American Chestnut Program

The American Chestnut tree was once a staple of our forests dominating the forest canopy and inhabiting nearly 200 million acres. Wildlife, livestock and people considered chestnuts a valued food source. Craftsmen prized the American Chestnut for its beautiful wood grain. The Library in the North Hall is made entirely of American Chestnut salvaged from the original buildings on the property.

The fungus responsible for chestnut blight Cryphonectria parasitica came from Asia and by the mid 1950’s had killed an estimated 4 billion American Chestnut trees.The American Chestnut foundation uses back cross breeding to produce a blight resistant American Chestnut also referred to as the Restoration Chestnut 1.0

Hudson Farm Club in cooperation with the American Chestnut Foundation has planted American Chestnut hybrid trees on the property in an effort to re-establish the tree that has been extinct for more than a century.  Of the 70 trees planted in 2017 and 2018, 65 of them are alive and growing. There are 47 trees planted in a grouse clear cut, 18 are located in various locations on the main grounds of Hudson Farm.