Yellowbud hickory nuts are small but pack a punch. They have one of the thinnest shells of all hickory species and their kernel is over 75% oil!

Yellowbud hickory nuts are the only common hickory nuts in Iowa that you can easily crack the shell with your teeth. 

My record for nuts hand harvested in an hour is 15 gallons. That's enough to make a gallon of oil.

While that's a lot faster than what you might be able to do, It's totally realistic for anyone to gather enough nuts in a day or two to feed themselves for a year. 

It could be a fun family activity!

Bring me nuts and I'll press them for a reasonable fee or for a third of the oil. Get in touch first for more instructions. 

Don't try to eat a yellowbud hickory nut! They are edible, but very bitter until the water-soluble tannins are removed during the oil extraction process.