Acorn clean up?
 

In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?


FACE

FACE wrote:

In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?


FACE

Don't you have any squirrels?

--
Travis in Shoreline Washington

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:11:57 GMT, Travis
in rec.gardens wrote:

FACE wrote:

In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?


FACE

Don't you have any squirrels?

I almost mentioned that. ;-)
There are plenty of grey squirrels and way more chipmunks than i would
prefer but they appear to be ignoring them -- or maybe not but the extent of
the inundatrion is such that it sure does appear that way.


FACE

FACE wrote in message . ..
In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?


FACE

No easy way. :-( Maybe hire some trustworthy, hard-working,
neighborhood high school students that you could pay by the pound?

I just wonder why you want to pick up the acorns.What are you going to do
with them?
I have 4 oak trees all over 50 yrs of age which shed loads of acorns but
within a few weeks they are taken by squirrels, Jays, pigeons, mice etc,
and I doubt if I find more than about 20 a year trying to grow.

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

"FACE" wrote in message
...
In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large
acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I
have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is
not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?

My lawn sweeper does a pretty good job on mountain ash berries. I
bet it would do acorns too. Try renting one.

http://www2.yardiac.com/long.asp?tgs...item_id=846 1

Bob

"David Hill" wrote in message ...
I just wonder why you want to pick up the acorns.What are you going to do
with them?
I have 4 oak trees all over 50 yrs of age which shed loads of acorns but
within a few weeks they are taken by squirrels, Jays, pigeons, mice etc,
and I doubt if I find more than about 20 a year trying to grow.

Just a guess, but the acorn shells are hard and sharp and don't lend
to a "barefoot lawn". (?) That's why I do it. Wish there was some use
for them. I checked for recipes, but they seem to be more trouble than
they're worth culinarily- is that a word?

"Merle O'Broham" wrote in message
om...
"David Hill" wrote in message
...
I just wonder why you want to pick up the acorns.What are you going to
do
with them?
I have 4 oak trees all over 50 yrs of age which shed loads of acorns but
within a few weeks they are taken by squirrels, Jays, pigeons, mice
etc,
and I doubt if I find more than about 20 a year trying to grow.

Just a guess, but the acorn shells are hard and sharp and don't lend
to a "barefoot lawn". (?) That's why I do it. Wish there was some use
for them. I checked for recipes, but they seem to be more trouble than
they're worth culinarily- is that a word?

It is now, Mr. President. :-)

On 13 Oct 2004 19:10:24 -0700, (Merle O'Broham)
in rec.gardens wrote:

FACE wrote in message . ..
In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?


FACE

No easy way. :-( Maybe hire some trustworthy, hard-working,
neighborhood high school students that you could pay by the pound?

You've a great idea there -- by the pound! :-)

FACE

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:48:24 +0100, "David Hill"
in rec.gardens wrote:

I just wonder why you want to pick up the acorns.What are you going to do
with them?
I have 4 oak trees all over 50 yrs of age which shed loads of acorns but
within a few weeks they are taken by squirrels, Jays, pigeons, mice etc,
and I doubt if I find more than about 20 a year trying to grow.

You wonder why? That is a reasonable question. But let's do a small
comparison:

Experience shows that i will have several hundred sprouting by spring and
these things will have put down a 4" tap root into clay based soil. They
are not easy to pull at that point. I do not have much more oaks in number
than you. I have 6 but they are amazing producers -- and 70 to 85 feet
tall.


FACE

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:54:25 GMT, "Bob" in
rec.gardens wrote:


"FACE" wrote in message
.. .
In lower zone 7, does anyone else notice an unusually large
acorn crop this
year?

It is literally crunchy in the backyard. Possibly because I
have gotten up
the early fall Maple and Poplar leaves I notice it.

I have picked up over 20 gallons from the ground but that is
not even a
dent.

Anyone know of some really great way to get them up?

My lawn sweeper does a pretty good job on mountain ash berries. I
bet it would do acorns too. Try renting one.

http://www2.yardiac.com/long.asp?tgs...item_id=846 1

Bob



Well that (url) certainly looks like a good idea to go over flat areas.

I have been raking and then using a kitchen dustpan on the piles in some
areas.

The backyard is largely landscaped but in the flat areas-- mostly zoysia --
I have been playing "Christina's World" in the late of the day with a five
gallon bucket which I can fill in 60 square feet or so.

I had considered my yard blower, which has the vacuum attachments, but past
experience shows that I can eat up it's plastic fan pretty quick if the
wrong thing gets sucked up. (Hickory burrs will do it for one thing).

And to another respondee, yes, the barefoot lawn plays into it all, if
you've ever dropped to your knees in what should be soft lawn and had one
knee go onto an acorn -- well you know why I want them out of there.
Actually the hard caps are not as painful as a fat hard acorn.


FACE

"FACE" wrote in message
...


I had considered my yard blower, which has the vacuum attachments, but
past
experience shows that I can eat up it's plastic fan pretty quick if the
wrong thing gets sucked up. (Hickory burrs will do it for one thing).


I don't know how long an extension cord you'd need (and long ones made for
outdoor use are expensive), but a shop vac would make short work of your
acorn situation, and a tool like that should be in every homeowner's arsenal
anyway. One wet basement episode is enough to make you love these machines,
if you get a wet/dry type.

One precaution: Sharp things will sometimes make little holes in the bag you
use to line the vacuum canister. If you vacuum dust afterward, the dust will
blow out the seams where the canister closes. So, if you vacuum acorns, be
sure to replace the bag with a fresh one.

I once used a shop vac to suck up an 8x8 area with Lego bricks 4 inches
deep, so I know they'll handle acorns. You don't want to hear the rest of
THAT story. :-)

No easy way. :-( Maybe hire some trustworthy, hard-working,
neighborhood high school students that you could pay by the pound?

You've a great idea there -- by the pound! :-)

FACE

Wouldn't want to pay them to pick up the acorns from the Valley Oak (Quercus
lobata) in California. Acorns can be a little over 2 inches long and in a good
year (every third year or so) they can produce about 900-1000 lbs of acorns!

Emilie
NorCal

Wish there was some use
for them. I checked for recipes, but they seem to be more trouble than
they're worth culinarily- is that a word?



Yes, they must be leached to remove the tannic acid to be edible, but they are
very nutritious. Calif Valley Oaks can have 6% Protein, 18% fat, and 68%
carbohydrates.
Also contain magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. They are an
acquired taste-they were pretty good in the cookies I tasted. Acorns were the
main staple in the diet of the Calif Indian tribes, making up about 45 % of the
diet. Usually ground into flour and made into a mush or soup.

Emilie
NorCal

No easy way. :-( Maybe hire some trustworthy, hard-working,
neighborhood high school students that you could pay by the pound?

You've a great idea there -- by the pound! :-)

FACE

That's about the ONLY way I could think of to pay them fairly. I tried
paying hourly and have never seen (except for our union city
crews)..... and if I pay by the job, it doesn't get done well.

For leaves I'll pay by the bag (filled all the way with inspection).
Sigh.

Thanks. I imagine they'd taste something like walnuts maybe and
sweetened according to what you're making.
Maybe not as quite as good as walnuts.....

I've read that exact same
thing about the natives using acorns for mush and breads. "Leaching"
would be boiling them up til their soft, right?
Leaching is removing the tannic acid by using water. The acorns are shelled,
and pounded/chopped/ground into bits or meal, then water is poured over
repeatedly until the tannin is removed. Boiling water works faster, but cold
can be used. The Indians sometimes would place the acorn bits in a little
pocket on pine needles/sand/basket in a moving creek and let that do the work.
The bits can be placed in a cloth bag and water run over it. The water will be
dark brown, then lighter. You really have to just taste to see when they are
ready.
The taste is slightly sweet, and rather insipid or bland. Best in cookies or
breads.

Different oaks have varying sweetness and palatability. The CA Black Oak,
Quercus kelloggii, is said to be quite sweet and needs less leaching. It might
be fun to try some of your acorns.

Emilie
NorCal



It does seem a waste
to throw all those acorns in the garbage/compost- they're so nice and
meaty. By aquired taste, you mean like oysters...?

Easier way I've found to deal with acorns is to use my leaf vacuum. It takes
care of acorns and sweet gum balls, chewing them up in the shredder and
depositing the remnants in the bag. Dump the remains right into the compost
pile.

If there was a way to set a pig loose for a day, your problem would be
solved.

Raked up oak tree leaves are great for gardens and the compost builds
up under the trees.

JP

On 15 Oct 2004 16:33:00 GMT, (Marcy Hege) in rec.gardens
wrote:

Easier way I've found to deal with acorns is to use my leaf vacuum. It takes
care of acorns and sweet gum balls, chewing them up in the shredder and
depositing the remnants in the bag. Dump the remains right into the compost
pile.


You must have a metal bladed fan in your leaf vacuum. My Toro has a plastic
bladed fan.....as have the previous 2 brands. I wish I had seen one that
had a screen and a deflector like I have seen on some large pro machines.

For mine, not using it as a vacuum keeps it blowing at the rated 210mph.


FACE