Bill Rickman selects a site for his chestnut orchard

(Photos by Joe Schibig, Feb. 2, 2008)

Joe Schibig and Bill Rickman selected a prospective site for growing chestnut trees
on Bill's farm in Trousdale County.  This upland site on the Outer Basin appears to have
good drainage, although there is quite a bit of clay in the subsoil. To test the suitability
of this site for growing chestnut, Bill will first plant some pure American chestnut trees;
if they do well, then he will later plant TN-TACF hybrid chestnut trees on this site.

Bill's farm is situated in the picturesque rolling hills of the Outer Nashville Basin. 

Bill is in the process of restoring this old log house which was built in the late 1700s.

This is another photo of Bill and his trusty shovel.

Please visit the TN-TACF Website
and
Resurrecting the American chestnut