SAVE THE CHESTNUTS

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

After expending a great deal of effort, Huffman has received both state and federal permission to market his blight cure. He travels—at his own expense—to workshops and conventions throughout the country to share his discovery and to find out what other folks are doing to help bring back the American chestnut. He also speaks to interested groups such as church and civic gatherings and the Boy Scouts.

IT'S TIME TO PLANT

Edgar Huffman believes it's the duty of this generation to help restore the delicate balance of nature which sustains all life forms, and stresses that reviving the American chestnut tree would be an important step toward achievement of this goal. According to Huffman, the entire life cycle of the forest was affected by the demise of the chestnut because, he claims, one chestnut can help four other trees live: Although the members of the Castanea genus are extremely susceptible to blight, they're resistant to many diseases that can affect other species, and thus their presence provides a buffer against the spread of such infections through the woods.

Until recently, Edgar's struggle has been a one-man campaign. But now that the EPA and other regulatory agencies have approved his formula for sale to the public, Mr. Huffman has been receiving acclaim and attention from the press ...and even from the Forest Service. However, he needs still more help if his fight to save the chestnuts is to succeed nationwide. If any of MOTHER's readers are interested in growing or trying to help protect—their own chestnut trees ...or would just like to help spread the word about this possible cure for the blight—stricken species, access and planting information are listed in the accompanying sidebar.

EDITOR'S NOTE: MOTHER's Eco-Village research staffers have planted some of Edgar Huffman's trees on our mountain property. They report that it's too early to be sure that the saplings are pure Castanea dentata species, and that there has been no occasion yet to test the patented blight protection. Therefore. MOTHER can't guarantee the effectiveness of Huffman's cure or the quality of his trees. By presenting this story to our readers, we're following our long tradition of giving voice to bootstrap entrepreneurs and ecologists who just may have new solutions to some of the problems we all face.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print