They stand like gaunt, whitening skeletons among the living giants of our mountain forests. And the old man grows nostalgic and a bit sad when he looks upon them, for they remind him of his lost youth and of something that will not come again in his time-if ever.
A part of the sadness stems perhaps from the knowledge that his great-grandchildren have been deprived of a birthright. For when he was a boy, and even in his grandson’s youth, there was no finer sport than to go hunting for chestnuts on a crisp fall morning when frost had opened the big burs and spread their fruit among the fallen leaves.
The only reminder of that era are the whitening skeletons of the chestnut trees which survived the ax only to die under the whirlwind ravages of a mysterious blight.
“The only chestnuts you see now,” said the old man, “are a few brought in from some foreign country and they’re not like the kind that grew here in the hills. But when I was a boy, and up to thirty years ago, chestnuts were a right common thing here in the mountains. Folks even had chestnut orchards, same as you have apple and peach orchards today . . .”
“Why, I remember in the fall when the chestnuts started falling I’d go out there every morning while my wife was getting breakfast and pick up two gallons before she got the coffee on the table. Reckon the most I ever took to market at one time was twelve bushels. Got a dollar and a quarter a bushel for ’em, which I took out in trade. Now, that was a lot of money back in those days. Everybody hunted chestnuts back then. Folks who didn’t have chestnut orchards would get up parties and get a covered wagon or two and go off into the hills where there was a good stand of chestnut. They would camp out and be gone two or three days, coming home when they had got their wagons filled up. Them that wasn’t sold would furnish goodies for the children and the grownups. We’d serve them up boiled and roasted or just eat ’em plain. If you boiled ’em you could keep ’em a long time. One of the ancient dishes of the Cherokee Indians was chestnut bread. It was still made by them here in the mountains until the last of the chestnuts disappeared several years ago . . .”
The blight that struck the American chestnut is believed to have come into this country on Chinese chestnuts, which despite a high percentage of infection show too a degree of resistance to it. No immunity existed in our American tree, which was one of the giants of our Sylva when De Soto came this way.
From the time the blight was first detected in 1904 in the New York Zoological Park, it spread like wildfire, sweeping across New Jersey and Pennsylvania and into all parts of the country.
—John Parris – Roaming the Mountains
Pap remembered seeing those giant white skeletons described in the excerpt. He told me when he was a boy he’d come up on one when he was out hunting in the woods and it always spooked him. He said they looked like ghosts shinning through the darkness of the forest.
Papaw Wade, Pap’s father, said when he was a boy chestnut trees grew on the high side of a wagon road near where his family lived. They would walk along the road and pick up chestnuts where they had fallen and rolled down the bank. Much like the old man in the excerpt, Papaw Wade said it only took a little while to fill up all the sacks they had with chestnuts.
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of Roaming the Mountains written by John Parris. Leave a comment on this post to be entered. *Giveaway ends November 20, 2023.
Last night’s video: I Waited 20 Years to Make these Cookies…It was Worth the Wait!
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
My Grandpa was born in 1899. He sawmilled most of his life. When he spoke of the Chestnut Tree, it was always with mournfulness.
I appreciate all the books you read from and recommend. One author you highlighted before, Peggy Poe Stern, has become an author whose books I enjoy reading. I know this one would be a great read too!
Just in time to get us ready for the Christmas spirit! My husband loved trying the old ways. He was also quite the outdoorsman with his hunting and fishing. He was an upstate SC native from the Table Rock Mountain area. Not certain if those mountains were considered to be Appalachia. One Thanksgiving, we had a turkey he harvested. A few years ago, he decided he wanted to begin the tradition of roasting chestnuts for Christmas. He passed away this summer but we may have to roast some chestnuts in his memory.
Roaming the Mountains sounds like a wonderful book.
I would treasure a copy of this book.
And, so much work is being done to bring the American chestnut back.
My daughter and I discovered a chestnut and a persimmon tree growing in some woods near our house last year. We got the nerve to collect a bunch of the chestnuts this to try and boil and roast. I must’ve done something wrong because I about broke my tooth on the first one I tried oh well. We had fun and we’ll try again next year.
I really enjoy your blog!! I’m so thankful for Liz and Lynn and them introducing your blog to us!
My Dad told of what he called “Chestnut Winter” , when the mountains looked like they were covered in snow as the Chestnut trees bloomed in the Spring.
I remember the song and the little skit we used to do in school…”Under the spreading Chestnut Tree’. it was fun to sing and fun to act out.
How sad! I love trees and always feel so sad when one comes down or has to be cut down!
I haven’t had chestnuts in many years, but they are very good to eat. We do have a lot of walnuts here this year.
My Mama and her Dad “Pap”
loved chestnuts.
I liked them as well growing up. I remember eating them
raw. Very tasty.
Mama pampered a little chestnut seedling that she found after all the adult trees had died, but to no avail it also died. Mama was so sad.
My dad was born in 1913 and grew up in east Tennessee. I remember him talking about picking up chestnuts to roast. He said they were very good to eat. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a chestnut.
This story reminds me of my childhood. My dad made me a little ax to chop chestnut wood for our kitchen stove, also kindling for our coal stove. When I was about 12 I would go on the mountain behind our home and cut down small chestnut poles with a small bow saw and ax. Dragging down with a rope small sections that I could handle. T he bigger trees my dad and uncles would cut down and skid them with our old mule. I got to help them bust them with wedges and axes into fence rails and fence posts. There were trees over 6 ft. diameter. I believe all this is why I went into the timber industry when I was 21. Hard work back then, made an old man of me after 50 plus years. What a life back then in Webster co, WVa
Makes me sad to think I missed seeing huge “ches-nit” (our neck of woods pronunciation) trees and eat American chestnuts. My mom walked 5.5 miles One Way to school in the western NC mountains. Her Poppie, as she called him, was a school teacher before marrying. So mom maxed out the local one-room school and attended a high school in order to become a teacher also. One afternoon coming along the trail a storm came up with pouring rain. She took refuge inside a standing hollowed out ches-nit trunk till the storm passed.
I loved this story of the chestnut trees! I don’t know that I have ever seen a Chestnut tree but I do remember getting the wonderful nuts along with others, in our Christmas stockings at church. There were fruit, candy and nuts of all kinds, but my favorites were the chestnuts! Thank you for sharing this story with us and for the chance of winning the book. Hugs and prayers to all of you!
Wheni was a kid we lived back in the mountains and there were trees all over the hills. My dad carried one in his pocket, he said it was for good luck.
Simply beautiful prose. It makes me want to eat a roasted chestnut as I don’t think I ever have. The boiled ones don’t really appeal to me. I like roasted peanuts too! It is sad about the blight!
I want to wish you and yours and all your readers a HAPPY THANKSGIVING. We are so blessed.
Beautiful writing! It’s so sad that those chestnut trees are no longer there. If people didn’t remember and tell generations today, we’d never know….
We don’t have chestnut trees in my area, but we do have many, many pecan and black walnut trees. I love either of those added to baked goods or candies.
Enjoyed reading about chestnut trees…have never seen any but have heard alot about them. “Roaming the Mountains” by John Parris would be a good read…would just love it.
My Pa remembered the living American chestnut tree. He was a young man when the blight started destroying them. He was born in 1894.
My Dad grew up in Haywood County, NC. He was born in 1918 > he had stories of gathering bags of chestnuts as a boy. He loved them boiled with salt. When I was young, he came home with a small chestnut tree. I have no idea where it came from. He planted it in our woods. When he died in 92, there many trees that gave him chestnuts every fall. I would love to read this book.
I can almost see them by the description written. I have some picture frames somewhere made of chestnut wood. You can see what looks like bore holes throughout the wood. So perdy.
Thank you for sharing as I really enjoyed it!
Blessings
I have a cottage with the walls made of chestnut planks. Full of worm holes and weathered to a lovely hue. Before daddy passed he said: “sis, don’t forget what you have here. There will be no more huge logs such as these were”.
Thank you, Tipper, for posting a such a tender, evocative excerpt from John Parris’s “Roaming the Mountains.” As I understand it, several research groups are attempting to create blight- and rot-resistant American Chestnut trees (e.g. https://tacf.org/science-strategies/3bur/). I like to think that one day my great grandchildren’s great grandchildren will know the glory of the American Chestnut.
P.S. How is Granny today?
Oh my daisies! Chestnut bread! My great aunt would make it. Great read, Tipper!
I hope some day to taste a roasted chestnut. Christmas carols bring them to mind every year. We’ve only had the horse chestnut in my time.
We are thankful to get to see the beauty of those trees because your writing surely brings it to life before our eyes….
Thank you Tipper for all you share with us thru your blog.
My husband’s grandparents had one of the last houses in our area built from chestnut lumber. My father in law built it. So he knew every board in it. The house is in great shape, but is no longer in the family. I would love to have it but it’s price is far beyond my reach – especially since it sets on Tim’s Ford Lake with the front porch directly overlooking the lake. It is a beauty. Looks a lot like your house, Tipper.
Anyway thanks for all of the blogs! Hope to win the book!
Talking about chestnuts reminded me of a game from my childhood. Growing up, my best friend lived right next door to us so we were always in one of our backyards playing together. We had quite the imaginations and would make up these elaborate storylines and characters and act everything out. One of my favorites was a game we called Walnut and Chestnut. They were the main 2 characters. I was Chestnut and my friend Misty was Walnut. One was a good witch (me) and the other was a bad witch and we were always trying to convert each other to our side. This particular game went on for months. We didn’t have a script or anything, we ad libbed most everything but occasionally one of us would call a timeout to set the scene or direct one of her little sisters in their supporting roles haha. Everyday when we got home from school and finished our homework we’d meet in her backyard and pick up where we left off the day before. Such good memories. We had so much fun! Kids nowadays probably wouldn’t play make believe for 5 minutes let alone 5 months on the same game!
Work to rescue and restore chestnut continues. Lots of information on the website of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). There have been promising developments. Commercial nut orchards might become possible within 20 years.
What a heartfelt story. So sad these magnificent trees are but a memory. I don’t recall ever seeing a chestnut tree, sure wish I had.
I don’t have many chestnut memories but the greatest joy of my youth was walking the woods with my grandmother searching for black walnuts. We loved the candy and cakes grandma would make. We had a little store where we sold chestnuts. Walking the river or the mountain trails and creeks are my heaven on earth.
I would love to read this book. Prayers for all! Take care and God bless ❣️
Mama told us many times that she & her sisters roamed the woods searching for nuts that they would crack around the fire in winter. We’ve had “hicker nut” shells around this year brought by the squirrels. We’ve got a little tree in a flower bed that came up volunteer–leaving it there and hoping it will grow. I don’t know where the squirrels are getting them from–wish I did as I have never tasted one. We have lost so many native plants and got kudzu instead.
I’m days shy of turning 90 years young and never saw an American chestnut tree, but I have gathered morel mushrooms around decayed chestnut stumps and logs in Pennsylvania and West Virginia while hunting turkeys. We almost lost the American wild turkey along with those magnificent trees. I’m glad that didn’t happen.
Hi Tipper! I’ve been enjoying your blog and channel for quite a while now and finally updated my computer to be able to leave a comment. Thank you for all the great content. Reading about Appalachia and watching your videos makes me feel so at home. I’m not Appalachian, but your culture is so welcoming and beautiful that I wish I was. I love the music too! You are all so talented and I’m thankful you bless us with your music. Praying blessings for you and yours this fall, Meg
I remember seeing live chestnut trees. Not the massive ones John Parris writes about but saplings growing around the rotting stump of one of those. The largest one I remember was about a foot across at the base and maybe 30-40 feet tall. Even then, though, its fate was sealed. Although the crown looked healthy the bark was showing the blistering and splitting of the bark that are symptomatic of chestnut blight.
I don’t recall ever seeing the dead chestnut trees standing but I’ve seen several after they had fallen and the inside had rotted away. The width of some was bigger than my dad was tall. He was about 6’2″.
I often think about the people that had time to write things down on a daily basis even though they worked from before daylight till dark thirty. My wife and I talk occasionally about writing down some of our memories but so far we have only talked about it.
I’m lucky enough to have several chestnut trees around me in the woods, they’ve been there since before I was born. I went out every day and gathered the spiny husks and left them lay a while to open a little, and then I would carefully prise them apart with my fingers. Yeeowch!
I like them raw, the nut is sweet. When I gathered them I left plenty on the ground for the wildlife. I have also started three trees and have planted more this fall. I hope they all take.
I wish I could have seen those trees and the bounty of the chestnuts themselves. Loved your video last night (as usual). I think I’m going to try to make those for Thanksgiving. I will have to use pumpkin since I don’t have access to a Candy Roaster. I am thinking of making them smaller and making it a “sandwich” cookie with cream cheese mixture for a filling. Thank you for putting out such great content!
Goodness! I’d love to have a copy of that book. My Appalachian Mother taught me about the love of chestnuts. She planted two chestnut trees in her yard and I’ve gathered most of them up. We love them boiled with a little bit of salt. They are delicious! Just the other day when my husband and I were grocery shopping he had gone off to the produce section to get something and was looking around. When he got back he was smiling big and had his hands behind his back and said, “Bet you can’t guess what I’ve found!” Well, I couldn’t guess so his pulled out a clear plastic bag with big brown chestnuts! We were elated! They were expensive, $8.99 a pound! We couldn’t resist them. We bought them and brought them home and I boiled them and we thoroughly enjoyed them. He only found one bad chestnut in the whole bunch so I decided that it’s worth it to have something we both enjoy so much so I went back to the store and bought another pound! The store-bought ones are a different variety from the ones Mama grew, they are big and solid brown and the ones from Mama’s trees are shiny looking with brown shells with a black color on the end. Nevertheless, I’m a chestnut lover from way back. I remember when Grandpa and Uncle Burt would come back from hunting in the woods with chinquapins in their overall bibs to surprise me with. Chinquapins are much smaller than chestnuts and have more taste to them. I love them too but haven’t had one since those days back when Grandpa and Uncle Burt brought them to this little girl who is now 77 years old. I’m thankful for God’s Bounty and that He has allowed me to savor and enjoy so many good things from the forest and especially the ones that are flavored in with memories of sweet family surprises.
It’s a bittersweet story that I can relate to. While I not have witnessed the chestnuts demise but that of the elms and hemlocks. It saddens me to think what may be gone in another 50yrs if we do not learn to live with this planet. Nature will always prevail in the end but to what extent I’ll never know.
Morning, Tipper. I have wanted John Parris’s Roaming The Mountains for a long time. Today’s post reminded me of it. I guess if I don’t win the book, it’s a good time to just get it myself because I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a great read! I hope Granny is continuing to do well, and Katie is feeling good, too! God’s blessings on you and yours!
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:22-23
We also lost American Elm trees to a foreign Elm virus.
I knew about the chestnut blight and knew I wasn’t getting the real thing when I bought a jar of chestnuts at a specialty store. They were terrible, to say the least. I remember my parents talking about hunting chestnuts when they were young. Charles Fletcher wrote several funny stories about eating chestnuts in his books.
I loved reading John’s stories of the chestnut trees. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a chestnut tree in person, but I have had chestnuts as a child to eat at Christmas. They were tasty as I recall.
Would love to have some fresh roasted chestnuts.
Such a sad story but what wonderful writing! I would love to read his book. I know you treasure the family stories you are able to share with your readers. We treasure them also.
I first learned of the Chestnut Blught when I read Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer. It’s one of my very favorite books, telling the tales of a handful of main characters, all of whom are vividly brought to life by her writing. One is a lonesome and cantankerous old man who is working as hard as he can to try and bring the American Chestnut back by using a survivor he discovered on his property. Tipper, I just know this is a book you would love! It’s set in Appalachia. This year’s Chinese chestnut harvest was a bust here in Chattanooga. My cousin was visiting from Memphis and craved chestnuts which she has always loved. We found 3 healthy trees at Greenway Farms but the nuts inside the upended burrs were all flattened and undeveloped. Maybe because of our drought in this area? Anyway, we had fun looking for them & picking them up with salad tongs
It’s so sad to think we lost a beautiful tree to that horrible blight…and sadly none of us really know the chestnut trees (or honestly the chestnut itself) as mentioned in this story. I heard similar tales of them from my grandparents who remembered both the actual demise and the “ghosts” of the trees, too. They described them very much the same. Large, white, almost scary-looking, dead trunks standing in the woods around the areas where they lived here in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area.
I wonder truly how different these original American Chestnuts (the fruit) were from what you get from a modern chestnut tree? Must’ve been something more special and better since they (or at least the idea of them) have become immortalized in Christmas songs, stories, and more! I remember trying what was being touted as “roasted chestnuts” once at a holiday affair, and I just wasn’t all that impressed. They weren’t at all what we thought they’d be (or at least what we’d envisioned from the song sung by Bing Crosby about them roasting on an open fire!)… I can say I don’t think I’m a fan. However, I’ve had some things with chestnut flavoring, like coffee, and it was good. So maybe the originals were just…better?
Great story and memory! I love to hear recollections of days gone by in Appalachia and beyond!
I’m intrigued with John Parris’ writings. I didn’t know the Cherokee’s used chestnuts for bread making. Among other things, we can read the era of chestnuts in John Parris’ books.
Everyone enjoy this beautiful weather; get out and do something! Blessings to all.
My Dad told us stories of chestnuts but all the trees were gone before my time. I would love this book.
I don’t remember ever seeing a chestnut tree, but I do love to roam the mountains.
My friends grandparents old barn was/is made from Chestnut . . Oh how I wish we could have seen how magnificent they were then.
I’ve read These Storied Mountains and loved it. He is an excellent writer.
I have heard many stories about the chestnut blight. We had the Chinese chestnut trees when I was growing up. My mother would put roasted chestnut in her dressing at Thanksgiving. Maybe 10+ years ago, someone who lived in Carter County KY had found some American chestnut tree starts and was planting them on his farm. I hope they are producing now.
My father remembered seeing the giant dead American Chestnut trees standing in the woods here on the mountain where I still live. I really enjoy reading the stories of John Parris.
I never had roasted chestnuts until a few years ago. I love them!
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… I love the wonderful trees here in these beautiful mountains! They don’t have walnut and hickory trees up north, not like we have here in the mountains, I imagine chestnut tree would be pretty amazing ! I love the stories and hope to read this book one day soon. ❤️
I would have loved to see chestnut trees. I am wondering if they still grow anywhere else in the country?
I remember reading that east of the Mississippi River and prior to the blight, 1 of every 4 trees was a chestnut. They must have been a sight to behold in the fall.
It saddens me how much we have lost, not only in the chestnut trees but in the storytellers of times past. We just found some chestnut trees a few miles from us, a first for us. We gathered several, and now to learn what to do with them. Thank you for sharing your stories!
I would have loved to seen the big Chestnut trees. It’s a shame they are no longer. we are in danger of losing the Ash tree also.
I knew about the chestnut blight from reading other articles about it. When growing up, Daddy and me would lay in the floor in front of the fireplace on the cold winter evenings and eat roasted/parched peanuts. We grew our own peanuts. If the tv was turned on it would have been on one of three channels. Back then there was only three channels. I like to read more than watch tv, I would enjoy reading this book.
I haven’t fished or been to the Walhalla fish hatchery in SC in many years but there were some huge (I think) hemlock trees there that were cut down and left to lay there because of some type of disease or insects. I heard it said they were so big it would have been too costly to try to get them out to do anything with them.
Randy, some logs are so big that ordinary sawmill equipment can’t handle them. I happened to be present when the owner/operator of a mill had to turn a customer away because the log was too big for his mill.
I image you are familiar with these trees they were very close to the parking area and the CCC picnic shed. These trees would probably have been to big for most sawmills around here. I watched a show where on the west coast, the trees being cut were so big, they had to split them first and then pick them up and carry them out with helicopters. The same things would probably have had to be done with these trees. No way they could have been drug out and loaded with ordinary equipment without destroying the picnic area. I can understand this, but I just hate to see them rot and go to waste. It seems a shame to me.
Deprived of a birthright, destitute of the good things that God had provided for the generation that have preceded us never to know all the good fruit of the land. Much as Adam lost Eden, degradation and decay has spread across creation. Thank heaven the Second Adam has come to reclaim. Even in this it is evident that all creation groans to be released from bondage to futility. Even so Come Lord.
Tipper–I own the book, along with all the others by this great mountain writer who sang the song of these ancient hills so wonderfully well, so don’t bother adding my name to the list. However, I did want to mention my beloved Grandpa Joe in connection with the American chestnut. He was a tough old man not much given to showing emotion, but whenever the subject of the chestnut tree came up there was a catch in his voice and moisture in his eyes.
For him, like so many others living along the spine of the Appalachians, the tree had been a way of life. The nuts furnished food for humans, were THE key to fattening hogs in the fall, and provided welcome cash money by selling them to be roasted by vendors on street corners in cities. They were a key source of acid wood for tanneries, the material used for building barns and rail fences, and so much more. Some trees grew so tall Grandpa like to tell of squirrels feeding in the tops of chestnuts that were so high his shotgun was ineffective on them.
Daddy remembered them too and said they were almost literally a staff of life for many families and that I would never taste the finest pork because it came from free-ranging hogs that fattened on the mast before killing time in November.
There are a number of books on the tree, with the best of them being “The American Chestnut” by Donald Edward Davis. Sorry to be so wordy, but the subject is one I’ve written on quite a bit and which really moves me. It’s a sad, sad chronicle.
Jim Casada
The cookies look delicious! Depressing about our Chestnut trees. Seems many things from other countries brought over by good intentions or accidentally do not help our environment like privett, Kudzu, fire ants. Hopefully Chestnuts will return
I just watched a documentary about a group that are working hard to get the chestnut trees back. They have been successful in developing trees that are resistant to the blight that destroyed the original chestnuts. There is hope.
How very sad. I had no idea. Would love to read Mr. Paris’ book.
Mama would roast the chestnuts, shell them, and add to her delicious sausage stuffing on Thanksgiving.
Mr. Paris is a wonderful writer. He really “takes you there!”
Tipper, I have never tried a candy roaster. That situation needs to be corrected.
Ì am in awe of the fact that God has blessed you with this wonderful career of just being you! The things you have brought to your channel are things we should all be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
I’ve heard you speak about John Parrish so much I thought he might be your neighbor.
I would love to read more about him, other than what I can google
I would love to have a copy of this book. One of the favorite things my granddaughter and I loved to do was hike the magical Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The old growth trees were enormous, and everywhere were huge fallen chestnut tree trunks. It was so sad to see a once majestic tree laying on the ground.
I’ve heard how the Chestnut trees were so large and their nuts were good to eat. I’ve seen pictures of Elm trees as well and was amazed at how large they would grow. We still have Elms grow around here, but they never get very large at all due to the fungus that kills them. It’s terrible that so many diseases and insects have come from China that attack and decimate our trees here.
I looked online and there is information that says the American Chestnut is still growing in a park called Rock Creek. Maybe with those trees there can be a variety developed that is resistant to the blight and the Chestnut tree can return to it’s former glory!
Seeing this makes me realize what must have happened to our Chestnut trees in PA. As a young girl I was fascinated by those burrs. I loved the sweetness of the chestnuts.
I don’t believe I have ever tasted chestnuts. Would love to read more of John Parris’ writings!
The story of the chestnut trees all dying is a sad one. My husband has a very old gun cabinet made of wormy chestnut. He thinks it’s the most beautiful wood there is. We have a few hickory trees in our back yard and they are beautiful trees—the squirrels usually feast on those nuts. I watched your candy roaster cookie recipe video this morning. They look delicious! I would love to be in your kitchen chatting while you cook and bake. It looks so inviting. Thanks for all the wonderful videos. Have a great day.
Thanks for sharing the neat story. I enjoyed the video yesterday showcasing the cookies. I had not heard of them but do enjoy a similar recipe using persimmons that also contain the warm spices. So very good.
it was Doe burgers (deer burger).I think that was what they were referring to. They Ask if Corie wanted to eat with them. Tripper call the buns, ” Corie buns”. that may of been what you heard.
God bless
When my father waxed poetic, usually while driving, he often recited the line from Longfellow’s poem interspersed with lines from other poems. Hailing from Long Island, New York he was living his dream by having moved to the rural Midwest. For years, we lived behind a large farm on a hill. He was in heaven. There is now a current effort underway to hybridize these trees with disease-free stock. It is very slow going. The flowers are magnificent and if ever you go to Paris, do so in spring when the chestnuts are in bloom.
Good morning Tipper. I had never tried the roasted chestnuts that are sung about in the Christmas Carols until a few years ago we were at a Fall festival in Williamsburg Virginia. One of the vendors was roasting Chestnuts and had them out to try. I did not care for them & there isn’t much that I don’t like. I cannot remember what they tasted like but I remember thinking, “ This is what they sing about in the songs of Christmases of long ago? “. Nope I wasn’t impressed. Now I wonder if they were from China .
I am so thankful I found your and Katie & Corey’s YouTube channel. I enjoy your videos so much. I am so happy Matt was able to come home & work with you!
I wasn’t aware of the chestnut blight. I have never had the opportunity to eat a chestnut. All I know about chestnuts comes from the “Christmas Song”. I can relate to tree disease. I lost two elms to Dutch elm disease.
You have mentioned John Parish’s books on the blog and it would be fascinating to have a book by him. I didn’t know the fate of the American chestnut. Thanks for sharing this part of the book.
I remember reading John Parris articles in the Asheville Citizen Newspaper years ago. I always enjoyed his writings, I’d really like to read his book “Roaming the Mountains”.
I love chestnut dip, it’s delicious. We planted a chestnut tree several years ago and it started producing then we sold the place and of course the tree was gone, I’ve often wondered if the new owners realized what a treasure that was.
Blessings to all
I know Va Tech has been involved in several projects in bringing back the great American Chestnut. I am optimistic about the future…
I would love to have a copy of the John Parris book. The loss of the great American Chestnut tree is such a tragedy. I was fortunate enough to be gifted an old barn made of worms Chestnut. We reclaimed the beauty of the wood and created wonderful cabinets for my kitchen. These cabinets felt strong and supported many potluck meals spread across the cabinet tops and enjoyed by family and friends.
I remember trips through the Smokies when I was a teen. We always stopped at Clingmans Dome. It seemed over night the surrounds went from a vibrant green forest to acres of dead trees. Heartbreaking.
I enjoyed today’s story about chestnuts. The stately tree must have been a sight to behold. Too bad they are now only a memory …
Carolyn
we have chestnut trees in Michigan but they aren’t giant. They taste so good.
Thank you for this story on the Chestnut trees, even though it was sad one for me.
Enjoyed your video on the cookies. They looked delicious. I know the smell in your kitchen was wonderful while the cookies were baking. Great treat for Matt when he arrived home from his hunting trip.
Loved watching you with all the Blessings of squash and pumpkin you guys have this year. I think these pumpkin cookies are on my to do list at least by next Thursday. I thought toward the end of the video you said something about ‘Corie burgers’?…maybe I heard wrong. Just watching and listening to the interchangings you have with your family is delightful and refreshing as not many families have that in this day and time, which is sad in a way. So, once again, give Granny my thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
It would have been nice to be around to see the chestnut trees when they were the dominate species in mountains.
Lovely story. I love chestnuts. Have a great rest of the week
I would have loved gathering the nuts.