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I am starting to see a few acorns on the ground - Northeast. A few years ago it was a bumper crop (mast year). Maybe we will have another one this year.
I am starting to see a few acorns on the ground - Northeast. A few years ago it was a bumper crop (mast year). Maybe we will have another one this year.
I live about six miles from my parents house. Sometimes they will have a bumper crop of acorns and we have no acorns or the other way around. Just a few miles can make a difference. Sometimes I think our trees are recovering from poor conditions the previous year?
Besides weather; I think there are many other factors. If your area was hit with a gypsy moth infestation; your trees could be weak and cut production of nuts. There are other pest that could also play a roll. If we have too many squirrels; they will eat nuts, seeds, and fruit long before it ripens. Possibly acid rain and smog could also be a factor?
I just don't think any meteorologist can paint one universal picture - just because he had an acorn in his back yard. I think that it is more complicated. But, if you generalize and not localize; he could be right?
I live about six miles from my parents house. Sometimes they will have a bumper crop of acorns and we have no acorns or the other way around. Just a few miles can make a difference. Sometimes I think our trees are recovering from poor conditions the previous year?
Besides weather; I think there are many other factors. If your area was hit with a gypsy moth infestation; your trees could be weak and cut production of nuts. There are other pest that could also play a roll. If we have too many squirrels; they will eat nuts, seeds, and fruit long before it ripens. Possibly acid rain and smog could also be a factor?
I just don't think any meteorologist can paint one universal picture - just because he had an acorn in his back yard. I think that it is more complicated. But, if you generalize and not localize; he could be right?
I have a huge oak tree. It doesn't seem old, just seems huge. A few years ago, we would fill several 5 gal buckets full of acorns; and you would fill one bucket and have to fill another. The roof was getting hit by acorns constantly, thus, thus, thud.
I took buckets of them to a park and spread them around. If I knew a pig farmer, I would have given it to them to make delicious Christmas ham.
It looks like a pretty average year for acorns in my area. Same for black walnuts. Last year we had a severe drought and nut production was way down. I'm guessing next year we'll have bumper crops of acorns and walnuts.
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I have a huge oak tree. It doesn't seem old, just seems huge. A few years ago, we would fill several 5 gal buckets full of acorns; and you would fill one bucket and have to fill another. The roof was getting hit by acorns constantly, thus, thus, thud.
I took buckets of them to a park and spread them around. If I knew a pig farmer, I would have given it to them to make delicious Christmas ham.
I tried making acorn meal.
Next time you have a bumper crop; eat them yourself: Can People Eat Acorns? (with pictures)! Let us know how they taste? When I was younger; I tried raw acorns and would not do that again! It is a taste that you would not forget - you would have to be starving. But that article and others claim it can be done after you boil out the tannic acid.
I know that our wildlife and pigs love acorns - no accounting for taste. One hundred years ago, before the American Chestnut blight, many pig farmers would just let their pig forage for acorns and chestnuts.
I don't think my oak trees are going to produce plentiful nuts. In my immediate area it has been several years since the last bumper crop of acorns. We have had multiple problems with drought and gypsy moths and our trees are still playing catch up.
I collect a small percentage of the acorns and drive them to a location where the acorns are lacking and leave them there for those animals.
I also like raw acorns.
I collect a small percentage of the acorns and drive them to a location where the acorns are lacking and leave them there for those animals.
I also like raw acorns.
Have you ever tried boiling out the tannic acid like the articles suggest? More power to you for eating the raw acorns - I just remember a bad taste from fifty or more years ago when I tried them. Perhaps it is an acquired taste? Have a good day!
Next time you have a bumper crop; eat them yourself: Can People Eat Acorns? (with pictures)! Let us know how they taste? When I was younger; I tried raw acorns and would not do that again! It is a taste that you would not forget - you would have to be starving. But that article and others claim it can be done after you boil out the tannic acid.
I know that our wildlife and pigs love acorns - no accounting for taste. One hundred years ago, before the American Chestnut blight, many pig farmers would just let their pig forage for acorns and chestnuts.
I don't think my oak trees are going to produce plentiful nuts. In my immediate area it has been several years since the last bumper crop of acorns. We have had multiple problems with drought and gypsy moths and our trees are still playing catch up.
Have you ever tried boiling out the tannic acid like the articles suggest? More power to you for eating the raw acorns - I just remember a bad taste from fifty or more years ago when I tried them. Perhaps it is an acquired taste? Have a good day!
I agree with you fisheye, tried them once and never again.
About four years ago something killed most of my oak trees and they have been droping branches ever since. I don't mow under them if the wind is blowing. LOL
Last edited by Bluff_Dweller; 08-19-2013 at 08:40 PM..
Reason: usual spelling correction
I agree with you fisheye, tried them once and never again.
About four years ago something killed most of my oak trees and they have been droping branches ever since. I don't mow under them if the wind is blowing. LOL
Many years ago I sold firewood. It amazed me how many oak trees smelled as if they were fermenting. Occasionally I would find boring grubs. But I really did not have an explanation why so many smelled like they were stressed or dying.
I do think that the gypsy moths really hurt us. But that was years after my firewood days. I also think that acid rain did not help. Right where I'm at we don't have a lot of limestone in the ground. So any acid rain is not neutralized. I think that our valleys fair better because they do have limestone deposits. That is just my speculation.
Did you ever get hit by a limb falling off a tree? They can easily break your neck. I caught the sight of one coming at me with my peripheral vision one time. I managed to get my arm up to protect my head - it still almost knocked me out. Fortunately; it does not happen that often. Like you said - stay out of the woods when the wind is blowing!
This year does not look like it will be a great year for acorns in my area - just like last year.
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One hundred years ago, before the American Chestnut blight, many pig farmers would just let their pig forage for acorns and chestnuts. 
Have a good day!
