19 Comments

This species is a powerhouse for the first tropic level of the food web. I'd consider adding some facts about that. Look up this plant on IL Wildflowers and check the Faunal Associations section.

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Awesome information. Thank you Dave.

I’ll be sure to read up on this and keep it in mind for future discussions. I appreciate the feedback my friend.

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Definitely interested in the wood uses 👍🏻

I would like to have multiple hazelnut trees around the property here! 🌰🤎

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Fantastic news! We ordered a few from the Missouri department of conservation this year. We should have a few extra to stash around. 🐿️

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Fedco has C. Americana available for purchase - https://fedcoseeds.com/trees/american-hazelnut-7483

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Thank you!! I appreciate that! 🙏

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I love learning all there is to know about a plant so enjoyed the part about wood used

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Awesome. Thanks for the input Pippa! I appreciate it. 🙏

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Here in west central Alberta Canada we have the Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta)-https://www.awes-ab.ca/species/beaked-hazelnut/

I grew up watching for the shrubs fruit as it was always a race to beat the arboreal harvester with the fluffy tail.

Enjoyed your posts that I have read thus far.

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L.G. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing that story with me. We lovingly call the little tree rat in our backyard “Sammy Squirrel” and he’s a nuisance but we love him. 😅

I dont have any experience with foraging growing or eating beaked hazel so they didn’t make the list for the nursery this season.

Thanks for being here. I appreciate it.

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Thanks for this series.

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No sir, thank you for following along and commenting. 🙏 It gives me a reason to keep doing it. I’m just a dude that nerds out on trees all day. You’re the real hero in this story.

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Is there a way to get the nuts without spending hundreds of dollars on a machine, or hours and hours cracking the nuts individually?

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Great question Gail.

On a human scale, I’ve seen some interesting methods one of which includes a 5gallon bucket (preferably w/lid), an electric drill with a cord, and a paint mixer attachment.

Here’s a great video for reference:

https://youtu.be/Az_z46ztw4o?si=8im3secbamTuo9Jy

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That's fine for husking, but my question was about cracking the nuts to get to the meat.

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My mistake.

Here are some great options for cracking hazelnuts depending on your own personal context.

This is a video about acorns but I’m certain it’s would work for hazelnuts as well:

https://youtube.com/shorts/0JKKOK1huS0?si=-kP4aAppmkrLgeg6

This is a nice hand nut cracker if you wanted to purchase something:

https://youtu.be/4LbSWjMEMTk?si=j7BVKDkbYtO0G26b

(a link to purchase that I just found, no affiliation)

https://www.lovehazelnuts.com/product/super-hazelnut-cracker/2

Or…

This is a pretty wild looking gadget if you’ve got an engineering mind and have a lot of hazelnuts to deal with:

https://youtube.com/shorts/XAz0V_IQIYs?si=TP3cgxVuxkgZH1Nf

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https://youtu.be/t5bYUjrJzmA?si=VNF937WX97k6c04z

I will wind up trying my hand at this at some point I’m sure.

Production doesn’t necessarily call for it at this point though.

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👍🏼👍🏼 wood uses would be super dope. I need some homemade nutella STAT!

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Homemade Nutella sounds 🔥 looking forward to when my hazelnut bushes start producing so I can make some. 😋

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