American Chestnut is King
Why is it the greatest? Versatility. The American Chestnut is among the best and most consistent producer of food from trees. Its wood is great for lumber and is super rot resistant. The tree grows to unbelievable proportions, labeled the redwood of the East. Basically it provides everything trees can provide and it provides them in spades.
So why don't we all know about this tree? Because a disease was brought here that has killed off almost every mature American Chestnut tree. The roots survive in many places, but as soon as the sprouts start to get old enough to produce seeds the tree above ground again succumbs to the disease.
However, the story isn't over. Scientist have succeeded in incorporating disease resistance into the American Chestnut and the tree is again being established back in the eastern woodlands.
If you are preparing for what is coming or if you are a homesteader, then you want to have these trees on your place. This article is about the food it provides so let's cover that now.
The American Chestnut tree probuces a large nut that has provided food for both people and wild animals for thousands of years and was even a significant contributer to rural agricultural economies.
The Chestnuts ripen the late fall and provide food during the winter when food sources can be scarce. American Chestnuts contain 40 percent carbohydrates, which is four times more than is provided by acorns. They also produce chestnuts every year instead of in cycles, super important. American Chestnuts grow fast and produce nuts earlier than many mast producing trees. They also are a large tree and can produce amazing amounts of nuts in a very small space.
Chestnuts should be dry and ripe. Letting them sit for a few days allows the carbohydrates to turn to sugars giving a much sweeter taste. Store your chestnuts in a covered container in the coolest spot possible, but do not let them freeze. Doing this allows you to keep them for a month, spreading out their usefulness over more time.
Peel the brown skin with a knife or cook them first for easier knifeless peeling. Peel while still warm to make peeling easier. I recommend roasting your chestnuts on a high heat. That is the best way to eat them in my opinion. Roasting can take from 15 to 25 minutes depending on size and temperature.
But where?
So I have convinced you that American Chestnuts are great, now how to get them to start your own trees.
To get nuts for planting that are blight resistant you have two options. By a cross with an Asian species or join The American Chestnut foundation. The ACF (ACF.org) sends some members nuts from trees in their backcross program. Blight resistance is not yet guaranteed. Seeds are awarded on a seniority bases so sign up now and as time goes by you will gain seniority. And delays in getting nuts has the benefit of increasing the blight resistance you are likely to receive. Membership cost money, the seeds will be free other than that.
If you don't want to wait, you can go ahead and buy a cross. It will produce smaller nuts and will have few of the other great characteristics, such as rot resistance, lumber value, size, etc.! Why not both???
Once harvested chestnuts can be stored for extended use by canning. Cook the chestnuts in an oven at 250 F. Only heat long enough to lightly brown and thoroughly heat the chestnuts.
Place in preheated jars. After this the will last for months. If you can with cannig jars they will ast for ovr a year.
