peninsula of which 28 regions are in Spain and 5 in Portugal Other important factors such as SOC provides valuable information about soil fertility levels Current spatial predictions of habitat suitability for sweet chestnut expressed as probability (A) and importance of variables (B) When examining the overall importance of the different variables used concerning the Atlantic and Mediterranean biogeographical regions, notable differences emerged (Figure 3); highlighting the importance of precipitation as one of the most influential variables in habitat suitability and chestnut resilience precipitation seasonality (Bio15) was the most important variable which impacts on soil moisture availability Other important factors were the mean temperature of coldest quarter (Bio11) indicating winter severity and affecting chestnut physiology and survival the annual mean temperature (Bio1) (influencing temperature stability and growth conditions) annual (Bio12) and wettest quarter (Bio16) precipitation critical for soil moisture during growth periods were the most important variables affecting chestnut habitat suitability the precipitation of wettest month (Bio13) Overall importance of variables in (A) Atlantic and (B) Mediterranean Biogeographical Regions The importance of variables in the Atlantic and Mediterranean biogeographical regions was assessed exclusively through a RF model that included all predictors without exclusions different from the RF used to predict distributions particularly towards the end of the century while habitat gain is evident in all scenarios and time periods it is outweighed by the magnitude of habitat loss resulting in overall negative range changes Chestnut habitat suitability for (A) 2011-2040 and (E) 2071-2100 under the SSP3-7.0 scenario and (F) 2071-2100 under the SSP5-8.5 scenario as determined using a median ensemble approach suggesting the involvement of some elevational-related stress tolerance in its adaptation the median NPP is predicted to undergo a slight but statistically significant increase particularly between 2041 and 2070 onwards as might be expected due to the increase in temperatures as it is more pronounced at relatively low NPP values Distribution and mean comparison in current and future predicted areas of (A) elevation and (B) NPP Statistical significance: ns: p > 0.05; *p ≤ 0.05; **p ≤ 0.01; ***p ≤ 0.001; ****p ≤ 0.0001 Chestnut habitat change in the RoPs for (A) 2011-2040 Considering this temperature range as optimal for chestnut The challenge for chestnut in these RoPs escalates further in the analysed climate change scenarios intensifying throughout the periods 2011–2040 the influence of annual precipitation (Bio12) is less constraining for the species than the annual mean temperature (Bio1) annual precipitation is anticipated to fall below acceptable thresholds for the species Density function of mean annual precipitation (Bio12) under current environmental conditions and projected future climate change scenarios across RoPs The red line indicates the threshold above which the presence of the species shows a positive association with mean annual precipitation Density function of annual mean temperature (Bio1) under current environmental conditions and projected future climate change scenarios across RoPs The blue and red lines indicate the thresholds between which there is a positive association between species presence and annual mean temperature accentuated by climate scenarios in the latter periods of the century; where Mediterranean climatic conditions are expected to extend northwards into the Iberian Peninsula Our findings contribute to establish an ecological reference framework based on current data for the species and its region of origin in the Iberian Peninsula and provide valuable insights to guide conservation actions in the face of changing climate. These observations are also consistent with previous findings of Pérez-Girón et al. (2020) who evaluated the resilience of sweet chestnut Agroforestry Systems (AFS) under both the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios through 2,100 These authors emphasised the need for strategic planning and management of chestnut habitats suited to the diverse RoPs to counteract the detrimental effects of climate change The comprehensive examination of chestnut RoPs sheds light on the intricate effects of climate change on species distributions emphasising the urgent need for coordinated regional and international efforts to address these challenges and protect chestnut biodiversity The results of this study confirm the preference of chestnut for wetter oceanic climates and highlight the critical role of precipitation in determining habitat suitability and resilience Precipitation levels exceeding 800 mm/year and optimal mean temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C are key determinants of chestnut habitat suitability The European chestnut displays a high level of adaptability to varying elevation conditions and adaptive potential in response to productivity-related obstacles Its stress tolerance and capacity for recovery may be key for its survival in dynamic climate scenarios Future projections highlight significant potential habitat loss alterations in elevation and shifts in NPP with the Mediterranean region facing heightened vulnerability Escalating temperatures could surpass chestnut tolerance thresholds and lead to alterations in the range of the species Variations in resilience and vulnerability across different RoPs emphasise the need for strategic habitat management to conserve chestnut diversity amidst climate uncertainties this study aims to serve as a spatial reference point for future conservation and management strategies for the species laying the groundwork for forthcoming research on chestnut-related socioecological systems Publicly available datasets were analysed in this study. This data can be found here: https://zenodo.org/records/14065833 The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research This study was conducted within the framework of the LIFE19 NAT/ES/000913 “Bears with Future” project and coordinated by the Brown Bear Foundation This research received additional financial support from the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic challenge of the Government of Spain We sincerely thank the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF) in Portugal for their generous provision and authorization to use the data from the 6th National Forest Inventory (IFN) for our research project The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision The authors declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1561027/full#supplementary-material Temperatura del aire y precipitación (1971–2000) Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino Catálogo de Publicaciones de la Administración General del Estado Google Scholar Adaptive diversity and drought tolerance in Castanea sativa assessed through EST-SSR genic markers The dynamics of flower development in Castanea sativa mill Alía Miranda Regiones de procedencia de especies forestales en España Madrid: Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales Google Scholar Álvarez-Álvarez Relating growth and nutrition to site factors in young chestnut plantations established on agricultural and forest land in northern Spain Evaluation of Ecto-mycorrhizae as a determinant of chestnut growth and stress response Google Scholar Herbivory in global climate change research: direct effects of rising temperature on insect herbivores Extreme heat events in the Iberia peninsula from extreme value mixture modeling of ERA5-land air temperature Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar “Orchard Management” in The chestnut handbook International Standard Book Number-13: 978–1–138-33402-1 (Hardback) Google Scholar “European chestnut traditional and high-density orchards” in The chestnut handbook International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-138-33402-1 (Hardback) Google Scholar Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in plant growth regulation: implications in abiotic stress tolerance Biodiversity protection against anthropogenic climate change: conservation prioritization of Castanea sativa in the South Caucasus based on genetic and ecological metrics Böhnisch Hot spots and climate trends of meteorological droughts in Europe–assessing the percent of Normal index in a single-model initial-condition large ensemble Checking bioclimatic variables that combine temperature and precipitation data before their use in species distribution models Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Institut pour le développement forestier Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Global climate-related predictors at kilometre resolution for the past and future earth system science data Camisón Changes in carbohydrates induced by drought and waterlogging in Castanea sativa Camisón Exploring the use of scions and rootstocks from xeric areas to improve drought tolerance in Castanea sativa miller Cardoso Pereira Extreme precipitation events under climate change in the Iberian Peninsula Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Ecoinfo: assorted tools for the management and analysis of ecological information Google Scholar Carneiro-Carvalho The potential of SiK® fertilization in the resilience of chestnut plants to drought - 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Pedro Álvarez-Álvarez, YWx2YXJlenBlZHJvQHVuaW92aS5lcw== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Chestnuts are displayed at a food vendor as a person dressed as Santa Claus offers rides open-pollinated American chestnut bur grows on a tree at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry Lafayette Road Experiment Station in Syracuse and William Powell harvest genetically modified chestnut samples at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry’s Lafayette Road Experiment Station in Syracuse Genetically modified chestnuts are labeled weighed and bagged before being placed into cold storage at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse It’s been a very long time since vendors sold the American chestnut on city sidewalks It’s no longer the variety whose smell some people associate with Christmastime as it wafts from street carts But memories of the American chestnut’s legacy keep resurfacing for the researchers who want to bring it back They describe its wood that paneled the homes and schoolrooms of their grandparents or the photographs of men on the street corners of old Baltimore and the connection to the importance that this tree played in virtually every aspect of the lives of people,” said Sara Fern Fitzsimmons chief conservation officer with The American Chestnut Foundation which is working to restore the tree to flourish as it once did Once a hallmark of forests from Georgia to New England American chestnuts now exist mostly as a vast network of root systems underground but the fungal blight takes hold when the trees start maturing like those that introduced the blight in the first place and produce most of the edible chestnuts for fall and winter snacking American chestnut trees are better suited for timber they’re culturally loved by people all over North America and they used to be an important species for the ecological health of forests providing a reliable source of nutritious food and shelter for wildlife and humans alike “It was really a pretty significant species to lose,” said Amy Brunner an associate professor at Virginia Tech who works on the tree’s genetics the less resilient that forest ecosystem is.” has been trying for decades to breed a hybrid that is mostly American in genetics but with the fungus-fighting traits of the Chinese type Fitzsimmons said breeders have learned just how difficult that is — blight resistance involves several different genes and it has proven hard to separate them from the traits that distinguish Chinese chestnuts some scientists have been working on genetically modifying American chestnuts to see if they can boost their immunity that way instead But progress was delayed by a recent mix-up involving two versions of a genetically modified American chestnut that scientists at State University of New York had hoped could get through the regulatory process as soon as this year “It kind of stinks that it happened because now it’s taking a little bit longer than we had hoped,” said Linda McGuigan a research support specialist at the university But scientists there and elsewhere are continuing to pursue many avenues referring to the two main methods of breeding and genetic modification Breeding is vital for achieving enough genetic diversity for trees to adapt to a changing world but added that she thinks some genetic manipulation will be needed to get to enough blight resistance for American chestnuts to stand a chance A team at Virginia Tech published a paper this summer to try to answer that question They looked at 32 climate variables and compared them to projected future climates then calculated the shortest distance that regionally specific American chestnuts would have to move to offset warming The idea was to one day help them survive a new climate while keeping them as close as possible to where they once thrived “I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say it’s revolutionary” for teams at The American Chestnut Foundation She said the project will help them better figure out where to collect genes from the immature trees that remain across the country a forest scientist who taught at the University of Kentucky is working on a book about trees including the American chestnut called it “robust and well supported” and “critically important to the success of the chestnut.” but added that they need to be backed up with real-world experiments they can probably get pretty fast data off of those field trials forest scientists know their work might not pay off in their lifetimes It’s a lesson that became clear for the community when pioneering chestnut restoration experts Bill Powell and Chuck Maynard both died in the past 13 months McGuigan supported both of their research for years as lab manager at SUNY’s college of environmental science and forestry “I want to do something good for the future Follow Melina Walling on X @MelinaWalling and Bluesky @melinawalling.bsky.social