If you have a black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) on your property or a piece of land you frequent, beware as you pass underneath, as this is the time of year the hard nuts fall to the ground. While you’ll want to avoid getting hit in the head with one, as they’re a bit larger than a golf ball with the husk still intact, these nuts provide great value to local wildlife and foragers alike, who seek them out for their nutrient-rich nutmeat. However, black walnuts' value is in more than their potential as a food source. The hard green husks surrounding the shells also delight artisans who use them to create ink and dye.
A tree drawn with black walnut ink. Courtesy Jennifer Palmer
If you’ve ever played around with rotting walnuts, you know that the husks can leave your hands stained for days. The brownish residue they leave behind is caused by the chemical juglone—and to some degree, the tannins—found within. Some farmers know juglone as the allelopathic compound that prevents their tomatoes from thriving if a walnut tree grows too close to the garden, but it’s also the key to producing the rich sepia-toned dye or ink artists love. The natural dye offers a fade-resistant option that can be used on protein fabrics without a mordant (cellulose fabrics will require a mordant), and the ink lends a beautiful warm hue to ink drawings and calligraphy.
You don’t have to be a capital “A” Artist to play around with this autumn offering, though. If you have access to a black walnut tree and a few hours to spare, you can make walnut dye or ink yourself. The blogs Homestead Honey and You Grow Girl both offer wonderful tutorials on creating the DIY ink, and there are numerous others that can be found on the internet, as well. Playing around with dye times, fresh versus dried husks, and the addition of other natural dyes, can affect the color of your final product.
The abundance of nuts produced by black walnut trees this season is a gift. Use this opportunity to experience the simple joys of handcrafting, turning a work of nature into a work of art.
