This blog of mine is like an ever decreasing circle, and here we are back at Walnuts again.
I've noticed several people talking about Black Walnuts recently. There used to be two large trees growing nearby, but I've now noticed that they've both been cut down. Probably not a bad decision.
Proper Walnuts have thin shells which can be opened with the twist of a knife, and contain a perfectly accessible large kernel. Why one would grow anything less convenient, I have no idea.
Anyway; it's harvest time, and the nuts are dropping like hailstones. I am a huge fan and advocate of all things Walnut; the nuts themselves, the oil, and especially the Pesto that I make with them. They are also one of natures great medicines, having a myriad of health preserving properties.
I still have quite a lot left over from last year, so the above couple of baskets are all I'm gathering this year.
One proviso; beware of those nuts on supermarket shelves that have beautifully clean shells, they have probably been washed in BLEACH.....Yuk.
I've noticed several people talking about Black Walnuts recently. There used to be two large trees growing nearby, but I've now noticed that they've both been cut down. Probably not a bad decision.
Proper Walnuts have thin shells which can be opened with the twist of a knife, and contain a perfectly accessible large kernel. Why one would grow anything less convenient, I have no idea.
Anyway; it's harvest time, and the nuts are dropping like hailstones. I am a huge fan and advocate of all things Walnut; the nuts themselves, the oil, and especially the Pesto that I make with them. They are also one of natures great medicines, having a myriad of health preserving properties.
I still have quite a lot left over from last year, so the above couple of baskets are all I'm gathering this year.
One proviso; beware of those nuts on supermarket shelves that have beautifully clean shells, they have probably been washed in BLEACH.....Yuk.
I bought some the other day (grown in the South Island) they were expensive but are still in their shells and delicious - I try to limit myself to one a day. Reminds me I must check and see if they have any more left.
ReplyDeleteThe bounty you enjoy is really quite extraordinary!
ReplyDeletePhilip Oyler's 1950-ish book about this area is called 'The Generous Earth'. He close his title well.
DeleteI agree with the comment above - nature's bounty where you live is one I can only dream about.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the cockatoos love them in Australia and feast on the ripe fruit in great flocks before the walnuts can hit the ground - you also need lots of yard space to grow a walnut tree in suburbia.
ReplyDeleteGenerous earth indeed! You live in a great place, Cro. And Susan is right, South Island walnuts are delicious and worth every cent even though they are expensive. No need to buy imported walnuts which are invariably rancid.
ReplyDeleteI'm expecting you to live to 100 with all the lovely natural food you consume, and yes, when I saw walnuts as your header I thought 'surely it wasn't a year ago you blogged on them, was it?'
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Isn't it wonderful what the countryside offers up? (I'm annoyed we missed out on the walnut harvest by a couple of weeks but I've still got a stash of hazel nuts.)
ReplyDeleteOur hazel nuts were a little disappointing. The small ones are fine, but the big ones have zilch inside. C'est la vie.
DeleteIs your walnut pesto recipe on here somewhere, Cro?
ReplyDeleteI just use the ordinary pesto recipe, but substitute Walnuts for Pine nuts.
DeleteHere in the South Island of NZ I remember in the 70s that Black Walnut - Juglans nigra - was one of a range of trees being planted for high quality timber production, but only on a small farm scale. Possibly your neighbouring ones have been felled for that reason. Eating your own walnuts is a real treat isn't it :-)
ReplyDeleteI think timber production was the main reason for growing them, otherwise the nuts were used for oil (I think). As far as eating them is concerned... I wouldn't bother.
Deletethanks for the hint re. bleach...those in the basket look yummy!
ReplyDeleteHere via Heart. Your "idiot neighbor" comment made me laugh. I had an ailing apple tree that I couldn't bring myself to cut down, so I'd just trim off dead branches until it finally gave up the ghost entirely. I am loathe to remove any living tree.
ReplyDeleteThose walnuts look great - I'm a fan. Pecans, too.
We have two beautiful walnut trees in our orchard -- but alas and alack we are never there to harvest them! We do, however, tell our neighbours to help themselves -- and they do! Walnuts instead of pinenuts -- what a good idea.
ReplyDeleteSo the nuts are falling....hmmmm....I could go somewhere with this couldn't I?
ReplyDeleteInteresting you mention walnuts. I took a stroll down the garden today, only to be disappointed. Whereas last year I was picking up walnuts by the arm-full, not a single nut has escaped the marauding Jackdaws and squirrels. I can only assume the cold wet summer has reduced the amount of other food these creatures normally eat.
ReplyDeleteWe had two walnut trees on the farm where I lived during my childhood. Used to love picking them when the green outer part of the shell had ripened to a deep rich mushy brown. It was terrible stuff for staining your fingers and me and my sister used to go to the primary school looking like a couple of chain smokers
ReplyDeleteThey look lovely indeed!
ReplyDeleteWith all the squirrels and chipmunks we have, i don't think i'd see any of the fruit were i to plant a few walnut trees.
If woodworking was among your many hobbies you would place a greater value on black walnut trees. Either the husks or bark can also be used to make a wonderful dye for wool. I happen to like the nuts too but they are certainly inconvenient and not to everyone's taste. I will definitely have to try using walnuts in pesto.
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about black walnuts is that the kids don't like them so you get all the baked goodies for yourself!
ReplyDelete