This property came with two mature walnut trees. Legend has it there was a traveling tree salesman who was responsible for the smattering of walnut trees in our neighborhood.  The first had been planted in an old wheel and tire. We realized the tree was being strangled and while able to release the tree, it was already weakened and died a few years later. The second is a stunner, and its impressive canopy greets all who visit the farm.

Our first year must have been a bumper crop of nuts or a poor showing of squirrels. In our decade + on the farm, we’ve not repeated that harvest. We might not get the mature nuts, but every year we gather some green nuts to infuse with vodka for an Italian liqueur called Nocino.

A search will turn up quite a few recipes for Nocino – this one is closest to a version I snipped from a magazine long ago. My only addition has been to replace 1/2 the water from the simple syrup with coffee (yum!).

Most recipes call for 30 green nuts. Contact the Farmer at 360.338.8654 to pick up 30 nuts for $10 for your Nocino project.