The American Chestnut Foundation

Banks Hardwoods is a strong supporter of The American Chestnut Foundation, an organization dedicated to restoring the great American Chestnut as a viable, productive hardwood species.

Averaging five feet in diameter and up to 100 feet tall, the American Chestnut supplied wood for virtually everything - fine furniture, shingles, railroad ties, even pulp and plywood.

The American Chestnut, known for its decay resistance, beauty and excellent millwork qualities, once reigned over 200 million acres of eastern woodlands until succumbing to a chestnut blight introduced in 1904. The species was once one of the most important and dominant species in the eastern United States and many of the early American barns, cabins and buildings were made of chestnut and still stand today.

For over 25 years, The American Chestnut Foundation has been working diligently to produce a blight resistant strain of the chestnut. In 2005 the first blight resistant nuts were harvested. Now, new seed orchards are being planted in 14 states – the true beginning of a reforestation process that TACF hopes to achieve before the end of this decade.

Banks Hardwoods proudly supports TACF and we encourage others to do the same. With much support and hard work, it’s only a matter of time before the Chestnut will once again grace our landscape. For more information, visit www.acf.org or call 802-447-0110.