HARVEST OF PINE NUTS

THE SEASON TO HARVEST PINE NUTS IS IN THE FALL (SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER). THEY ARE FULL OF PROTEIN, FIBER, AND ZINC. THEY HAVE A DISTINCT FLAVOR (RUMORED TO BE AN APHRODISIAC). THEY'RE EXPENSIVE TO BUY BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INTENSIVE HARVEST PRACTICE. THEY ARE BEST HARVESTED BY A FAMILY. THE PAIUTES USED THEM IN MANY WAYS. I'VE USED THEM IN SALADS AND TO MAKE A PEST CREAM SAUCE. IT'S BEST TO WEAR GLOVES WHEN YOU COLLECT THE NUTS AS THE PINES HAVE SAP.

USE A LADDER TO PICK PINE CONES BY HAND . DON'T BREAK OFF THE LIMBS.KEEP UNRIPE OR CLOSED CONES IN PLASTIC OR CLOTH BAGS. PUT A TARP BENEATH THE TREE AND SHAKE THE BRANCHES - SOME OF THE NUTS WILL FALL OUT OF REOPENED CONES. OR TRY KNOCKING THE CONES WITH A SLICK TO LOOSEN THE NUTS.

YOU CAN USE HEAT TO OPEN THE CONES UP THAT ARE CLOSED, OR YOU CAN LET THEM DRY NATURALLY. OR YOU CAN ROAST THEM OVER COALS. TO PREPARE THE NUT THEY CAN BE ROASTED LIKE PUMPKIN SEEDS; YOU CAN ROLL THEM WITH A ROLLING PIN. THEN PLACE THEM ON A FLAT SURFACE, COVER WITH A TOWEL, AND ROLL OVER OVER THEM AS THOUGH ROLLING OUT DOUGH. KEEP THEM REFRIGERATED. UNSHELLED NUTS HAVE HIGH OIL CONTENT AND LAST FOR MONTHS. THESE NUTS WERE THE STAPLES OF THE DIET IN THE GREAT BASIN - SIMILAR TO THE BUFFALO IN THE PLAINS. THE WASHO, SHOSHONE, PAIUTES, HOPI, AND THEIR ANCESTORS ATE AND TRADED PINE NUTS. IT HAS 20 AMINO ACIDS AND WAS A LIFE -LINK FOOD WITH GATHERING CELEBRATIONS, CREATION STORIES, AND TEACHINGS ALL ACCOMPANYING THE YEARLY HARVEST.

FOR 10,000 YEARS THE PEOPLE HARVESTED THE PINON AND OTHER NUTS. PINE NUTS WERE COLLECTED INTERMEDIATE ELEVATIONS. GRASS SEEDS AND PLANT ROOTS WERE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN GAMES FOR THE FOLKS IN UTAH AND NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF GRASS SEEDS WERE STORED. THE FIRST FRUIT CELEBRATIONS CONFIRMED THE SACREDNESS OF THE PINE NUT AND GAVE RESPECT TO THE FOREST. THEY STORED THEIR NUTS IN A LARGE BASKET. THEY DRIED THE PINE NUT AND GROUND IT UP WITH A METATE AND GRINDSTONE. THEY MADE PINE NUT MUSH.