The Hickory

The Poor Prole’s Almanac · Dec 11, 2023 · 46m

If the oak tree is the tree that fed the world, Hickories are the tree that helped humans thrive in North America. Across eastern North America until only 300 or so years ago, hickories were the staple crop consumed most commonly. Like the oaks, their mast years drove the successes of communities, and even until recently, there were records of thin-shelled hickories that were likely planted and protected by indigenous people. To eat a hickory nut is to taste thousands of years of history on the continent.

For the uninitiated, hickory nuts are a treat; they can mostly similarly be compared to…