How can I reuse or recycle acorns?

It’s possibly getting a bit late in the year for this one but I kept forgetting to post it earlier in the autumn ;)

Our house backs onto woodland that includes a lot of oak trees. There are millions of acorns out there. Whenever we’re out on dog walks, we hear and see them them falling – oh, and feel them too when they hit us on the head! There are far too many to all germinate into oak trees – and I suspect even too many to be used by the local squirrel population.

I know some people use them for chicken food – a local, sustainable addition to their diet, but apparently one that can also tint the yolk slightly green (it tastes ok, just looks a bit funky).

We can also eat them too – for example, they’re commonly made into a coffee substitute but I like these falafel and ginger cake ideas. You have to pick the right type to avoid them being too bitter though – and they need peeling too, so it’s a bit fiddly but hey, free food!

What else can acorns be used for?

Related Categories

garden, items

Search for other related items



10 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle acorns?”


  1. Alexis says:

    I seem to recall that if you leech them (getting rid of the bitterness) you can then use them like flour to make bread/cake – similar to the ideas already mentioned. I gather though, that the leeching process is rather involved.

  2. janet says:

    If you have rabbits they like to eat them.

  3. You could use them as part of a natural potpourri when mixed with simliar items.

  4. Bellen says:

    Could they be used as mulch around bushes, etc or would they be too acidic?

  5. anna says:

    I read somewhere that you could use acorns instead of soap nuts in washing clothes – but I haven’t found any specific info on dosage or if they need any specific treatment before using them with laundry.

    • Nell Gwyn says:

      Not exactly, you can use the stuff that comes out of it, after soaking for at least 10 days to remove the toxins, this “stuff” is supposedly great for cleaning clothes.

  6. lauren says:

    Ive heard that if your looking for some crafts to do you can always turn them into coat hangers. the way to do this is that u glue the acorn/acorn hats to a block of wood and then u can mount the wood into the wall.you may also paint it. i know that you can also turn them into pencil holder cans the way to do this is to get an empty can [coffe cans work really work.] then you can put the hats or the actual acorns on to the can onto the can in a cool pattern if u want to you can put a piece of paper onto the can and glue the acorns onto that. those are some of the things i know how to do with acorns. thanks -lauren!

  7. Jess says:

    Hey. I know that you can actually sell acorns. They will usually sell a dollar a pound

  8. jeannie says:

    who buys acorns i have thounds in back yard, not a bad idea…
    thanks..

  9. Be says:

    Me too! Just came in from shoveling them from my yard! Hundreds! The pile was so high and no way I got them all up!



Leave a Reply to Be

Your name
Your email (it will not be published. If you want people to contact you, leave your email address in the message too.)
Your website (if you've got one)