The American Chestnut: A Conversation with Donald Davis
Before 1910, the American chestnut was one of the most common—and cherished—trees in the eastern United States. Its rot-resistant wood framed barns and fences; its abundant nuts fed wildlife, livestock, and families. Then a blight fungus arrived, and within decades the species was functionally extinct across its native range—an ecological catastrophe and a cultural loss still felt today.
Join environmental historian Donald Edward Davis for a compelling conversation about this once-dominant tree and the long story of its rise, fall, and possible return. Drawing from The American Chestnut: An Environmental History, Davis traces the chestnut’s place in Native American life, early American industry, and everyday culture—and examines modern restoration efforts, from breeding programs to genetic research.
For readers of Henry David Thoreau—who walked among chestnuts in Concord and understood forests as living communities—this story resonates deeply. What does it mean when a foundational species disappears? And what might restoration teach us about attention, responsibility, and hope?
This event can also be joined virtually. To attend online Register on Zoom
This event is part of The Write Connection at Thoreau Farm, our literary series of programs.