Nuts

one pound of Pennsylvania Wild Foraged Butternuts in the shell. 

Wild foraged and hand gathered from our Pennsylvania Woods, never treated with chemicals or pesticides. As with everything foraged or grown on our Ecofarm, we take pride in offering the most natural, chemical-free foods available, straight from nature. These are from very large, old, established Pennsylvania Butternut Trees.  We have removed the husks, they are still in shell. We have tried to remove all debris and only ship the cleanest nuts possible. We try to sort through and discard any cracked or damaged nuts. Similar in taste to conventional walnuts but without any of the characteristic bitterness.  Some people liken them to pine nuts because of their creamy nut meat and mild flavor.

1 Pound Wild Foraged Butternuts in Shell | Juglans cinerea | White Walnut 2023 Harvest

default

1 lb

I practice ethical wildcrafting and forage primarily on our chemical-free, organic ecofarm property. I am also a formally trained clinical herbalist. I have been foraging for many years and am certified and authorized by the State Health Department and Department of Agriculture to sell foraged mushrooms. We offer many mushrooms throughout the year including Morels, Chanterelles, Chaga, Black Trumpets, Turkey Tail, Lobster, Reishi, King Boletes, Lions Mane, Blewits, Milkies, Puffballs, Oysters, Chicken of the Woods and Honeys. We forage many kinds of wild Pennsylvania and New York Mushrooms and offer dried, fresh, tinctures, powders, teas, handmade mushroom inspired jewelry and gifts for the mycologist and mushroom lover in your life. We also forage many kinds of wild nuts including hickory and walnut. I am able to wildcraft many wild edible plants throughout the year including ramps and leeks, elderberry, medicinal plants and more. If there is something specific you are looking for, let me know.

Homestead Ecofarm & Wildcrafting

Medicinal Plants

As with everything we sell on our Ecofarm, this catnip is organic and wild foraged on our chemical free property. Whether you are using it for treats for your feline friend, or making medicinal tea, you can be sure you are getting the healthiest herb available. We use this for treats for our own cats, and also in our own medicinal tea blends and offer the same hand collected dried herb to you. Our catnip is picked at the peak in August, when its flowers are in bloom, for ultimate taste and scent. It is harvested and quickly dried and retains its lovely scent and color, you can visibly see and taste the freshness.&nbsp; Uses: Cats- Nepeta cataria is the true catnip that is loved by house cats. Nepetalactone is the active ingredient that affects most cats. Make your own cat toys or if you would like, order one of ours, your cats are sure to love them!&nbsp; Functional Uses- As a medicinal herb, catnip leaves have been used (fresh or dried) for making an herbal tea that reportedly helps reduce anxiety, induce sleep, promote perspiration (fever/cold relief), soothe sore throats (cough suppressant) and comfort upset stomachs. The tea should be infused in a closed container in order to preserve the essential oils, boiling is said to spoil it. Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers. The herbs pleasant taste and gentle action makes it suitable for treating colds, flu and fevers in children. It is more effective when used in conjunction with elder flower (Sambucus nigra). The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic. An infusion produces free perspiration, it is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and colds. It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very useful as a mild nervine for children. A tea made from the leaves can also be used. The infusion is also applied externally to bruises, especially black eyes. Culinary- As a culinary herb, fresh leaves (minty flavor) may be chopped and added to soups, stews, sauces, vegetables, or pasta.&nbsp; Pest repellant- A strong infusion can be used to repel fleas from carpets or the fur of animals

weight

Organic Looseleaf Catnip Tea | Nepeta Catarina | Catmint | Treat for Cats | Gift for Cats | Bulk Dried Herb | Wild Foraged

1 oz

2 oz

4 oz

Leaves are harvested in the spring in the plants first year, as we have found this is the best for making tea.Mullien Tea- use 1-2 tsp dried leaves and boil in 1-2 cups of water. Steep for 10 minutes, then filter out tiny hairs. Enjoy warm or cold.Leaves and flowers are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent and expectorant.WARNING- Leaf hairs can be an irritant, be sure to filter out of tea. Contains coumarin, a blood thinner.

4 oz Dried Mullien Leaf | Wild Foraged | Organic | Verbascum thapsus | Mullien Leaf Tea

1 oz.

As with everything we forage, these fresh Japanese Knotweed shoots are foraged in a remote, rural area in Northeast, PA, far away from traffic and polluted areas. Fresh young shoots and unfurled leaves. Foraged daily and shipped same day Monday-Thursday only. Shipped with an ice pack and insulated Box liner to ensure your fresh product arrives as fresh as possible. Can be used as an asparagus substitute and can also be used in pies as a rhubarb stems substitute. Soak in cold water for a half day or parboil for best results once received.Key medicinal uses- Roots are often used to help with Lyme and SARS-related viruses.

Fresh Japanese Knotweed Young Shoots(Polygonum cuspidatum) 

1 lb.

As with everything we forage, these fresh stinging nettle tops are foraged from our 100% chemical-free, Organic Ecofarm property.Fresh young tops. Foraged daily and shipped same day Monday-Thursday only. Shipped with ice pack and insulated Box liner to ensure your fresh product arrives as fresh as possible. Ships only UPS next day air. The young leaves can be consumed raw or cooked. Stinging nettles are highly nutritious, containing vitamins A,C,K several B vitamins and minerals. They can be dried for use throughout the year, try adding to stews and soups.Nettle Pesto: Black 3 cups of nettles. Add 1 garlic clove, 3 cups of parsley or other wild green, 1/3 cup of pine nuts, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Season and blend while drizzling 1/3 cup olive oil.

Please message me if you are interested in purchasing dried stinging nettle, or directly for shipping questions, as I may be able to offer a better price than what shows here sometimes.

Wild Foraged Fresh Young Stinging Nettle ( Urtica dioica)

Spices, Seasonings, Herbs

We practice sustainable foraging of our ramps, only harvesting from mature plants in abundant areas. We harvest only the leaves and leave the bulbs to reproduce. All ramps are foraged by us, by hand in Northeast, PA. We forage far away from polluted and congested areas, being sure to offer the freshest and most pure herbs and products that we can. Ramps are harvested, cleaned and dried the same day, combined with sea salt and bottled to ensure freshness and premium taste. Our ramp salt is made with Himalayan Sea Salt, for an added boost of minerals and taste. Wild ramp salt may used as a finishing salt to add extra flavor to any savory dish, or as a rub for meat.&nbsp;Ramp salt is especially wonderful on fried potatoes and rice dishes.&nbsp;It’s also wonderful in soups and stews. We use anywhere we would use garlic salt as ramps have a distinct garlicky taste.

Wild Foraged Ramp Salt | Sustainably Harvested | 2 oz | Allium Tricoccum

2  oz

One half pound or approximately 50 wild foraged chinese sweet chestnuts from our rural Northeast Pennsylvania Woods. These nuts are hand-gathered from the wild, burrs removed, sorted then packaged for you and refrigerated until shipped. They never see any chemicals and they are gathered from a very undisturbed remote area of the woods, far from exposure to any chemicals or pesticides. As fresh and healthy as you can get. Perfect for gifting, or eating yourself. They can also be used as seeds for new trees. As with everything grown on our ecofarm or wildcrafted, we strive to provide you with the freshest, most chemical free Non-GMO food that we can. This is the same food we eat, and those values are important to us.&nbsp;Chestnuts are delicious and have a mild, semi-sweet flavor. When raw, they are crunchy and will soften when cooked.The nutritional content of sweet chestnuts is high&nbsp;being a rich source of vitamins C (the only nut that is) and B, and minerals including magnesium, potassium and iron. Their high level of starch is similar to that of wheat and twice as high as potato.There are many ways to enjoy your harvested chestnuts. Roasting chestnuts is a very popular method and a favorite holiday treat. Chestnuts can also be boiled or braised.Chestnuts are a common ingredient in many recipes. They can be used in desserts, stuffings, soups and savory meat dishes. Candied chestnuts are delicious and a great way to reward yourself after the harvest! You can even make your own chestnut flour to use in bread.Tips- Do not shell until needed, chestnuts tend to dry out if shelled too early. In-shell chestnuts will keep in the refrigerator for a month or in the freezer for a year.Preparation Tips-Slit chestnuts along curved surface try not to cut into the meat. I find it’s a lot easier to peel the chestnuts if a long slit is cut rather than a cross as some suggest.Soak in cold water for 2 hoursDrain and dry in a tea towelPlace in a roasting tray slit upwardsPlace in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees for 20minsIncrease oven temp to 220 degrees for 15minsTake out of the oven, wrap in a damp tea towel and leave for 15mins.Shell while still warmEat some freshly roasted nuts – they are delicious.

8oz Wild Foraged Organic Chinese Sweet Chestnuts | Hand gathered | Pennsylvania 2023

1/2 lb.

One pound or approximately 30 Wild foraged Black Walnuts (Juglans nigra). Wild foraged and hand gathered from our Pennsylvania Woods, never treated with chemicals or pesticides. As with everything foraged or grown on our ecofarm, we take pride in offering the most natural, chemical free foods available, straight from nature. Can be used as snacks, cooking, crafts, feeding to squirrels and wildlife, or seeds for new walnut trees. These are from very large, old, established Pennsylvania Black Walnut Trees. Shells can also be cut for beautiful crafts.&nbsp;We have removed the husks, they are still in shell. We have tried to remove all debris and only ship the cleanest nuts possible. We try to sort through and discard any cracked or damaged nuts. These nuts are not available commercially grown and can only be wild gathered. Wild Black Walnuts stand out in the nut world because of their distinct, bold flavor, incredible versatility and impressive health benefits. Hand-harvested in the USA every fall, they are one of a few crops still picked by hand, making them a unique, all-natural and sustainable nut.Key functional uses as analgesic, astringent, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory.These are already dried, to crack the shells, place them on the ground with the pointed side up and strike with a hammer.&nbsp;Black Walnuts are a nutritional nut containing the highest protein content of any tree nut.The main difference between Black Walnuts and English walnuts are the rich, bold, distinctive flavor of the Black Walnut.Excellent in a black walnut cream sauce. Ingredients, 6 cups of walnuts, 6 cups of vegetable stock or water, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer nuts and vegetable stock until nuts become tender. Puree in a blender or mash. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with pasta noodles or drizzle over vegetables.

When you're ready to shell the nuts, moisten them to keep the kernels from shattering. Soak the walnuts in hot tap water for about 24 hours. Drain and replace the hot water and soak the nuts for two more hours. Cover the nuts with moist cloths until you're ready to crack the shells.

After shelling, nut meats can be stored in several ways: at room temperature, refrigerated or frozen. If you plan to store the nutmeats in a container at room temperature and use them within a few weeks, first bake them at 215° for 10 to 15 minutes. Nutmeats can be refrigerated in a jar or plastic bag for up to nine months without baking. Nutmeats can also be frozen for longer term storage, but use them within two years.

2023 one pound Wild Foraged Pennsylvania Black Walnuts in Shell Cleaned

Functional Mushrooms

100% wild harvested Pennsylvania Birch Chaga mushroom harvested 2023. We harvest in the winter for the maximum nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This is a package of chaga chunks, we have already done the work and broke the chaga into tea size chunks for you. Simply boil a cup of water, place one chunk in the boiling water, and let steep for at least 15 minutes then remove chunk, store for later and enjoy! Be sure to save your chunks as they can be reused several times for tea. Air dry between uses or store in the refrigerator. Can also be made in larger batches in a crock pot or tea kettle, and stored in refrigerator for several days. Can be consumed as a hot or cold beverage. Add raw honey or cinnamon for extra flavor. (For maximum benefit steep for 1 hour)About Chaga:The tea is very mild, with a earthy/woodsy flavor. Some people use as a substitute for coffee. Does not contain caffeine so does not interfere with sleep or cause jitteriness that some people experience with caffeinated beverages.Chaga is technically a sterile mass of highly condensed mycelium. It has been used for centuries in traditional and folk medicine, notably by the Khanty people of Siberia to prevent tuberculosis and protect the heart. It has also been used as an anticancer remedy in Russia, Siberia and other parts of eastern Europe.Chaga is known to contain of 200 different bioactive molecules. One of these include betulinic acid, which is known to have anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic effects. Birch bark, the main host for chaga, contains up to 25% betulinic acid. The anticancer property is consistent with its ability to cause cell death in cancer cells but it doesn't harm normal cells and tissues. Many laboratory studies in cell cultures and animals have been conducted with chaga and have demonstrated anti-oxidant, blood-sugar and insulin regulating properties as well as immune-stimulating activity and direct antiviral and antibacterial effects.

2023 Birch Chaga Mushroom Chunks Pennsylvania Wild Winter Harvested half pound

8 oz.

We have sold out for the last two years. One half pound or approximately 30-40 wild foraged Shagbark Hickory Nuts from our rural Northeast Pennsylvania Woods. These nuts are hand-gathered from the wild, cleaned, cured, floated and then packaged for you. They never see any chemicals and they are gathered from a very undisturbed remote area of the woods, far from exposure to any chemicals or pesticides. As fresh and healthy as you can get. Perfect for gifting, eating yourself, crafts, smoking meats, or feeding to wildlife. They can also be used as seeds for new trees. As with everything grown on our Ecofarm or wildcrafted, we strive to provide you with the freshest, most chemical free Non-GMO food that we can. This is the same food we eat, and those values are important to us. I remember gathering these as a child with my grandmother and every time someone wanted to make a pie or brownies, we had to go to the bucket we kept by the stove and crack a whole bunch. Once you try these in brownies, you will never be able to go back. They can be substituted for pecans in any recipe and have a similar mild taste to walnuts or pecans. They are personally my favorite. You really can't find these nuts much in stores, and definitely not wild crafted ones, so they make a wonderful gift. Photos are representative of what you will receive. The packaged bag is approximately 53 nuts, or a half pound. The glass bowl and nutcrackers are not included. They will come packaged in a resealable package as pictured. If you would like to send a gift I am happy to giftwrap and attach a note for no charge.

Wild Foraged Shagbark Hickory Nuts | Hand gathered | Woods gathered | In Shell | Pennsylvania 2023

Mushrooms

Now waitlisting our Birch Polypore for 2023. 1 oz of wild foraged birch polypore. This has been cleaned, sliced, dried and sealed and is ready for many uses including grinding into teas or tinctures. Mushrooms always processed same day to ensure freshness. Birch polypores have a complex chemistry with phenolic compounds, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and high levels of beta-glucans. Birch polypore is reported to be used for its immune-strengthening and anti-cancer effects, its calming properties, and to address gastrointestinal problems. Research has shown proven antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal activity. Wildcrafted in rural Northeast Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

Homestead Ecofarm & Wildcrafting

About

Sell

Connect

Support