In a Nutshell
Chapter 4 of my graduation Project 2022Why do we repackage things that grow with protection?
In the supermarket, between other pealed or salted nuts stands a plastic packaging with walnuts. Walnuts without a shell and perfectly broken in half, ready to be eaten. The wal- nut- “meat” almost look like brains.
The same description is given in in the doctrine of signatures (Central to European herbal medicine in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries). “Which describes that plant parts physically resemble the parts of the human body to which they can be usefully applied.
The walnut was considered a representation of the human head. Therefore, walnut husk was ground and prescribed for head wounds, and eating walnuts was recommended treat- ment for the mentally ill.”1
“It gets interesting as it turns out, modern biochemists have found that walnut kernels contain very high concentrations of serotonin, a compound important for transmitting sig- nals between neurons in the human brain.”1
Many say that the walnut is going to play an important role in our future diet as walnuts are a good source of (vegan) protein and healthy fats. And the shells are used as a replace- ment for plastic particles in scrubs and work as a physical exfoliator. 2
Yet, if the walnut “skulls” are so valuable and are made to protect its treasurable meat, why is it that we buy them naked and repackaged in plastic (the same goes for many other foods). Why did we stop cracking them at home at some point? It is both convenient, fast and controlled, as they are taken apart with skill and precision for you, by the women in the factory. 3 The factory workers armed with a simple wooden hammer, while at home we have a fancy nutcracker that shatters the nut in thousands of pieces.
After the core of the walnut is cleaned from its shell and broken perfectly in half, they get packaged. Repackaged I would say. From a wooden natural protection to one made of plastic. Sometimes even with an extra plastic film for double protection.
Sources:
- Ramus, David E. Walnut Production Manual (University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural resources, 1998)
- https://www.urbanveda.com/gb/walnut-shell-powder-benefits/ and https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=guE3QdBqWEc among others.
- Natural Nuts, walnoten pellen in onze faciliteit in Chili (May 2015) https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=yEVyTClMwd4
This Mortar and pestle is designed for walnuts and their shells. To make it more attractive to break walnuts at home, the mortar and pestle can grind the shells into smaller particles. Theres particles can be used in a crème or scrub. The ceramic base/ tub, the mortar and the hammer head are made from porcelain.
