It was a great day!

I so wanted to go to that. I really wanted to hear Martin Cipollini on the American chestnut in GA. The topic is of particular interest to me and I am wondering what we can do to help. Any ideas on where I can get more information? I'd love to find a supplier of the 1/16th Chinese slips for commercial growers. Far as I know the full American are unavailable, but I have bought the cross breeds for my own home.

I am glad it went well for the GNPS! You guys deserve it.

I think if you contact the Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation they can give you that information. They are looking for people to grow them and find new sources of indigenous Georgia trees that can contribute pollen to the breeding program. They do have some, of course, but want more.

Most of the previous breeding has been using sources from outside of Georgia for pollen and mother trees. Their next step is to breed indigenous Georgia genes into them to create southern crosses.

By the way, Martin said that the chapter annual meeting will be at Berry College this year. He said keep an eye on the website for more details - I think it will be in May.

Here is a link that might be useful: Georgia Chapter, ACF

Thank you, esh. I will look into this. Through your link I discovered they have a facebook page which they keep updated - that's handy. (Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation Facebook). I would honestly like to see how others not in an academic field can help. It's something I feel strongly about. It give me angst to look into the GA woods and see all of that Chinese privet.