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Wednesday 7 July 2021

The Mighty Oak Tree and Acorns For Food


Do you like seeing trees? To me, there is something special about trees, and "Oaks are one of the oldest and most widely spread trees on this planet. They have existed way before humans were here. They feed various living creatures with their leaves and acorns.
But, oaks played a crucial role in human history as well. Early humans built their homes, created tools, and constructed strong ships from oak wood. These trees are still one of the crucial sources of raw material in our modern time. Elegant furniture, flooring materials, cosmetic creams, and wine barrels are some among many products that are being produced using oak trees.

Here are some interesting facts about oak trees
A mature oak tree can reach around 148 feet (45 meters).

Oak trees appeared on our planet about 65 million years ago.

Oak trees live up to 1,000 years.

An oak tree produces about 10 million acorns during its lifetime.

There are over 600 species of oak trees.

The largest living oak tree is located in Mandeville, Louisiana.

Wine is aged in oak barrels.

If you like truffles, then thank the oaks, as they have a close relationship with the roots of oak trees.

Oak tree population is decreasing, that's not good.

Only 1 in 10,000 acorns grow up to be an oak tree.

Oak trees start to produce acorns when they reach 50 years of age.

Vikings used oaks to construct their ships and boats.

British Royal Navy ships were also constructed from oaks until mid-19th Century.

Nowadays, oaks are still the choice of carpenters when they create furniture and veneers.

Some cultures worshiped oak trees. Throughout the centuries, mainly in parts of Europe, people worshiped oak trees, associating them with the mythological gods, namely Zeus and Jupiter.

Druids also worshiped oak trees. They got married under the spreading branches of oaks and carried acorns, believing those practices would bring them happiness and good health."
Words above, and more, can be seen here
Also read Wikipedia information about Oak here


Stand tall oh mighty oak, for all the world to see,
your strength and undying beauty forever amazes me.
Though storm clouds hover above you,
your branches span the sky,
in search of the radiant sunlight you
count on to survive.

When the winds are high and restless and
you lose a limb or two,
it only makes you stronger, we
could learn so much from you.

Though generations have come and gone
and brought about such change,
quietly you've watched them all yet still
remained the same.

I only pray God give to me the strength he's
given you,
to face each day with hope, whether
skies are black or blue,

Life on earth is truly a gift
every moment we must treasure,
it's the simple things we take for granted
that become our ultimate pleasures.

How To Use Acorns For Food
Like many other true nuts, acorns are an excellent source of food, and they provided people with a wealth of health and food recipe ideas in earlier times. Today, they're still in fashion as a food, and rightly so, because they're filled with B vitamins, protein, fat, and they're a decent complex carbohydrate. Every species of acorn is edible, but some taste better than others. However, it is very important you do not eat them raw; in order to not eat acorns that are bitter-tasting and toxic, you'll need to process them first. For directions and suggestions about how to use acorns as food, for example acorn coffee and flour, see here

squirrels like acorns and seeds too
read more here

Dear reader, this blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes!

Please note, not all recipe suggestions may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

38 comments:

J.P. Alexander said...

Bello roble y lindo poema. Te mando un beso

Christine said...

fascinating about oak trees, a thousand year life span!

Lori Miller said...

There are a few 300-year-old oaks in my neighborhood. Chinquapin oaks are one of the few trees that are long-lived in cities.

Tom said...

...this one is fabulous.

Angie's Recipes said...

That oat tree looks majestic! I have never had acorn nuts...

Elephant's Child said...

I am a confirmed tree hugger and adore them. My father spoke of drinking coffee made from acorns during the war. He did not speak highly of the substitute.

Jules said...

I have several oak trees in my garden which have been grown from acorns we've collected. X

Valerie-Jael said...

Oaks are beautiful. In the past people used to make flour from acorns. Have a great day, Valerie

Jo said...

So interesting. I didn't realise that trees had to reach fifty years of age before they started producing acorns.

Fun60 said...

I can't believe it takes 50 years for an oak tree to produce acorns!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I love all the trees and the poem.
I have never thought of eating acorns.
I will leave them for the critters.
Take care, have a happy day and week ahead.

Margaret D said...

What a magnificent tree and good information there too. Thanks Jan.

DUTA said...

Lovely poem about a lovely tree! Thanks for sharing.

Jenn Jilks said...

I love an oak tree! We've had so much trouble with the invasive caterpillars.

R's Rue said...

Beautiful.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

The majority of my antique furniture is quarter sawn oak. I love it for wood, but think I'll skip it as food.

Divers and Sundry said...

I do like trees, and oaks are magnificent. We looked into eating the acorns when the kids were little, and the process was harder than we expected lol

My name is Erika. said...

I didn't know that about oak trees or about acorns. They don't sound appealing, but good to know with some processing they can be eaten. Thanks for this post.

José Antonio Sánchez Rumí said...

I love trees, they are life, they are nature, their contrasting changes their vigor are a lesson for us, here it is said "You are stronger than an oak" that says it all.
In the area where we usually spend the summers, well nearby, there are some yew trees that say they are millenary, it is impressive, a pine tree, called Galapán, symbol of the mountains with more than three hundred years and some really impressive redwoods, apart from the usual ones that populate the entire mountain range.
Best regards.

VENTANA DE FOTO said...

Por Andalucía se utiliza mucho las bellotas para la alimentación de los cerdos.

De pequeña, me gustaba comer bellotas...ahora veo que tiene una gran cantidad de beneficios.

Besos

Sue said...

I love trees but I don't think I'll be eating acorns! Have a great week, Sue xx

Elderberry-Rob said...

fun to see this post - acorn coffee is something I have had inflicted on my by the older generation of the family :) I think we expected far less and were grateful for far more in times gone by.

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

An interesting post!! Thanks for sharing and thanks for stopping by!! I hope you had a great Holiday weekend!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Debbie said...

i enjoyed this...an interesting read while i am in the hospital. i am definitely a tree hugger, i love them all. interesting info about acorns!!

Ananka said...

Trees are woderful things and so sad to see so many in decline :-(

happyone said...

Love trees, that's why we live in the woods. :) We have many many trees!! Have a few oaks at Happy Trails too.

DVArtist said...

Amazing post. Well done with great facts.

Teresa said...

El roble es un árbol precioso, que me encanta. Por aquí hay bastantes robles, junto con encinas, y alcornoques. Besos.

Magic Love Crow said...

Thank you for this excellent post Jan!!!! Big Hugs!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Oaks are beautiful trees! Thanks for the fact file!

Hilly Nicolay said...

The tree is full of meaning for many.
The oak is a powerful tree.

Happy Friday and greetings,
Hilly

Phil Slade said...

I must admit that I didn't know that acorns would make a food. On the other hand i suppose they are just a nut. Rather labour intensive to collect enough for more than a snack. Good info as usual guys.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Trees are inspirational under any circumstances and a mighty, spreading oak is arguably the most magnificent of all.

Martha said...

Wow, really fascinating about the oak trees! They are beautiful.

sandy said...

Fascinating post about oaks and acorns. i thought the largest one must have been in Tombstone, AZ ..i saw one once that was huge..bigger than I've ever seen but now I'm wondering years later if it was an oak tree or a different species of tree.

sandy said...

i was so wrong ...but it was 25 years ago...lol..i just remember this huge tree but it turns out it was a huge biggest Rose Bush tree ever I think.

Jeanie said...

I love all trees and oaks are so majestic. There are a lot of them up at the lake and each fall I bring home a bunch of acorns to give to my resident squirrels during the winter. They seem to love them!

Practical Parsimony said...

I love trees! All trees, okay, almost all trees.