[djf]

Black Walnut

I imagine most folks who live on the east coast know what they are, we used to collect tons of them. This pic is when they are growing on the tree, after they fall, the pod part will decay and the nut is inside there. They can be gathered late Sep through December or so.

[patton]

Those things will stain even kudzu!

[goat granny]

Black Walnuts make a great dye for wool or mohair. I had a Black Walnut tree on the farm...You have to put on a pair of old boots, and stomp them after they fall, this opens up the husk. Then put them in a large bucket of water, set for a couple of weeks and the water makes a permanent dye that is beautiful..The dye is in the green husk. You just have to put the water through a sieve to get out particles that are in it..
PS pick them up with gloves or your hands will be brown for quite a while, does not wash off, but will wear off over several days..

[metmom]

Problems with black walnut:

You have to get to them before the squirrels.

You have to get past the husk.

They hurt when they land on you while you’re mowing the lawn under them.

[LucyJo]

You can get stained gathering black walnuts and removing the husks if you aren’t careful, but they are worth the trouble!

[TnGOP]

And don't forget pecans. We pick up pecans from roadside parks, the local community college, and trees from long abandoned orchards. They will store up to five years in the freezer, shelled or in the shells.

When picking up pecans, you will find
1) loose nuts, out of the husk. Most of these will be good. If they sound hollow, toss them.
2)Nuts in the husk, but the husk will peel off. These will be good also, for the most part.
3)Nuts still in the husk, and the husk does not release from the nut. These are almost ALWAYS bad. If the husk doesn't peel away easily, toss it and move on. Years of experience speaking here, folks.

Notice the health benefits in the bold text below.

Pecans are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats. A diet rich in nuts can lower the risk of gallstones in women. The antioxidants and plant sterols found in pecans reduce high cholesterol by reducing the "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.

Clinical research published in the Journal of Nutrition (September 2001) found that eating about a handful of pecans each day may help lower cholesterol levels similar to what is often seen with cholesterol-lowering medications.[11] Research conducted at the University of Georgia has also confirmed that pecans contain plant sterols, which are known for their cholesterol-lowering ability.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged this and related research and approved the following qualified health claim: "Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pecans, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." A South African website makes the claim: "This nut is an important source of ellagic acid. Pecan nuts are a good low fat source of vitamin E and also have anti-cancer effects. They can also, if eaten correctly, lead to lower cholesterol levels."