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Think neighborhood squirrel are the only 1 who can benefit from the copiousness of acorns in the fall?Think again . These small fruits , which are wholly edible for humankind , are a delicious ( and seasonal ! ) source of nutrient that you’re able to find almost anywhere . Get started on acorn harvest with service from these simple tip !

The following excerpt is fromThe Art of FermentationbySandor Katz . It has been adapted for the web .

Acorn Harvesting Tips

Acorns , the nuts of oak trees , are edible and in fact have been a critical source of nutrients for many native peoples in North America and elsewhere . In mainstream civilisation , however , acorn are mostly ignored as a intellectual nourishment for human pulmonary tuberculosis .

Meanwhile , ironically , the imminent threat of globular food for thought shortfall is continually being used to apologize deforestation and intensifying ergonomics . I ’m not say anyone should subsist on acorns alone , but let ’s tap into the abundant food resources we already have rather than acting free-base upon the myth of overall scarcity .

The When’s & How’s of Acorn Harvesting

Gather acorns in the downfall . pass up any with visible worm hole . zephyr - dry acorn before storing .

It is not a problem if acorns have already begun to sprout . California acorn partizan Suellen Ocean writes :

I like to gather sprout acorn because the germination increases the acorn ’s nutritionary value . It is no longer in a “ starch ” stage , but has alter to a “ sugar ” stage . The sprouting also helps break up them from the shell . It is good because if it has sprouted , it ’s a good acorn , and I have n’t devastate time garner wormy ones . I ’ve found that an acorn with a two - in - farseeing sprout is fine , as long as the acorn nut nub has n’t turn green . I break off the sprout and continue .

acorn harvesting

Shell, Grind, and Soak

It is important to note that the acorns of many oak Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree contain high-pitched levels of tannins and require leaching prior to use of goods and services .

To do this , remove acorn from their shells , dig , and soak in pee . you may drudge acorn dry using a mortar and pounder or mill , or merge acorns with piddle and grind in a liquidizer or food for thought processor . Acorns should be exquisitely ground to expose lots of surface arena , turn on the tannin to leach out .

Leaching After Acorn Harvesting

Acorns can be leach in a fine mesh bagful in a run flow ( this is the fast method ) , or in a serial publication of soaks that can last for a few days . As acorn meal soaks , the repast will steady down at the bottom of the vas and the water will darken .

lightly pelt off the dark water at least daily and discard . urine will darken less with each soaking , as tannin levels decrease . Keep wash with unused piss until it no longer darkens . If you wish to ferment acorn meal , leave it to soak a few more days in just a small amount of water after the tannins have been leached .

Acorns can be used to fortify and flavor many different foods.

Once I made acorn gnocchi , which were fantabulous . Julia F. Parker , of the Miwok / Paiute people in California ’s Yosemite Valley , write a beautiful book about acorn readying calledIt Will Live Forever , in whichshe describes traditional techniques for get a simple porridge ( nuppa ) using only leached acorn meal and water , which is delicious !

And on a website dedicate to the words of another California clan , the Cahto , I came across character to “ ferment acorn / acorn cheese ” ( ch’int’aan - noo’ool ’ ) .

I have not found further information on fermented acorn cheese , nor have I experiment , butI include this tidbit in the hope that other acorn - loving fermenters will try out in this venous blood vessel .

fall is Calling ! Cilantro and Pumpkin Seed Pesto

On Foraging and Picking Wild Plants

The Art of Fermentation

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