Walnut

Black Walnut (genus Juglans) is a dark and unusually hard and durable wood, found in hardwood forests in the eastern half of North America. Although the nuts we usually eat come from its cousin the English Walnut, it also has delicious, edible nuts. 'Course you may feel like a blacksmith by the time you get the goody out of the hull! Interestingly, there are many medicinal uses of the black walnut bark. It has been known to cure infections, worms, even help with viruses and skin problems. As an herb, it has even exhibited anti-cancer properties.

The lumber is valued for furniture, interior paneling, gunstocks and musical instruments, as in duck calls . Black walnut has been popularly used in North American cabinet making since colonial times. My Black Walnut comes from Blockade Hill, which was a battlesite during the Civil War. The tree was blown over in a storm a few years back and I was able to acquire it. Blockade Hill is located half way between Overcup and Union in Woodruff County . It comes from the farm that was owned by John James Ferguson, a former mayor of Augusta, his brother Emmett Ferguson and his sister Minny Belle Ferguson who never married. Their homesite remains close to the town center of Augusta, right beside the Courthouse. It was used as a Civil War hospital and is currently owned by Genie Harrell.

Black Walnut was the wood of choice for early call makers. It is still prized by hunters.

$100