Skip to comments.
Scientists baffled by mysterious acorn shortage
CNN ^
| Dec 12, 2008
| Marsha Walton
Posted on 12/14/2008 10:54:49 PM PST by neverdem
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-111 next last
To: The Cajun
Pretty sparse here on the Texas coast as well. Although I do have a bumper crop of Satsumas..
21
posted on
12/14/2008 11:28:21 PM PST
by
Texas Mom
(Two places you're always welcome. Church and Grandma's house.)
To: Texas Mom
I thought acorns were toxic to humans
22
posted on
12/14/2008 11:31:09 PM PST
by
valkyry1
To: Texas Mom
Eh, it's something to do while waiting for the squirrels to come out so you can add them to the pot.
To: valkyry1
If you leech out the tannins, they are edible.
It’s the tannic acids that make them bitter and probably not terribly healthy.
To: Texas Mom
Although I do have a bumper crop of Satsumas.. Same here, branches are about to break.
25
posted on
12/14/2008 11:38:41 PM PST
by
The Cajun
(Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
My once heavily nut producing acorn tree died from the drought so we dont have that carpet anymore. A car killed two squirrels at the same time on my block a couple weeks ago (wiped out a family). Another smuck killed my cat.
You should write a country & western song
To: neverdem
27
posted on
12/14/2008 11:57:29 PM PST
by
LegendHasIt
(Freepmail me if you want to join the Precious Metals ping list.)
To: Fichori; neverdem; Salamander
It’s obvious, isn’t it?
The missing acorns were carried into an alternative reality by the missing hyperdimensional honeybees.
(Art Bell and Richard C. Hoagland told me so!)
28
posted on
12/15/2008 12:03:24 AM PST
by
shibumi
(...so if it's organic, where are its organs?)
To: neverdem
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" posted a resident of Maplewood, New Jersey. "Now we are finding dead squirrels! SHOULD WE ALL BE CONCERNED?"We just gotta keep it up until they're all dead, the stinkin' little house eaters.
29
posted on
12/15/2008 12:04:07 AM PST
by
metesky
(My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
To: shibumi
Its not the obvious that has me worried.
30
posted on
12/15/2008 12:14:58 AM PST
by
Fichori
(I believe in a Woman's right to choose, even if she hasn't been born yet.)
To: neverdem
Geez! We have had the largest crop of acorns I have ever seen. The ground around all the oaks in my yard is literally covered. Same with the deep woods in this area.
31
posted on
12/15/2008 12:38:52 AM PST
by
Islander7
(This Atlas is shrugging! ~ I am Joe!)
To: neverdem
I did not read the "sky is falling" article. In the woods where I walk ever day, the ground is COVERED with acorns. Sign of a cold winter to come.
The Pecan orchards did not do so well, but it is cyclical with them. Had a great year last year. On/Off production is normal. I bet it is with acorns also. Just depends on location, and cycle.
32
posted on
12/15/2008 1:11:00 AM PST
by
MrPiper
To: Texas Mom
There are "sweet" acorns and bitter ones; most are bitter. Live oak acorns are of the "sweet" variety, and a few other species have them too.
They are very nutritious but the high tannin content makes them unpalatable as-is, though some "sweet" varieties aren't too bad, or need only light processing.
Many American indian tribes subsisted on acorn meal made by leaching out the tannin, much as you have to remove the nasty toxic stuff from pokeweed by heating it up in water, rinsing it and doing it again. After removing the tannin the acorns meats lose their bitterness and are dried and ground fine.
You might want to look that up- by the time the government nationalizes everything and the socialists have had their way, we all might need to eat that stuff in some squirrel stew, too.
The tannin from oak acorns and bark was used to tan leather by settlers.
Acorns are very useful. If you cut a big burr oak acorn just right it makes a nifty shot glass for moonshine. Put eight of those cups together and a squirrel could wear them as a bra. Use some pvc pipe and an air compressor to fashion a giant acorn shooter and you have a "green" assault weapon... or go the low tech approach and just use them in a slingshot to keep dogs and liberals out of the garden.
33
posted on
12/15/2008 1:16:49 AM PST
by
piasa
To: Texas Mom
I have always gone on the old wives tale that a bumper crop of acorns meant a hard and long winter. A sparse crop meant a mild winter and early spring. It has always proved to be true IMHO.. Maybe, but it is twenty below here tonight with -50 windchill, and I haven't seen an acorn all year.
(Maybe I should move some place that has oak trees...) (8^D)
34
posted on
12/15/2008 1:17:44 AM PST
by
Smokin' Joe
(How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
To: metesky; All
Squirrels go for a ride:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f5d_1172741350
35
posted on
12/15/2008 1:26:09 AM PST
by
Cobra64
To: neverdem
I’ve got more acorns this year than I ever have, and I have two less oak trees to boot. It got so bad in the late summer and early fall that we couldn’t use our sun-room; the acorns were falling so hard and fast that sometimes it sounded like someone was on the roof with a jackhammer. One good thing about it is that it has brought the deer and turkey in closer. I didn’t even have to leave the yard to fill my freezer.
36
posted on
12/15/2008 2:10:22 AM PST
by
P8riot
(I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop.)
To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
Very sorry to hear about your cat, how sad.
37
posted on
12/15/2008 2:11:23 AM PST
by
MonicaG
(Freedom isn't free! Thank you to our military & veterans, with love & gratitude. XOXOXO)
To: metesky
The only good squirrel is a stewed squirrel.
38
posted on
12/15/2008 2:26:00 AM PST
by
clee1
(We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
To: neverdem
Guarantee they didn’t look in Detroit, Chicago, or Cleveland. They’re filled to the brim.
39
posted on
12/15/2008 3:00:47 AM PST
by
RU88
(The false messiah can not change water into wine any more than he can get unity from diversity.)
To: neverdem
This guy got them all -
40
posted on
12/15/2008 3:01:09 AM PST
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 101-111 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson