Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:

> The walnut husks almost never turn black on the tree.  They fall off green 
> and then turn black.  The walnut must cure and dry out some before it can be 
> easily ('easily' being  a relative term here) shelled.  One way is to put on old 
> boots and stomp the walnuts to loosen them from the husks.  Exposed to air 
> they will turn black in a few hours.  Put them somewhere they can dry for several 
> days to several weeks before trying to shell them.  Until they are fairly 
> dry, you cannot allow them to freeze.


Ok, so just to make sure I do it right..
1. somehow, either with the car tire or boots, remove the husks from the 
walnut hull.
2. Dispose of husks or use them to make dye.
3. Allow nuts to dry for several weeks.  (I intend to hang them in 
netting inside a outbuilding that gets pretty darn hot) No rodents will 
get them there.
4. Crack hulls to remove meat either by vise and or hammer.
5. Taste nut to make sure it is sweet with no tannins, not watery or 
astringent


Have I got it right?
Sorry, but as you can tell, I never actually done this. I've collected 
the nuts before, but gave them away.

Bev, trying to make the best of every asset on the farm

--
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from 
the government and I'm here to help.'"  Ronald Reagan