BLACK WALNUTS...FALL TREAT OR SCOURGE

 

 

Late summer and fall bring a treat or scourge to many people’s backyards, depending on your point of view. Black walnuts are one of the most valuable and fully utilized natural forest trees in the United States…or one of the most nuisance trees around. Folks either love them or hate them, there usually isn’t any middle ground.

Although they are found in 32 states, they are most abundant in Missouri (some of us beg to differ on this fact) where they are the state tree. They can be planted but are not grown in orchards, instead growing wild in yards, fields and forests.

They make great shade trees since their average height is 50 feet tall and some have even been reported to reaching 100 feet. They grow just as wide which provides lots of shade. Since their lifespan is 150 years, the trees are destined to be around for quite some time. In autumn, their leaves turn bright yellow which is in stark contrast to their black trunks.

The black walnut is a very versatile tree. Its fruit is used in both sweet and savory dishes, its wood is prized for furniture and gun stocks and the husks are used to make dyes. Its shells are the hardest of any tree nut in the world.

They have quite the repertoire. Not to be confused with the English walnut, black walnut shells have been used to clean the Statue of Liberty and the United States Navy have used them to clean its ships and submarines. They are also used as filler in dynamite.

 

THE NUTS. Here is where the controversy comes into play. They start falling and cluttering up a yard in late summer. Since they don’t all fall at once, it is a never-ending task. If you don’t like the nutmeats, this can seem like an un-ending chore, especially when mature trees can produce between 66 and 350 pounds of nuts per tree per year. However, if you like their rich, bold taste, then it becomes a labor of love.

 

These unique, all natural sustainable nuts have the highest level of protein of any nut and they are still all picked by hand. Early settlers added them to soups and stews and ground them into meal for baking. The sweet, earthy nutmeats are also a tasty snack when eaten raw. Their hard shells provide a perfect package for storing the nuts over winter.

 

HARVESTING. They should be collected as soon after they fall as possible to avoid molding or letting squirrels and other creatures beat you to them. There are basically only two ways to do this, either pick them up by hand or use a nut collector which is a tool that you roll over the ground and it collects them.

Removing the hulls is the hard part…literally. Some folks hit them with a hammer, some strew them in their driveways and run over them with vehicles and some use nutcrackers. There used to be an elderly gentleman from my area that would collect all the walnuts he could and then would sit and crack them while watching basketball games on TV all winter.

Whichever method you use, it works best if you strike the shell at a ninety-degree angle to the seam of the shell then use pliers to chip away at the rest. Remember to wear gloves since they will stain your hands.

After you have successfully cracked the nuts and gotten the nutmeats out, they need to be dried for a couple weeks. Either lay the meats on a screen or drying rack or put them in a mesh bag so they can get good air flow. They can be stored un-shelled for up to a year, preferably in the freezer.

 

LUMBER FROM BLACK WALNUTS.  The easily worked, close-grained wood of the black walnut tree is highly prized by furniture and cabinet makers. The attractive color and exceptional durability of the logs makes them in such high demand for veneer that walnut rustlers would harvest trees in the dead of night, sometimes even by helicopter.

Early settlers found that the rich brown heartwood was very resistant to decay. Thus, they used them for just about everything, including fence posts, poles and shingles.

 

GROWING BLACK WALNUTS TREES. Black walnut trees are surprisingly easy to grow. If grown with other trees in close proximity, they tend to grow straight and tall. Thus, those grown in a forest tend to have long, straight trunks, the exact characteristics that make them ideal lumber logs. However, if you are planting them with this intention, keep in mind that it is a two-generation process for them to get large enough to make veneer logs.

 

If they are planted in the open, they branch out more. To reach maturity and start bearing nuts takes eight to ten years. Unlike other trees, black walnuts are prone to a unique reproductive pattern known as alternate or biennial bearing. It’s a natural phenomenon that prevents trees from over-extending their resources. This is the reason that one year a tree will produce a heavy crop while other years there will be a light or no crop of walnuts.

 

BLACK WALNUT’S “DARK SIDE.” Roots of black walnuts can extend up to 50 feet from the base of the tree and exude a natural herbicide called juglone. This is also present in the leaves and fruit and is the reason why many plants will not grow under or around walnut trees. This reserves water and nutrients for the tree itself by limiting its competition.

This is why tomatoes, potatoes, pears, berries and many other fruits, vegetables and landscape plants are stunted or killed if planted under the trees or in close proximity of the tree’s dripline.

 

QUIRKY BLACK WALNUT FACTS:

*If your love/hate relationship with these trees borders on the hate side, you can intercept and reduce the amount of nuts a tree produces by applying a nitrogen fertilizer to the soil around the tree in early spring and late summer. Water well to make sure the nitrogen soaks into the root zone so it is absorbed. According to Washington State University, extra nitrogen causes a flush of vegetation growth while limiting fruit production.

*Many folks refrain from planting black walnut trees near their homes or other buildings because they tend to draw lightning strikes. Although we have all heard that “oaks draw the strokes,” black walnuts rate right up with them. All trees attract lightning because they are tall, filled with moisture and provide good conductivity. Lightning frequently selects large deep-rooted tree species and walnut trees fit the bill.

*Walnuts can be “one shell of a business.” There are approximately 215 buying stations across the country that will buy these hard gems, however they only deal in large quantities. If you have only a couple trees, you can still sell them to local buyers and don’t forget that the nutmeats are not the only valuable part in demand. Some companies also buy the hulls to use in different processes.

Love them or hate them, black walnut trees are scattered throughout the country and are unique in their own right.

 

 

SOME GRANDPARENTS NEVER GROW UP

 

Life can be strange sometimes, almost backwards. When we are kids, we can’t wait to grow up and do all the things adults do but when we find out all the responsibilities that being a grownup entails we long for our youth again.

Grandparents are a different breed altogether. After raising kids and making some mistakes along the way, we have learned. We want to do better with the grandkids. It’s really important to us that they like us, that they think we are fun, that we are cool (does anyone actually say that anymore??) and that they really want to come and stay with us.

So, we think of fun things to do with them when they come, we ALWAYS fix their favorite foods which always includes ice cream and popcorn and, miraculously, our joints just don’t hurt when they are around so we can crawl all over the floor and play with them. Isn’t that amazing!

Even though we enjoy all of this, the magical part is that when we need a break, they can go home. We just don’t think it can get any better than this. But then, something horrible and unimaginable happens. They grow up. They weren’t supposed to. Well, in the back of our minds we always knew that one day they would become responsible young adults who we would be so proud of, but how did it happen so quick? That quirky, funny, magical age when they thought we were the center of the universe was supposed to last if not forever, then at least 20 or 30 years. It doesn’t.

This is the problem. Although we love watching them become their own persons, we like to regress to that state of play and happy-go-luckiness (OK, this may not be an actual word, but we grandparents have the luxury of calling things whatever we want!) that we knew as kids and our grandkids take us there. When they grow up, it forces us to grow up….again, and we are not very good at that.

As hard as we try, there are just a few things that we can’t leave behind. Just so you grandkids…er, young adults now, know…..

HUGS. Just so you know, this is the biggy. Until you are grandparents yourselves (which we sincerely hope is a little while down the road yet), you will never know the joy we feel when you wrap your little arms around us and squeeze. It makes us feel like we are the only ones in the world to you. We were used to getting them when you came over, when you left, when you went to bed, when we dropped you off to soccer practice, when we picked you up, basically just about all the time.

We are having withdrawals. It’s imperative that you wean us off slowly on this one. Now, we know that when you are around friends or even girlfriends or boyfriends (oh gosh no!) it is embarrassing for you to hug us or heaven forbid that we hug you. This is muddy territory; what do we do, a handshake, a wave, tuck our hands behind our backs and walk away?

Help us out here, we are trying our best. So, just know that it takes all of our effort to refrain. So, when no one is around, could you still sneak us a hug or two. We promise that we’ll do better, but we really need these from you.

SLOBBERY KISSES. Running a real close second behind hugs, we miss these too. It always seemed that the better the clothes we had on, the more slobbery the kisses were and that was just fine! The only time this was a little embarrassing was in front of your Mom and Dad because they remember when they did it and they usually got a scolding. Oh well, we know those kisses aren’t coming back because they were only a right of passage but we just wanted you to know what they meant to us.

NOSINESS. OK, this is a really sticky one. We remember that whenever we saw you, you couldn’t wait to tell us about every single, minute detail of everything that had happened in your life for the last forever. Now, it’s like pulling teeth to find out anything that is going on with you. It’s like,

 “How’s everything going?”

 

“Good.”

 

“What have you been up to?”

 

“Not much.”

 

“How’s school?”

 

“Good.”

 

Give us a little break here. We remember when we thought you would never quit talking, and that was just fine. Now, it’s like we have to crack some secret code to find out anything about your life. These one word answers just aren’t getting it….you do speak in whole sentences yet, don’t you?

We’re not being nosey, we just care. It really strikes a nerve when we see on FB that you got sunburned in Florida on spring break when we didn’t even know you were in Florida on spring break!

Remember when we got cell phones and you insisted that we learn to text. Well, we did learn and we’re not asking for a whole low down on your entire life, but a short text every so often would be great. I tried it, it only takes 3.4 seconds to type “How are you?” or “I’m going to prom, want to see my dress?” takes only 7.5 seconds.

We also know that you are ALWAYS on your phones anyway. That’s why, even when you are with us, you are not really with us, are you? You are texting five different friends at once which is why we get those one-word answers. Come on, sneak us a text or two a week just to let us know how you are doing. We promise, cross our hearts, that we won’t tell!

PHONES. Now, before I even go into this one, don’t get me wrong, we love phone calls from you any time, 24-7. However, we grandparents are not as naïve as you may think. Usually, when we are lucky enough to get a call from you, you are driving. First of all, we hope you are using hands-free calling, if not, this is a whole different ball game. But we know you are driving because when you reach your destination, it’s like “gotta go, love ya!” And just like that, you’re gone.

We are really trying to hang on and be patient because we know that when you get through your teen years and your early 20’s, you will eventually come back to us, not as the cute little pinch-your-cheek grandkids that we adored, but instead as responsible adults that are more like us.

It’s just this in-between stage that is so hard for us. Please be patient with us and cut us a little slack. We’re having a tough time but doing the best we can. However, be warned, some grandparents never grow up!

SHROOMIN' IN THE FALL

 

 

When folks think of mushroom hunting, spring usually comes to mind, when forests are just starting to come alive. After a particular warm and wet spell, mushrooms seem to pop right before your eyes. The sometimes elusive morel is usually the prized treasure that lures most folks into the woods.

Actually, mushrooms can be gathered year around, even in winter and fall is an excellent time to forage for wild mushrooms. Some hunters even think that it may be the best time because of less competition and greater diversity. Just as in spring, you have to know what you are finding.

September is one of the prime months to look for them. Besides foraging for mushrooms, you can be outside when, hopefully, the mosquitoes and other bugs are less prominent and it is a beautiful time to be out, especially when the leaves start to turn. It’s not quite the brutal cold and is past the brutal heat. Temperature is a big factor, as it signals the fungus when it’s time to grow.

You just have to know the habitat of the varieties you are hunting. Some only grow on certain trees and others only grow around certain types of trees. Besides temperature, moisture is the key to their growth. Some kinds, like hen-of-the-woods can even grow in dry conditions by sucking moisture directly out of the host tree. Old growth forests with lots of moisture are pretty sure bets of producing mushrooms.

 

Some of the fall varieties are:

 

*Sulfur fungi, also known as chicken-of-the-woods, is bright orange when it is ready to be harvested. It is found on oak stumps, fallen logs or cherry trees. Springy and rubbery, it is used in any dishes where you would use chicken like stir fries, soups and broths. This is one type where there is little danger of mistaking it for anything else, even the similar and poisonous jack-o-lantern mushroom.

 

*Hen-of-the-woods is just as large but less obvious than chicken-of-the-woods. It is found in the same kinds of locations and is usually quite hefty. Often, they are weighed in pounds instead of ounces with many of them weighing in between 30 to 40 pounds. They have a strong flavor and firm texture which lets them stand up in most any kind of dish.

 

*Giant puffball is one that many are familiar with. They grow to basket size and are sliced like a loaf of bread then fried and eaten like a steak or chopped to make a soup or top a steak.

*Chanterelles are yellow to orange in color and grow singly rather than in clusters. Like morel hunters,  most  everyone who hunts these have their secret spot. The difference is that these usually come back in the same place year after year.

*Hericiums are also known as Lion’s Mane or Bear’s Head Tooth. They are white, coral-like fungus that usually grow on dead or dying beech trees. They are found in one to three-pound clusters and are broken apart and then fried.

*Honey mushrooms are called “stumpers” in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They grow in clusters, mainly in areas that have recently been logged. They are best when found before their caps have opened up because after the caps have opened, insects find their way inside. They are treated like the butter mushrooms that can be purchased in supermarkets. They are versatile as they can be sauteed, pickled or poached. When found, they are quite plentiful, being able to harvest 20 to 30 pounds in a single day.

*Oyster mushrooms have 12-inch diameter caps and are found in clusters.

 

CLEANING AND PREPARING

Cleaning fall mushrooms are so much easier than those found in the spring. Since they are found mainly on old wood and trees rather than on the ground, they are basically dirt-free. A quick ten second dunk in water is all that is needed. Any longer wash than that will dilute the flavor and make it harder to get a crusty sear when frying.

Lay them singly on paper towels to dry. If laid on a damp paper towel and put in the refrigerator, they will last quite a few days.

Lots of folks like to freeze them for later use. The best method for this is to first lightly saute them and then pat them dry with a paper towel. Then put them in a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible, and then freeze. They should be good for months.

Still, others dry them and then add water to rehydrate them when they are ready to use them. Some even put them in a high-speed blender to make flour, which is later added to recipes to make mushroom-flavored breads and pastas.

Of course, the best way is to not fiddle around at all and to just eat as many right away as you can! Sear them until they are caramelized and then flip them over and sear on the other side. Add salt, pepper and a little butter to finish them. The milk solids in the butter bring out the flavor. Don’t add lots of extra seasonings because you certainly don’t want to cover up the natural flavor.

Fall mushrooms, like their spring cousins, are definitely a treat but safety always comes first. The Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club offers public hunts throughout the state from spring through fall to help teach proper identification.

If you are really serious about hunting mushrooms and would like to make a little profit from selling them to restaurants and such, the Midwest American Mycological Information is a nonprofit dedicated to providing information and training to folks who want to be legally certified to commercially gather and sell mushrooms in Michigan.

If you are a novice or even a seasoned veteran wanting to brush up a little, it is always best to go on a couple of expeditions with an experienced forager. Even with this, always carry a field guide to be able to identify different species. Sometimes there are only minute differences between an edible and a poisonous variety.

Fall mushroom hunting is a great way to find some delicious treats and to also get out and enjoy the great fall weather.