It seems like each time I wander off into different ‘Zone 5′ areas on the outskirts of our farm, I find a new nut tree. So far, I have discovered Butternut, Black Walnut, Hickory and Hazel trees. In the past month, I began the process of researching different ways to harvest each type.

The Hickory and Hazel are the easiest. Their thick husks fall off on their own after they begin to dry out. Let them sit on the ground for a few days soaking up that morning dew and sitting in the sun and they are good to go. Your only enemy here is the squirrel, but be sure to let him have a small stash so he can make it through the winter.

The Black Walnut and Butternut offer a little more of a challenge. Not only are their outter husks sticky and difficult to remove, but they will dye anything they come in contact with. The best way I was able to remove this messy flesh was to roll each nut onto a slab of concrete until as much as possible comes off. Even then, the outter tar-like surrounding was still clinging to the nut. I’ve done all the Black Walnuts at this point. Leaving them out in the sun to dry helped to remove the remaining husk.

If anybody has additional ideas to help with the Butternuts, I’m all ears. I’ve heard some people talk about running over them with your car. Sounds very tedious…and these bad boys also stained the concrete where I rolled them with my boots. I switched to using a small square slab of concrete for that.

And also…what they say is true. ‘The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree’.

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