GATHERING WILD HICKORY & WALNUTS

Hickory Nuts                      Walnuts

 This aspect of the 'wild thing' seems to be a dying outdoor activity, and this is truly a shame! The flavor of these savoury wild nuts is superlative, and no domesticated nuts that I know of rival their excellent wild pristine flavour. 

 These nuts are excellent to eat as a quick snack, and you'll be the only one's on the block doing so, and will havethe always refreshing 'outdoor outing'that necessarily goes along with your countryside sojourns. 

 The fall, with pungent crisp air, dazzling panoramic colours, can easily melt away any of the 'life's pressure that one may be experiencing. 

 My Grandma Vance, around Christmas time, would have me crack hickory and walnuts for their meat, and would use them in her Xmas cooking. Homemade butter tarts with either wild hickory or wild walnuts are something that should be tasted/experienced by all. Hickory nuts are sweet, and wild black walnuts have that characteristic wild 'ZIP/ZING' associated with most wild species. In cookies, cakes and the like, there are no better. 

These wild denizens make the 'store-bought' nuts taste weak, and pale in comparison to their wild brethren. 

 WHERE TO GATHER!

 Most of the northerly, and central to eastern states, as well as into Canada, in southwestern Ontario, and portions of southern Quebec host both wild hickory, walnut, and to a lesser extent, butternut trees.

Simply go out into the country a short way, and start looking for these trees. You'll most often find them in fence rows along farm fields, and walnuts can even be found in many back-yards of those living in the suburbs. Most people that have such trees will usually GLADLY allow you to gather them, regarding these nuts as much of a nuisance around their yards.

Too, be aware that I'm talking about SHAGBARK HICKORY TREES. There is a cousin to the shagbark hickory, which is the smooth bark hickory, sometimes called a bitter hickory. This 'bitter' hickory is aptly named - the nuts are bitter. See the self explanatory picture here to see what a shagbark hickory looks like. The long shards of peeling bark is the dead giveaway. Walnuts are so common that I need not even describe these trees here. 

If these trees are on private land, best ask permission before gathering the nuts. Most rural folk will not only gladly let you harvest your bounty, but will likely cast you an upturned gaze to boot. If you have found a particularly good tree, be sure to go back to the landowner just before Christmas with a sample of your processed wares - this'll ensure your future permissions there.

 WHEN TO GATHER!

 You'll have to be quick to gather these fine flavoured gems - the squirrels also know of their excellence, and work non-stop to store them away against winter's onslaught. 

Usually these nuts start to drop soon after the first of autumns (killing)frosts, which may vary slightly from location to location. Generally though, the second week in October is a great time to get out gathering nuts. If you try this a time or two, as a family outing - it'll soon become a welcome and family tradition, something definitely different - and a rewarding fresh air exercise. And you'll experience a lot of other outdoors happenings too, very often items of interest for the very young and inquisitive upcoming minds of your family. Clean, wholesome, inexpensive entertainment at its North American BEST!

 EQUIPMENT YOU'LL NEED!

 Nut gathering equipment is frugal, a six quart basket, or an old bucket will be fine, along with at least a half-dozen plastic grocery bags is all that's needed for gathering these nuts. Hickory nuts are a bit smaller than walnuts. If you are using a family car, you might like to place a piece of plastic on the trunk bottom. Hickory nuts are quite dry, unless of course it's raining, but walnuts can be quite juicy, and this juice will stain nearly anything it comes in contact with.

With this in mind, one may wish to use a pair of rubber gloves for gathering walnuts. I suppose that somewhere there may be a person/persons whom may be allergic to the walnut juice, but this will be an exception rather than the rule. Even though walnut juice may stain you, it shouldn't hurt you at all - but as a precaution, wear rubber gloves. Having said all this - wear a pair of your 'grubby' clothes, in case you get a bit of the walnut juice on your clothing. Eventually, after many washing the stain may come out - but it'll take a long time to do so, once the stain is present - just wear old clothing - that's all. 

NUT GATHERING TIPS!

 Not all nut trees bear nuts every year, often they'll only produce any quantity of nuts every second year. If you find a tree that has only a few nuts on it/under it, then remember this location - and return next year - it'll likely be loaded. 

 I like to go out in the morning, and make a 'day' of nut gathering, doing hickory nuts one day, and walnuts another day - but be opportunistic - if you find both hickory & walnuts on an outing -well - just do it! 

 Keep walnuts and hickory nuts separate though - don't mix them! 

 If the nut trees are on private land - ask permission - but I've found lots of these trees on road property, and trees out so far away from any houses that I was sure I wouldn't' be disturbing anyone's peace - and just went ahead and 'did my thing' - with no problem. 

 After processing the nuts, store them in a cool dry place with ventilation - cardboard boxes, jute bran sacks are fine - NEVER STORE THE NUTS - EVEN AFTER DRY - IN PLASTIC - THEY NEED TO 'BREATH' - OR THEY MAY GO MOULDY! 

If you have enjoyed this write-up - and would like more information on the proper procedures on handling, drying, shelling/husking of these nuts, you may be interested in obtaining my PRO FACTSHEET on nut gathering. I cover the "HOW TO" aspects of all these items, and give the easy/quick methods of taking the husks off these wild nuts - with little equipment needed. I even tell how to make a few bucks for young entrepreneurs as well. Simply go to my PRODUCTS section, and look in the PRO FACTSHEET section - these low cost publications are a basic 'need to know' format, are very cost effective, and will save you much time and bother, as I've already 'made the mistakes' and you'll gain from my 48 year lifetime of nut-gathering strategies/techniques for handling/processing these wild delicacies. By participating in this simple pastime, you'll be taking advantage of North America's diverse heritage:

 And - enjoy!