Workshops – Books – Tours – Trees – Plants

Towards A Climate Resilient Food Economy:

We have passionately searched the Sierra Nevada and Western States to re-discover the living library of plants still scattered across Northern California, those trees and plants left over from the 1800’s and early 1900’s Gold Rush era.   These are the grandmother trees that have become climate resilient with no human attention for the last 100 years. They give the best fruit and nuts in conditions that most fruit and nut trees can not endure with large annual temperature variations. These  grandmother trees have learned to thrive under the most harsh conditions. We want to make them available to growers, gardeners and communities throughout the West Coast.

We have personally found these trees and have taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still cling to life in ghostly, historic orchards. We offer very rare and exclusive plants – some may have only just been rediscovered.

95% of plants available during the 1800s are no longer available today.  We are saving what is left before they die. 

***********

Thanks to Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply (originally started by our founder Amigo Bob Cantisano), a collection of some of our favorite species and varieties will be available through Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden for the 2024/25 Bareroot Season. 

Stay Tuned…

*

The SOLD OUT Varieties listed below are for informational purposes only. These are many of the plants we have found and sold over the years. While some of these varieties will be available this Autumn, many will not. 

Hope is on the Horizon.

We will have historic fruit and nut trees available for preorder

November 1, 2024.

Thank you for all your Support!

Orders only accepted via the website.

American Chestnut

American Chestnut

Store/Chestnuts
SKU 00016
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details

We have discovered only 8 of the true American chestnut (Castenea dentata) still growing in our region, introduced to California by Gillet beginning in 1882. This is the chestnut once famous as the predominant hardwood of the Eastern US, but wiped out by chestnut blight introduced from Asia in the early 1900s. Chestnut blight is not known to effect chestnuts in California due to the lack of summer humidity necessary for blight to grow. Our mother trees have never been damaged by blight. The American chestnut is a small nut of the sweetest flavor. When dried many people describe the flavor as maple syrup like. They are easy to peel. Commonly roasted, we prefer them for making porridge and drying for grinding into wonderful chestnut flour. Plant a bit of American history! These trees are grafted using the scion from the mother tree, grafted on chestnut seedlings.

Note: Chestnut trees are rarely self-fertile, although we have found that some fruit surprisingly well despite being isolated. To insure regular production, plant at least two chestnuts at your site to encourage cross pollination and higher productivity.

Our mother trees are growing in an early 20th century mixed chestnut species, dry farmed, 2 acre orchard, growing near Brownsville, Yuba County at 2300'. Once a thriving logging town, Brownsville was settled in 1862 and named for sawmill owner I.E. Brown.
Show More
Save this product for later
Share this product with your friends
Pin it
American Chestnut
Store/Chestnuts
Display prices in:USD

PayPal and All debit/ credit cards accepted Upon purchase, Click on CARD LOGO to enter your billing information

All of your purchases and tax-deductible donations support our non-profit!

Thank you!

TO DONATE  via PayPal Giving – Click here

Sign up for our email list by Email-ing us at thefgi@gmail.com and request to be added. 

Like us on Facebook.