Harvesting Walnut

**Jenny WC** · 08-27-2010, 12:21 PM

At our new place we have two amazing walnut trees. We decide to crack one of the walnuts open to see how they tasted and if we thought the taste would make it worth harvesting them. The taste is AMAZING, they are so much better then what you buy at the store. Now what I am wondering does anyone have any advice on harvesting walnuts? I know its going to be very time consuming.

Jenny

**mauimagic** · 08-27-2010, 12:24 PM

I know nothing about the process - but cannot wait to hear how this goes for you - with pictures if possible please!!

**Sara Noel** · 08-27-2010, 12:39 PM

Have you seen durgan's post?
Processing Black Walnuts

**Jenny WC** · 08-27-2010, 01:28 PM

Mauimagic- I will take photos. My hubby says its too much work but I am going to do it anyway...lol.

Sara- Thanks for the link to that post I did not see it. I am planning on processing some this weekend.

They will be great for holiday baking.

Jenny

**ladytoysdream** · 08-27-2010, 03:23 PM

Sounds neat

If you have a little extra time, maybe you can harvest a few extra ones, and sell them . I sure would be figuring it out

**mek42** · 08-27-2010, 03:42 PM

I thought you were going to be asking advice on whether quarter-sawn or flat-sawn walnut is better.

I've started to add nuts to my diet, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this thread goes.

**Missy** · 08-27-2010, 05:17 PM

Wanna do it a fun way? Use your car to run over em to crack the shells. We've done that before. Put them in a plastic garbage bag. Set the bag in front of the wheel (or behind depending on what direction you are going). Make sure they are in a flat layer. On top of this put a piece of wood, wedging it under the tire so that the tire will roll on top of it smashing the nuts in the bag under the board. We only ever collected the ones that had fallen already. You can lay tarps under the trees to collect the nuts. so that they will be more easily seen.

**Missy** · 08-27-2010, 05:18 PM

we had a rock and gravel driveway, it might not work so hot on a concrete one...

**frugalwarrior2** · 08-27-2010, 06:44 PM

Jenny-If it's black walnuts they must go through a frost or they are toxic. Please Durgans post and don't wreck your tires.

**Jenny WC** · 08-29-2010, 08:02 PM

Hubby might kill me if I drive over them in the driveway...lol. Frugalwarrior- So I need to wait till if frosts? Because I can tell they are ready to be process.I thought only they outside piece was toxic???

**dadoftwo** · 08-31-2010, 04:15 PM

Jenny,

If they are black walnuts, this is how I've done it in the past.

I waited until the first frost knocked the majority of them out of the trees (the husks will turn black and they will be easier to peel). I then either ran them through a hand powered corn huller put on an old pair of boots and stomped on them until the hulls were loose. Then, wearing heavy rubber gloves, work the remaining hulls off. The hulls can be used to make dye or stain, if you are so inclined.

I then took the shelled walnuts and put them in a 5 gallon bucket (in batches) and rinsed them multiple times. Once they are rinsed, I let them dry on some old screen doors and window screens.

After a couple of weeks, I used a hand cracker (but an old hammer would work) and cracked them. The rest was just a lot of time with a nutpick.

Labor intensive, but very worthwhile. I even had a few people buy the cracked ones.