Black Walnuts - What do they mean for your homestead?

Black Walnut Trees - Bane of your existence or a positive?

I suppose it depends on what your goals are for your homestead.

Problems:
Warning via http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/info_walnut_toxicity.htm

Husks of fallen walnuts can become toxic to livestock, and lethal to dogs if ingested due to a mycotoxin called 'Penitrim A', which is produced by c. Therefore, walnut nuts showing symptoms of decomposition, such as a brown or black rotten appearance in the husks, may leak toxin into the kernels and are not fit for human consumption.

The problem with the jugalone in the roots of the tree presents a problem for a great number of plants in that it is inhibiting for growth and will cause fatal wilting.  Not all plants are susceptible.  Our solution is to plant 50-80 feet from the canopy of the tree and to use raised Hugelkultur in those areas.  These steps should be more than sufficient to prevent planting problems due to jugalone toxicity.  (We shall see).  Below is a list of plants that are not effected by the presence of jugalone.

• Beans
• Corn
• Melons
• Squash

These plant types will be planted at the border of our vegetable beds and rotated to maintain soil integrity.  The interior of our garden will contain the rest of the vegetables we are growing.

Benefits:

There are SO many benefits for Black Walnuts for the homestead.

• Walnut meat for eating, preserving and bartering.  Walnuts are a good source dietary source of serotonin and one of the best plant based sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Walnut hulls for treatment of intestinal problems, snakebites, open wounds, ulcers, scurvy, and as one of the most effective laxatives available.  It is an anti-fungus and has been used to fight herpes, cold sores, athlete’s foot, and Candida. It has been used as an antiseptic to combat illness like sexually transmitted infections and malaria and can be used to treat acne.
• “Black Walnut Hull may help to lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels and is believed to burn up toxins and fatty materials while balancing blood sugar levels.
• The tannins in Black Walnut Hull (and leaves) possess an astringent quality that is thought to shrink the sweat glands and reduce excessive sweating.  The herb is said to help control menorrhagia, the excessive loss of blood during periods. It is also used to control diarrhea.
• Black Walnut Hull is considered a tonic that aids digestion and the intestinal system. It helps to relieve colic, heartburn and flatulence.  As a cholagogue, Black Walnut stimulates the flow of bile into the intestines and is thought to ease bilious colic and pain in the spleen.”

Perhaps Black Walnut’s most well-known property is its ability to fight intestinal parasites. It is a well documented vermifuge that is effective at helping the body rid itself of parasites. As a laxative, it expels parasites as part of its cleansing of the body and the high tannin and juglone content is thought to oxygenate the blood and kill parasites. Black walnut is effective against pinworm, ringworm, tapeworm, and other intestinal parasites.  (information provided by http://wellnessmama.com/257/black-walnut-hull-herb-profile)

Recipe:
Black walnut is an astringent and antifungal agent that protects skin against allergens and infections. Use as a cool compress for ringworm infections.

Ingredients:
Black Walnut *
Recipe Instructions: Compress :Make a strong tea of black walnut leaf and apply as a skin wash 3 times daily.
Source: Balch, Phyllis A.,CNC. "Prescription for Herbal Healing", (2002)

Lastly, practical everyday uses:

Black walnut has been used to make ink and hair dye.  The ink is extracted from the hulls of the ripened walnut.  Listed below is a recipe to make Walnut ink.

Recipe courtesy of:  http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/blackwalnutdye.html

Step-by-step Instructions for making Black Walnut Dye:

1. Collect about 10-15 Black Walnuts. This is enough for about one gallon of dye.


2. While wearing protective gloves, remove the husks. This can be easily done with just your fingers, though with green hulls, my preferred method is to place the walnut on a stump or other "anvil" and pound the walnut with a rock to break open the hull.



3. The husks can be used right away or dried for later use. (While they are drying, make sure they get plenty of air circulation or they will mold.) As the opened hulls are exposed to air they will quickly begin to oxidize and turn a dark brown. This is the color that it stains, so wear gloves, wash frequently or be prepared to have brown fingers for several weeks!! (See the proof in pictures!)


4. While still wearing your protective gloves, crush or crumble the hulls into pea-sized bits.



5. Using either a stainless steel or enamelware pot, heat one gallon of water to a full boil, add the crushed hulls and stir. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for about an hour. While the dye is simmering, scour the material you plan to dye. (This step is especially important for cellulose-based fibers!)


6. To Scour: Using an enamelware or stainless steel pot, add 1 TBSP of washing soda and 1/2 tsp of detergent per 1 gallon of water and stir to dissolve.


7. Bring to a boil, then add the material you plan to dye and stir it into the water until it is fully saturated. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for an hour or two.


8. Rinse your materials thoroughly to remove all the soap. The water will have turned a mucky brown color from all the oils etc. that have been scoured out of the fibers.


9. Wring out the excess water and add the damp, scoured material to the simmering dye bath.


10. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the material is at least one shade darker than your desired color.


11. Remove the material and rinse thoroughly, until the rinse water runs clear. Not rinsing out all the excess dye at this stage it may cause it to come off on your skin when you are working with or wearing the materials. (If, after a thorough rinsing, you decide the material is not dark enough, return it to the dye bath and continue to simmer.)


12. Once the dye bath has cooled, pour the excess dye into a glass container and store it until next time. Allow your materials to dry completely before using — the color will change somewhat as they dry, and the dye oxidizes.

NOTE: Dyed clothing should be washed seperately the first time in case you did not rinse the item thoroughly enough. Excess dye WILL stain any other clothes! After that, wash as usual with other like-colored items.