Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Plan when to harvest acorns. Only fallen acorns should be harvested; fallen acorns are ripe and ready to be processed for consumption. Acorns fall before winter comes, so prepare by allowing time in late fall to forage for them.
Identify oak trees in your area where you can collect acorns. Oak trees are tall trees with wide trunks. The leaves, which have lobed margins (edges), turn golden-yellow, orange and brown during the fall when the acorns are ripe.
Ask a friend or family member to help you collect acorns. Tell her when you're planning to go and harvest them. Having company and an extra pair of hands means you can double the amount your harvest, and have somebody to chat with. Arrange a time convenient for both of you.
Allocate a space in your garage or home in which to store the acorns once you've harvested them. Set aside a cardboard box to hold them. They should be stored in a cool, dry place; they shouldn't get damp.
Find a suitable bag for collecting the acorns. Recycle a carrier bag or use a cloth bag. Make sure you have a number of bags prepared; they'll need to be strong enough so that their handles won't tear when full of acorns.
Gather the rest of the equipment you need for processing the acorns after harvest. You'll need a 5-gallon bucket and a wooden mallet (or a nutcracker) to remove the acorn shells. A large pot in which to boil (in water) the acorns to remove the toxic tannins will be necessary. You'll also need a bath towel to dry out the acorns once they've been boiled and a grinder to churn them up so you can use them in cooking.