» Survivaltek » Tag » Nuts

Edible Hazel Nuts

Ken — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:15:28 +0000

My Nephew from California came to visit us here in North Carolina. We decided to take a hike along the Reddies River Greenway that provides calendar picture quality views. As we walked, his face lit up and he walked over to some bushes growing on the bank alongside the trail. After a brief inspection of the leaves he pronounced that “these are hazel nuts”. I was both surprised and delighted at the news.

As shown in the photo, the leaves are teardrop in shape with a jagged edge. The nut is enshrouded in a leafy collar that must be removed to expose the full nut in it’s beauty. When completely ripe, the exterior shell of the hazel nut must be cracked open and removed to obtain the meaty food within. Hazel nuts are high in nutrition and is one of the main ingredients in the popular “Nutella” spread. The nut producing season will vary in each region but usually peaks sometime in September. I have included a photo of the early-season plant showing the catkins (blossoms) so that it can be recognized next year if you miss it this season.

I was grateful on many counts that my nephew came to visit, but learning more about my environment from a West Coast resident was a real surprise.

How To Make A Poplar Leaf Basket

Ken — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:33:03 +0000

Have you ever been in a situation while out in the field where you wanted to collect small items like seeds, nuts, or berries? A simple small basket can be made from a single poplar leaf. Although many different leaves can be used to make a basket, the poplar leaf has four lobes that lend themselves to an intuitive series of 3 folds to create a basket similar in shape to a the practical French Fry paper cups found at fast-food restaurants.

Start this project by selecting the largest clean leaf and pluck it off where the stem meets the branch. On the stem, estimate a distance of about 2 inches away from the leaf and break off the end. To accomplish this I pinch the stem with my fingernails while rotating my hands in opposite directions. Some folks may prefer to cut it off with a knife or scissor accessory blade. Then break the remaining stem into 2 – 1 inch pieces. This creates 2 pins that will be used to hold the folded leaf parts together and can be temporarily held between your lips in ready position for installing during the next step of folding the leaf.

For esthetics, I prefer to fold the leaf with the top surface facing outward. To begin, position the stem edge facing upward with the underside facing you. fold the upper left lobe inward, aligning the bottom of the lobe at the same level as the notch on the opposite side, then lift the bottom 2 lobes up, making a horizontal fold line connecting the left and right notches. These folded parts become tabs that overlap and are joined by stitching one of the stem pins in and out of the leaf tabs. Repeat the process with the right upper lobe, tucking it under the bottom tab and joining it with the remaining stitched pin.

This is definitely a short term implement but can be easily and quickly constructed whenever it’s needed. Click HERE to view a video to see how it’s done.

Ginkgo Biloba – Urban Edible Tree Nuts

Ken — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:00:12 +0000

Earlier this week I was walking down Main Street in town, and I noticed some fruit in a tree. It was a Ginkgo Biloba tree, also known as a Maidenhair Tree, which I recognized by the fan-shaped leaves. But I didn’t know if the fruit was edible, so my research began.

Ginkgo trees have an interesting history. Fossil remains show us that they grew when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. They were dubbed “living fossils” by Charles Darwin. Interestingly enough, a 3000-year-old Ginkgo Biloba tree has been reported recently in China. The Gingko now survives only in cultivation. Native to China, it was introduced into the New World in 1784 by William Hamilton in his garden near Philadelphia. Ginkgos are tolerant of difficult soils and air pollution which make them popular as an ornamental shade tree for city streets – hence, a unique urban edible food source.

The female Ginkgo bears fruit that is known for it’s obnoxious smell, resembling rancid butter when the pulp is deteriorating on the ground. The fleshy, yellow-brown fruit-like part of the seed is toxic, and with long-term repeated contact can cause dermatitis. Once it is removed, it reveals the nut which is protected by a brown, paper-thin skin, just like the peanut. Remove the paper-thin layer and the seed can be eaten raw (in small quantities), or (in larger quantities) it can be cooked by roasting over an open fire or boiled and used in soups or porridges. The heating process kills offending chemicals that render it safe and tasty.

So, now we know another food source that just might come in handy. Keep your eyes open next time you take a neighborhood stroll.