Picnic, Birding, and Walk: Great picnic... - Positive Wellbein...

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Picnic, Birding, and Walk

daveh121•

5 years ago•17 Replies

Great picnic, walk, and birding at Indian Grinding Rock State Park, California, Sierra Nevada Foothills.

This is a Valley Oak, our largest.

The Native Americans gathered the massive amount of acorns from these trees and ground them into flour on rocks with holes made by all the grinding.

The flour was used for bread and mush, seasoned with herbs and salt. I don’t know how it tastes but is very nutritious.

They would cook the bread wrapped in poison oak leaves.

This was a social community effort.

Just think: free food there for the grinding.

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daveh121

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17 Replies

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5 years ago

Depends on whether the oak is a white oak or a black oak. White oak acorns are less bitter; black oak acorns need the tannin leached out first. Friend gave me some white oak flour with a blender... he does all sorts of wild foods stuff. I use it in pesto with nettles, and to make florentine cookies (no nettles in those!)

daveh121• in reply to5 years ago

Yes, they do need to be bleached out by running lots of water through them to get rid of the tannins.

bobbybobbAmbassador5 years ago

Lovely photograph, it's interesting to know about the history of the places you are visiting. I wonder how the bread tasted. 🌳🍃

daveh121• in reply tobobbybobb5 years ago

People tell me it is bland. At least it is edible and healthy.

To the Native Americans everything had a purpose and use. It is amazing to learn how they lived. A communal, social society.

springcross• in reply todaveh1215 years ago

Yes, who respected the land and nature. x

Sierrastar5 years ago

During my childhood in the second world war in UK, I would eat acorns found on my walk to school.

Elizabeth.

daveh121• in reply toSierrastar5 years ago

Good food to find lying around.

5 years ago

What a beautiful tree in all its glory. Perfect place for a picnic if that's where you stopped.

Hope you enjoyed your walk.

Alicia🌈😊

daveh121• in reply to5 years ago

Thanks. It was a perfect day.

• in reply todaveh1215 years ago

Always lovely to have days like those.😊👍

springcross5 years ago

Wow, how majestic is that, wonderful. If only it could talk it could tell a tale or two! Thanks for sharing. x

daveh121• in reply tospringcross5 years ago

Yes. The tales. From all those years, with so many people, and animals.

Clarrisa• in reply todaveh1215 years ago

Does anyone have an idea how old the grand old tree is? Looks like a tree the largest of birds enjoy, am I correct on that?

daveh121• in reply toClarrisa5 years ago

There are tons of birds that enjoy this area, you are correct. Woodpeckers and sapsuckers, fly catchers, jays, turkeys, ravens, all abound.

Valley oaks can live to be around 1000 years, give or take. I am not sure how old this one is.

springcross• in reply todaveh1215 years ago

Yes, the Native American tales, full of wisdom and folklore, very spiritual people. x

RoadRunner445 years ago

That is so interesting. Do you have a special interest in Native Americans?

daveh121• in reply toRoadRunner445 years ago

You could say that.

We have a lot of modern conveniences in our lives these days.

Now and then we are annoyed when the power goes out and have to adapt with what we have, we know the power will come back eventually. So it really is just an annoyance.

While in San Francisco awhile back I wondered what everyone would do if the power or water simply stopped. What would all the residents do and how would they get by? I think they would call someone to complain.

Our family lives in a very rural community. There is no one to complain too, we just have to figure it out for ourselves along with our community.

Additionally, I was expected due to my line of work as a ranger, to be able to explain the early life styles of Native Americans. It is interesting to me that it is possible to thrive without modern conveniences.

I think you got me off on a tangent and I am babbling now.

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Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation

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