A bumper crop of acorns is piling up under Oregon oak trees this year and more people are becoming interested in adding the nutrient-rich nutmeat to their meals, said Suzanne Vautier , an expert in foraging wild edibles .

She and her partner, Tim Mondragon , talk about safely collecting, storing and preparing acorns and other wild foods in their weekly radio show “Mother Earth Connections” on KXCJ.org . And 15 years ago, the couple started southern Oregon’s fall Acorn Festival in Cave Junction.

On Oct. 18, Vautier was wearing her favorite basket hat woven of beargrass at the free festival that includes a dinner with dishes and desserts made with ground acorn nutmeat.

Throughout the day, people gathered around Vautier’s demonstration table inside the Illinois Valley High Sc

See Full Page