What do you do with locust pods?

Edible parts and other uses The sweet and fleshy pulp of the bean pods can be eaten raw or extracted and used in a variety of ways. From smoothies, to beer. It has a sweet honey like taste, hence its name. Honey locust was frequently used as a source of food, wood and medicine by Native Americans.

Can I compost cicada shells?

You can mix dead cicadas and their empty shells into your compost pile or bin, where their potassium- and nitrogen-rich exoskeletons can improve organic matter. Toss a dry material, such as sawdust, straw, or newspaper, in with the cicadas to balance out all the nitrogen and help keep the odor down.

Can you eat locust bean pods?

Inside these pods is a sweet pulp which can be eaten raw, served as a drink, or turned into a powder to store and then use to enhance the flavor of soups and stews. Beyond the pulp, the locust bean fruit contains seeds.

What is the difference between black locust and honey locust?

Bark and Thorns: The black locust tree has bark of a dark color with a pattern of furrows that look like rope that’s intertwined. Honey locust trees, on the other hand, can have brown or gray bark, and you’ll see clusters of red-brown thorns among the branches or single thorns lining each stem.

Are dead cicadas good fertilizer?

Biology professor says that dead cicadas contain ingredients found in fertilizer. Mount Saint Joseph biology professor Gene Kritsky says the insects are high in nitrogen and potassium — two ingredients in any good fertilizer. Kritsky says it’s a waste to bag up the dead bugs and throw them away.

Are dead cicadas good for the garden?

Let them decompose As cicadas decompose, they become a source of nitrogen, a nutrient that is key for trees, plants and your lawn. Don’t worry—you can always just use fertilizer on your garden, too.

Are locust beans poisonous?

‘Although the bark and leaves are toxic, various reports suggest that the seeds and the young pods of the black locust are edible. Shelled seeds are safe to harvest from summer through fall, and are edible both raw and/or boiled.

Is locust wood good for anything?

In Hungary, Black Locust is the basis of commercial honey production. The high-density wood is the most rot resistant wood we can grow in our climate, making it an ideal material for fenceposts, hope poles, outdoor furniture, decks, and other projects that require weatherproof materials.

Is Black Locust sawdust toxic?

Toxic principle – Several toxic compo- nents occur in black locust, including the toxic protein robin, the glycoside robitin and the alkaloid robinine. The toxins affect the gastrointestinal tract as well as the nervous system.

Are cicada shells good for the garden?

The best part about cicadas is that once they die off in the late summer, their chitinous shells litter the ground and can be raked up and used as a mulch. They absorb water surprisingly well, and as they decompose, they make good fertilizer.

Are cicada shells good for the soil?

As cicadas decompose, they become a source of nitrogen, a nutrient that is key for trees, plants and your lawn. Don’t worry—you can always just use fertilizer on your garden, too. You can also add the cicadas to your compost, as it makes for high-quality food for beneficial bacteria and fungus in your soil.

Are cicadas the same as locusts?

Cicadas are known for their regular emergence—annually or in cycles of 13 or 17 years—and their ability to produce a distinct, buzzy, droning sound. Locusts are a type of grasshopper known for sometimes traveling in swarms and devouring plant life on a large scale. Still, cicadas are sometimes referred to as locusts.

What are the benefits of using clamshells for composting?

Clamshells help balance out the pH of the compost pile. Composting at home is practically more beneficial for you rather than the environment; it helps you save money, provides rich soil for your garden and finds a place for smelly household waste. The main components of compost piles are nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and water.

Can you put nut shells in compost?

While dried leaves and grass clippings may be the beginnings of most suburban compost piles, adding a variety of minor ingredients will give your compost trace elements that are good for your future gardens. One of the surprising ingredients you can use is nut shells in compost.

Can you put shrimp shells in compost?

Shrimp shells can go in compost whether they are raw or cooked. The shells will decompose and be broken down by the microorganisms into organic compost. The compounds in shellfish are beneficial to maintain soil health as well.

Why should I dry my egg shells before composting?

Drying your shells allows them to crush more completely before you add them to your compost bin. Many people these days are concerned about news of contaminated foods and the risk of salmonella from improperly cooked eggs.