Acorn Flour is a sacred traditional food in California.
Since time immemorial,
the people from here
have eaten acorns
as a staple food group.
Acorns are a gift.
Oak trees are our relatives.
It is our duty to care for all our relations the best we can.
So we make this gift in a good way.
Food is medicine.
Traditional food is medicine.
Restoring Indigenous foodways is healing.
Acorns are a tangible link to our ancestors.
And The Acorn Mill is a bridge to restoring that link.
METHOD
Our acorn leaching method is based on the traditional basket-in-the-river leaching method used for millennia.
The water we use is purified through our triple filter process,
and chilled to temperatures you find in mountain rivers fed by snowpacks.
By using recirculated water, we use 95% less water than open-faucet acorn leaching per batch.*
*(Based on 4 hours at 1 gpm under a faucet [4 x 60 = 240 gallons of water], versus 16 gallons total using our Gen2 Acorn Leaching Machine.)
Our quality control is stringent.
Acorns are inspected at every step of the process:
- Harvest
- Drying
- Storing
- Shelling
- Grinding
- Leaching
- Drying
Each acorn will be evaluated individually during the process. Guaranteeing only the highest quality acorns will be used.
Indigenous people have the right to safe water and clean food.
We take our responsibility to provide traditionally harvested and carefully processed Acorn Flour seriously.
This responsible, ethical approach to acorn flour is what sets us apart from any other acorn flour producer.
At least 50% of the acorn flour we produce is offered in small quantities to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, and members of our Indigenous community throughout the region.
This includes a certain amount reserved for Indigenous chefs at a heavily discounted rate.
Are you an Indigenous Community Member or Indigenous Chef interested in receiving acorn flour for free or at low cost?
Are you a member of the general public who would like to purchase acorn flour?
Please fill out The Acorn Mill Acorn Flour Interest Form.
About The Acorn Mill
The Acorn Mill is a program run in partnership with the Alameda Native History Project’s ACORNS! Project Arc, as well as local acorn processors, harvesters, and community members with the express goal of creating a sustainable regional acorn mill.
You can support their work by donating acorns directly, offering land access for acorn harvests, and through direct monetary support through our fiscal sponsor.
Inquiries about acorn donations, land access, and ongoing sponsorships should be sent to [email protected]