[Paul_Guraedy]

Walnut trees starting to drop their leaves has become an August happening here in the Ozarks. Each year I expect to see some of them not make it. But so far, it does not even appear to have slowed down nut production. Picking up the walnuts is not the big hazard for staining hands, it's getting the green husks off. I am following a method fairly common here in the hills. Gather up the nuts, dump them in the driveway (dirt ruts, not paved) and drive over them when coming and going. Each day I go out and gather up the hulled nuts. But, I have to do it early, a few will be broken under the wheels and attract squirrels. These pesky raiders take not only the broken but all of those that have been de-husked. Our walnuts have not started dropping yet; but, the leaves are falling and the race will soon be on. Course in a few weeks squirrel season opens and I get some of my walnuts back....allbeit in a different form.

[Nancy-ID]

Paul, I like your method for removing walnut husks Once they fall from the tree are they edible then or do they require a "curing" period?

[Paul_Guraedy]

Nancy, they are ready to go when they fall from the tree (unless knocked down by the wind or such). That is the good part, the bad part is that they are in a very tough shell. I have a huge old rachet device that is excellent for breaking open walnuts. I think they can still be purchased from Lehman's Non-electric Catalog. One thing for sure, the work is worth the effort, especially when the nuts are put into brownies!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

and boy do they stain fingers lol but in ice cream...oooh la la!