How to Use Black Walnut Trees, Nuts, Hulls and Husks - 15 Ways


Black walnuts have been used though out history as sources of food, wood, dyes, medicines, cooking oils, and skin care. You can put black walnuts to use today as an educational project for children, or simply to enjoy a natural lifestyle.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

1.) The hulls or husks can be used to make external herbal liniments or oils that are fungicides

2.) The hulls or husks can be used to make dye for wood floors

3.) The hulls or husks can be used to make brown fabric dye

4.) The hulls or husks can be used to make brown dye for hair

5.) The hulls or husks can be used in making homemade soaps

6.) The hulls or husks can be used in making ink

7.) The nuts can be eaten whole or added to breads, cakes, cookies, ice cream and pies

8.) The nuts can also be ground into flour

9.) The nuts can be covered in honey or sugar and made into candied walnuts

10.) The nuts can be crushed and boiled to separate the oil for cooking oil

11.) The sap of a walnut tree can be used just like the sap of a maple tree

12.) The wood from the walnut tree can be used to make furniture or flooring

13.) The hard shell of the walnut can be crushed and used in water filtration

14.) The hard shell of the walnut can be crushed and used in making cosmetics

15.) The tree bark, leaves, and hulls or husks of the walnut have been used in alternative medicine for preparing tinctures, decoctions, and herbal infusions.

Tips & Warnings

When hulling a black walnut always wear gloves. You will not notice immediately but your skin will turn dark brown from handling the hull as it dries on your skin.

The best way to hull a black walnut is to hammer the hull all the way around until it comes loose from the shell. The black walnut hull then it peels off rather easily.

How to Dry Black Walnut Hulls

Black walnut trees produce their rich nuts encased in several layers of protective coatings. The round outer husk covers a thin layer of black indelible dye which gives way to the hard outer nutshell, within which lies the nut meat. To dry and cure the nut, the husk must first be removed and the dye washed off. Once washed, the hulls require drying and curing for a period of weeks before they can be cracked open and the nut meat eaten or stored.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:

* Water
* Rubber gloves
* Layers of newsprint
* Open shallow storage container

Instructions

1.) Let the black walnuts ripen on the tree in the fall until the husks turn from green to yellowish green and the outer skin leaves an indentation when pressed with a finger, or until they drop to the ground.

2.) Don rubber gloves and peel away the outer husk, working outdoors or over a surface that will not be harmed when stained by the black dye.

3.) Wash the nut shells under running water in a utility sink or under a garden spigot where the black dye will not stain the sink.

4.) Cure the de-husked nuts by setting them out on several layers of newsprint or in a pierced container and allowing them to dry for at least 14 days. Place the nuts in a dimly lit, cool location and leave them uncovered to allow fresh air circulation. Test them. They are cured when a hull breaks open with a snap.

5.) Store the cured unshelled nuts in a light fabric bag, at 60-degrees Fahrenheit or less and where there is good fresh air flow and plenty of humidity. Alternatively, shell the black walnuts and store the raw nut meats in airtight containers in the freezer or a cool pantry.

How to Dry Black Walnut Hulls for Herbal Tinctures

Black walnuts hulls are from a species of the walnut tree that is native to North America and have become one of the most popular herbal remedies for ridding the intestinal tract of parasites by natural means. The active ingredient in black walnut hulls is a compound called juglone, which is not only a potent parasite killer (it is what protects the walnut fruit from insects) but may be a potent herbal therapeutic for other health conditions such as cancer. A study published in the journal Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology in 2009 by Yu-Bin Ji and a team of researchers found that juglone was able to induce the dying off of gastric cancer cells. To fully extract the juglone from the hulls of black walnuts, dry and powder them before making an alcohol tincture.


Things You'll Need:

* Coffee or herb grinder
* Sharp knife
* Large tray

Instructions


1.) Peel away all the green hull fruit from the black walnuts with a knife. Cut them into small pieces.

2.) Spread the small pieces of black walnut hulls on a large tray and leave to dry in a warm place away from direct sunlight. A food dehydrator will work as well.

3.) Wait two or three days, or until the pieces of black walnut hull turn completely dark. Turn over the pieces and mix them once or twice a day.

4.) Put the dried pieces of black walnut hulls into the grinder and grind down into a powder.

5.) Spread the powder on the large tray and leave to dry for two to three days. Stir occasionally.

6.) Grind the dried powder one more time to reduce to as fine a powder as possible. The black walnut hull powder is now ready for tincturing.


Tips & Warnings

Try to remove the green hulls while they are as fresh as possible as partially dried hulls on the nut can become attached to the nut shell and require more work.

How to Make a Black Walnut Tincture

Tinctures are made with an alcohol-and-water mixture as the solvent. Simply put, an herb is soaked in the solvent for a specified time, and a solution is the result. The solution is then pressed, yielding the tincture. Black Walnut tincture is a valuable herbal remedy for many ailments, and moderately simple to make.

In the case of black walnut tincture, the green hull of the black walnut holds within it the most juglone (the desired herbal ingredient). It is important to recognize that the green hull of the black walnut is necessary in order to craft an effective tincture.


Things You'll Need:

* 4 black walnuts (with green hulls)
* 1 wide-mouthed quart jar, or crock, and lid
* 1 pint 100-proof vodka
* Sieve
* Mixing bowl
* Several small bottles with tight-fitting caps

Instructions
Making the Tincture

1.) Place walnuts in the quart jar. (You can pick the walnuts from the tree yourself in the fall, when their hulls are green.)

2.) Pour vodka over the walnuts, being sure to completely immerse them. Place lid on jar.
Store in a cool, dark place (such as under the sink or in a closet).

3.) Wait seven to 10 days, shaking gently every day or two.

4.) Remove lid. Over a large mixing bowl pour the solvent through the sieve and firmly press (with a spoon or gloved hand) the softened hulls to extract all the liquid.

5.) Discard the solids. The remaining liquid is your tincture. The color should be a very dark green.

6.) Pour into clean bottles, cap and store in a cool dark place.


Tips & Warnings


It is easier to find unblemished green hulls by picking the black walnuts rather than waiting for them to fall.

Black walnuts, hulls and all extracts will stain. Avoid contact with clothing!

Walnut Tincture Recipe

Walnut tincture is produced using green hulls from freshly fallen walnuts and combining the hulls with a liquid menstruum of alcohol and water. Using the correct ratio of menstruum to alcohol and water will produce a potent and effective tincture. Walnut tincture is purported to help regulate the bowels and support bowel health. Walnut tincture has also been used as an anti-parasitic and antiseptic agent.


Tincture Recipe and Method

The walnut tincture recipe combines a ratio of 1:2 walnut hulls to a menstruum solution. For example, if you have one cup of walnut hulls then you should combine those hulls with two cups of menstruum. The menstruum should contain a ratio of 3:1 parts alcohol to water; for example, if you used two cups of menstruum the menstruum should be composed of one and a half cup of alcohol and a half cup of water.


Grain alcohol is the preferred form of alcohol for tincture recipes due to its exceptionally high alcohol content. This type of alcohol is labeled as Everclear or Clear Spring, but it is not available for legal purchases in some states. If you cannot purchase grain alcohol in your state, use a quality clear vodka that is free of any flavorings.


For an effective tincture, it is best to separate the walnut hulls from the inner nut. Crushing or rolling the hulls under your feet may help to separate the hulls; you may also try using a hammer or a nutcracker to break the hulls open. Blend the hulls in a food processor or crush them up between wax paper using a hammer. Then add the crushed hulls to the menstruum.


Keep the menstruum and walnut hull mixture in a secure closed container in a cool dark place; do not expose the mixture to air. Shake the container thoroughly at least two times a day (preferably three times a day) for two weeks. After two weeks, strain out the tincture through a cheese cloth or tincture press and then place the tincture in a clean jar and leave it to settle overnight (do not shake the jar at this point in the tincture process). The next morning, decant the tincture from any solid components that have settled to the bottom of the jar. Store the finished tincture in a dark amber glass bottle with a secure lid.



Cautions

Walnut hulls may irritate sensitive skin; it is best to wear gloves while you are handling walnut hulls if you have sensitive skin. If you have any type of underlying medical condition or if you are currently taking prescription medications, talk with your doctor first before you use walnut tincture. Do not use walnut hull tinctures if you are pregnant or nursing.

What Are the Benefits of Black Walnut Hull Tincture?

Black walnut hulls can be used as a tincture.
Black walnut hulls can be used as a tincture.
A tincture, or extract, composed of the hulls of black walnuts--Juglans nigra--can be used as an alternative or herbal medicine, because the compound juglone is found in the hulls.


Black Walnut Hulls
Alternative medicine practitioners use black walnut hull tincture for a variety herbal remedies and treatments.

Using Tincture
Tincture can be used in tea.
Black walnut hull tincture is in liquid form and concentrated. Dilute it in a glass of water, or use it to make tea.

Benefits
Herbal practitioners believe that the benefits of black walnut hull tincture include anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It can also be used for eczema, ringworm, inflamed tonsils and thyroid problems. The tincture is also believed to kill a number of different parasites in the digestive tract.

Science
According to the American Cancer Society, some research has shown that juglone may destroy tumors, but more research is needed prove this definitively.

History
Black walnut hulls were used in ancient Rome.
Asian and American Indian cultures used black walnut hulls to treat parasitic worm infestations. People in ancient Rome and Greece used the hulls to heal intestinal troubles.

Uses of Black Walnut Hull Tincture

A tincture is a solution of herbal extract, usually in grain alcohol. Doses are measured in drops. Black Walnut Hull tincture is widely believed to have antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and antihelmintic properties. It is nutritious and is used both externally and internally. As far back as the Revolutionary War, Black Walnut Hull tincture was combined with cloves and wormwood to cleanse the body of parasitic worms. An astrigent, Black Walnut Hull tincture is an effective remedy for many itchy skin rashes.

Nutrition

Black Walnut Hull tincture contains the phytochemicals beta carotene, ellagic acid, juglone, myricetin and tannin. It is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicone and zinc. It is a good source of vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. According to Phyllis Balch, Clinical Nutrition Counselor (CNC) and author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Black Walnut Hull tincture aids digestion, causes a laxative effect without pain or irritation, and may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Parasites

Black Walnut Hull tincture may be the best known herbal remedy for worms. Pinworms cause intense anal itching, especially at night, and most often affect children. Tapeworms can interfere with nutrient absorption in the bowels. Other types of worms may be seen in the stool. Black Walnut Hull tincture is said to kill many of these parasites. Traditionally, a combination of Black Walnut Hull tincture with wormwood and cloves is used, beginning with a few drops every four hours and gradually increasing the dose until 20 drops are taken four times a day for 10 days to two weeks. Balch suggests that Black Walnut Hull tincture be taken on an empty stomach and should not be used at high doses for more than 14 days in a row. The whole family should be treated for pinworms, especially children, and treatment may need to be repeated.
For head and body lice, saturating the head/body with Black Walnut Hull tincture will relieve itching and kill adult lice. As much as possible, remove eggs with a fine comb, and keep repeating treatment with Black Walnut Hull tincture every three to four days until the infestation is gone.

Fungus and Sores

Black Walnut Hull tincture is said to be effective against thrush, jock itch, athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections. These are all caused by Candida, which can be cleared up with daily applications of Black Walnut Hull tincture. For impetigo sores, which are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, gauze should be soaked in Black Walnut Hull tincture and taped in place so that they can be kept wet. The soaks can be removed in four or five days, when healing should be evident. This procedure is also recommended for treating ringworm. Phyllis Balch states that sores in the mouth, herpes virus cold sores, poison ivy and warts (also viral), will all benefit from applications of Black Walnut Hull tincture either several times a day or as soaks.

How to Use Black Walnut Husks

Black walnut trees, native to North America, can grow to 75 feet and live over 200 years, providing a rich source of both lumber and nuts for commercial and individual use. The nutmeat is covered by a green outer hull, which turns black once it falls from the tree, an inner husk attached to the hull and the nut shell. The husk was used for centuries by Native Americans and European settlers for medicinal purposes. Highly astringent and antifungal, it is still recommended by herbalists for salves and skin cleansers. Although most people prefer to buy these over-the-counter, it is fairly easy to make black walnut infused oil and rubbing alcohol.

Things You'll Need:

* Walnuts with green outer husks
* Olive oil
* Rubbing alcohol
* Glass canning jars or bottles
* Strainer

Making Black Walnut Astringent or Anti-Fungal Cleanser
Instructions

1.) Smash the outer green hull of the walnut. The husk is the inside portion that encases the nut; it should be wet to the touch. Soak this portion in water to remove the husk from the nut.

2.) Fill a canning jar or glass container full of the shredded hulls. Pour either the olive oil or the rubbing alcohol over the husk, filling the jar completely. Place in a cool, dark place and allow the liquid to steep, or infuse, for 3 to 6 weeks.

3.)Open the jar and strain out the black walnut husks and discard. The infused olive oil can be mixed with other ingredients, such as beeswax, to make a salve. The infused alcohol, also known as a tincture, can be applied directly on skin.

Tips & Warnings

Black walnut tincture is considered extremely helpful for killing lice and various funguses, such as ringworm. Some herbalists also believe black walnut tincture made with grain alcohol can be used as a cleanser for skin cancers; consult a doctor before you use this treatment.

How to Make Dry Black Walnut Powder

Dry black walnut powder can contain the nut's shell or hull depending on the powder's intended use. The most common black walnut powders contain ground shells and hulls. Powder made from the hulls is a potent natural dyestuff. It is also occasionally used for medicinal purposes, although, as Brian K. Hammons, president of the Hammons Product Company, points out, no one has yet linked specific health benefits to the product. Powder made from the black walnut shell enhances abrasive products used for cleaning and polishing in industrial and domestic settings. Hammons lists jet engines, musical instruments, ships and jewelry among the items cleaned with black walnut shell powder. Follow the guidelines below to make your own powder from black walnut hulls and shells.


Things You'll Need:

* Black walnut hulls or shells
* Drying rack
* Coffee grinder
* Mortar and pestle
* Heavy-duty grinder
* Flour sifter

Instructions

1.) Determine the intended use for your black walnut powder. If you want to make a walnut dye for textile and handmade paper dyeing, you will make the powder from the walnut hulls. If you intend to use your walnut powder for cleaning purposes, you will focus on the shells.

2.) Peel the hull away from the shell. You will need to separate the shell and the hull, regardless of how you intend to use your powder. While the hulls are still green, peel them from the shell. To make hull powder, chop the peeled pieces as finely as possible and set aside.

3.) Dry your chopped walnut hulls on fine mesh-bottomed racks. Spread a thin layer of hulls on each rack and store in a cool, dry place. Stir the hulls often to ensure even drying. Once your hulls have turned from green to dark black-brown and have a leathery texture, they are ready to grind.

4.) Grind your dried hulls in a coffee grinder or blender that you do not intend to use for food preparation. Run your hulls through the grinder multiple times to create finer powders. You can finish your powder using a mortar and pestle. Choose a mortar with a rough interior texture to create a finer powder.

5.) Grind your walnut shells. Black walnut shells are incredibly hard and do not break easily, so preparing a powder from shells is not always possible. If you want to attempt grinding your own black walnut powder, use a heavy-duty grinder. On the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website, Calene Cooper suggests straining ground shells through a flour sifter to separate the powder from larger shell pieces.

Tips & Warnings


Wear gloves when working with walnut hulls, as they will dye skin.

Walnut hulls contain the toxin juglone, which should not be ingested. Once you taint an appliance with juglone, never use it for food preparation.

How to Make Black Walnut Salve

Black walnut salve is a multi-purpose treatment for numerous skin conditions, including ringworm, eczema, boil, blisters and athlete's foot. It will also relieve itching from insect bites and rashes and soothe dry, irritated skin.


Things You'll Need:

* Black walnut
* Myrrh
* Echinacea
* Chaparral
* Burdock
* Extra virgin olive oil
* Vitamin E
* Beeswax
* Tea tree oil (optional)
* Muslin or cheesecloth
* Colander

Instructions

1.) Clean the herbs thoroughly if you're using fresh herbs. Shake any loose dirt out of the leaves and lay them in the sun to dry. Any moisture remaining in the leaves can cause the salve to mold quickly.

2.) Measure the herbs into a slow cooker or a stainless steel pot and cover the herbs with olive oil, plus an extra inch.

3.) Heat the oil and herbs over low heat for at least three hours. If the herbs include roots, add an extra 2 hours to the heating time. Allow the mixture to cool.

4.) Line a colander with a layer of folded muslin or cheesecloth and pour the mixture through it to strain. Once most of the oil has strained through, squeeze the cloth to extract as much salve as possible.

5.) Add the beeswax and heat the mixture until the beeswax melts. Add the Vitamin E and any essential oils.

6.) Test the salve by putting a small amount on a spoon and letting it cool. If the salve is too thin, add more beeswax.

7.) Pour the black walnut salve into small, labeled containers. Store the salve in a cool, dark place.

Plants That Are Compatible With Black Walnut Trees

Black walnut trees are large and beautiful, provide excellent deep shade and their walnuts are delicious. However, they produce juglone, a substance toxic to many plants. It saturates the soil, harming some plants roots, and is in falling leaves and nuts. If a non-tolerant species is planted under a black walnut it will soon wither, yellow and die. The good news is there are plenty of flowers, trees, bulbs, shrubs and vegetables that aren't susceptible to juglone and will thrive under a black oak.


Flowers

Calendula, morning glory, daylilly, coral bells, zinnia, snowdrop, pansy viola, Shasta daisy, violet, pot marigold and begonias all can be planted under a black walnut.


Vegetables and Herbs

If you want to get some food from under your black walnut, plant squash, beans, corn, carrots, onions, parsnips, melons and beets. Caraway and tarragon also will thrive. Don't worry about toxicity from the tree harming those who eat the vegetables. Juglone can't hurt humans.


Trees, Vines and Shrubs

Trees and shrubs not affected by juglone include shingle and white oak, catalpa, tulip tree, sycamore, white ash, black cherry, European fly honeysuckle, Virginia creeper, forsythia, hydrangea, black raspberry, white mulberry, lilac, St. John's wort, sassafrass, serviceberry and black cherry. Black walnut trees can easily grow over 100 feet tall, so you will have room for these trees and shrubs. If you are feeling adventurous, poison oak and poison ivy also grow well under a black walnut.


Bulbs

The list of tolerant bulbs is shorter than other plant varieties, but there are some that can survive. They include daffodil, glory-of-the-snow, crocus, blue squill, grape hyacinth, narcissus, tulips, grape hyacinth and parrot blue parrot.

Herbaceous perennials boast a lengthy list of tolerant plants that include bugleweed, hollyhock, Jerusalem artichoke, cranesbill, orange hawkweed, Virginia waterleaf, sundrops, bee balm, cinnamon fern, great Solomon's sea, false spirea, leopardsbane, trout lily, lenten rose/Christmas rose, lily-turf, lobelia, wide wake-robin, lamb's ear, Mayapple, gold moss, nodding trillium and bloodroot.


Using Planters

You can plant anything you want if the soil is separated from the contaminated soil by planters or some other barrier. Although you will have to occasionaly remove leaves and walnuts from these separated plants, the main problem of toxicity is that the roots of plants are normally in the juglone drenched soil, constantly absorbing it. If you choose this option you will need to keep the soil in the planters in excellent condition with manure and by turning it over.

How to Use Black Walnuts As a Natural Insecticide

When we think of black walnuts we often think of their flavor in ice cream, or the beauty of black walnut wood from the tree for custom made furniture. Black walnuts have another use, however, and that is of a natural insecticide. The black walnut tree produces an acid that is called juglone. According to an Ohio State University Fact Sheet, written by Richard C. Funt and Jane Martin, juglone seeps out from the leaves and the roots of the black walnut tree and can also be found in the walnut hulls. It is simple to take advantage of the natural insecticide affects of juglone, but if you are using the insecticide near other plants you must be careful, as juglone is toxic to many plants.


Things You'll Need:

* Small branches from a black walnut tree or
* Black walnut hulls
* Pruning scissors
* Gloves

Instructions
Using Black Walnut Leaves as a Natural Insecticide

1.) Locate some small, leafy branches on a black walnut tree.

2.) Cut the branches at a slight angle with the pruning scissors.

3.) Lay the branches around the perimeter of your house to keep ants and fleas, along with other insects, at bay. If you have a flea problem indoors, cut small branches and place them under furniture or rugs where the problem is occurring.

4.) Replace the branches every three weeks, as once they are cut, the toxicity of the juglone weakens.

Using Black Walnut Hulls as a Natural Insecticide

1.) Put on a pair of gloves and collect walnuts that have fallen off the tree. You will need the gloves, as the black walnut hulls can stain anything they come in contact with.

2.) Place them on a hard surface and roll your foot back and forth over them to separate the walnut from the hull.

3.) Collect the broken hulls, and crush them into smaller pieces.

4.) Place the broken hull pieces in areas where you are having problems with insects.

5.)Place in a mesh bag and place out of reach of pets or children if using indoors.

Tips & Warnings

Soak the walnuts that you removed from the hull in a pail of water. This will allow the rest of the hull residue to be easily removed before you crack the walnuts for eating.

Juglone, found in black walnuts, is highly toxic to tomato, potato, pepper, blueberry, apple, eggplant and cabbage plants, just to name a few. See the resource section below for more info.

How to Use Black Walnuts

With a distinct, smoky flavor, the black walnut has been used around the world for centuries. The nutmeat, hull, leaves, and bark are found in folkloric medicine to promote health. Additionally, the nut lends a smoky zest to baking and cooking. Moreover, the black walnut naturally stains wood and textiles. Purchase fresh black walnuts at farmer's markets, specialty stores, and online. As a supplement or herbal remedy, black walnuts are found in organic and health-food stores

Instructions

1.) Use black walnut meats for cookies, cakes, and breads. Harvested during the autumn months, the nuts are high in unsaturated fat and protein. Substitute for English walnuts but decrease the required amount due to their rich flavor. Add to wild rice and stuffing for an earthy taste. Add in streusel toppings for pies. Sprinkle chopped nuts onto yogurt with a drizzle of maple syrup. Oil is used for flavoring or added to vinagrettes for a smokier dressing.

2.) According to basketmakers.org and other weaving sites, you can make dyes for handicrafts such as reed basketry. Gather black walnuts from the ground. Place walnuts in a mesh straining bag. Tie securely. Put the bag into a clean garbage can. Drape the string of the bag over the edge for retrieval. Pour hot water over the bag until it's immersed. Cover with lid. Allow to steep. When desired color is achieved, strain the dye and remove bag. Store dye in a dark location.

3.) Ingest black walnut hulls in capsule form as an herbal remedy for parasites and glandular disorders. The green hulls that surround the nut are stripped and cleaned. The hull is ground into a powder that can be used externally as a washing compound and is found in creams, lotions, and ointments. Black walnut hull extract in tincture form is used topically as a fungal remedy for ringworm, athlete's foot, and psoriasis. The hull is also beneficial as a mild laxative.

4.) Steep black walnut leaves for tea infusions, said to soothe sore throats and canker sores. According to folkloric medicine, immerse a handful of partially dried leaves in a pint of boiling water. Allow to steep. Strain out leaves. Drink one cupful for liver, gallbladder, and lymph node conditions. Placed directly on the skin, black walnut leaves are said to treat skin conditions like eczema. Purchase teabags for topical salves to treat minor scrapes, insect bites, and burns.

5.) Chew the inner bark of the black walnut, which performs like an astringent for toothaches. The bark is a constituent of toothpaste in Pakistan, said to promote healthy tooth enamel. The Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans applied a bark poultice to treat fungal-related skin conditions. The inner bark is boiled to use as a laxative tea. Topically, the bark facilitates healing of skin rashes, acne, and bruising. It can be purchased in bulk online.


Tips & Warnings

• Store black walnuts up to one year in an airtight container in the refrigerator. • Store black walnuts in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two years.

• Protect clothes, work surfaces and tools as the shells and husks of the black walnut permanently stain.

• Wearing rubber gloves is recommended (aside from baking) when working with outer portions of the black walnut.

How to Clean & Prepare Black Walnuts

Black walnuts have a delicious meat that is used in cakes, cookies and other bakery dishes, or eaten plain as a snack. Black walnuts have a stronger flavor than standard walnuts available in the supermarket. If your neighborhood squirrels do not steal them all before harvest, you can clean and store your own fresh walnuts for a special organic treat.


Things You'll Need:

* Head protection
* Gloves
* Old clothes
* Old shoes
* Flat work area
* Hammer
* Wire brush
* Water
* Bucket
* Drying area
* Nutcracker
* Storage vessel

Instructions

1.) Wear a hard hat to protect your head from falling nuts, gloves that will not allow the hull juices to penetrate to your skin, and clothes that you do not mind throwing away. Walnut hulls leave very stubborn dark stains.

To gather the nuts, shake the three branches up and down--as opposed to sideways--to loosen nuts from the branch, or pick up fallen nuts from the ground.

2.) Choose nuts with green hulls. Black hulls may have liquefied near the shell and penetrated the meat.

3.) Spread the nuts on a flat area and stomp or hammer the hulls off, discarding them in a compost pile or the woods. Some people drive over the nuts with their car to knock the hulls off.

4.) Scrub the shells with a wire brush to remove bits of hull left behind.

5.) Rinse in a bucket of water and scrub again.

6.) Dry the shells. Place in a sunny spot where animals cannot get to them. Make sure no shells are touching for maximum ventilation. You can use a herb drier or an unlit gas oven with only the pilot light on. Sun drying may take a few hours, whereas an herb drier or oven will take 24 to 36 hours.

7.) Crack the shell open to remove the meat after an adequate drying period. Allow nuts to cure for at least four weeks for better texture and flavor.

Nuts that will be eaten over a period of a few months can be stored in an airtight container. For longer storage, freezing is preferred.


Tips & Warnings

It is easier to clean freshly hulled nuts than dry nuts.

You may find some husk fly maggots while cleaning. They do not damage the nutmeat and can be drowned in a bucket of water.

Never pull black walnuts from the branches as this damages the branch and slows future production.

According to tomclothier.hort.net, the rinse water from your bucket will kill earthworms, so be mindful where you pour it out.