I hear voices cackling in the oak trees above me. I look up, half expecting to see a group of witches grinning down at me, but instead I am greeted by a gathering of acorn woodpeckers. I take a moment to admire how silly they look. Their wide, white eyes stare at me inquisitively. Their black beaks are all smudged, like they’ve been freshly dipped in black ink. Their red caps rest on their heads like little berets. I watch as one neatly caches an acorn into a cavity in the trunk, adding to a larger constellation dotting the side of the tree. The woodpecker is storing acorns here, and it will slowly eat away at the rations throughout the long winter.
Acorn woodpeckers are but one of the many species that depend on oak trees for their survival. Oaks are a foundation species, meaning that they are the backbone of a food web, supporting other organisms in direct and indirect ways. California oak woodlands provide habitat for at least 4,000 kinds of insects, 2,000 plant species, 170 different birds, thousands of fungi and lichens, 100 different mammals, and 60 amphibians and reptiles. Without the oak tree, California would not be the biodiverse haven we cherish so.
People depend on oaks, too. Indigenous peoples in California have been harvesting acorns for millenia, mainly as a food source. Each species of acorn has its own unique flavor profile. For example, coast live oak acorns are commonly used to make acorn flour, while black oak acorns are best for making acorn soup.
Indigenous peoples in the Bay Area and beyond are working to keep the acorn harvesting tradition alive and increase access to acorns across the Indigenous community. The Alameda Native History Project is contributing to this effort in the East Bay by hosting acorn harvesting trainings and gatherings. At the Laurel Court Community Garden in Rodeo, the CCRCD has partnered with the Alameda Native History Project to house their very first acorn hub. The acorn hub serves as a space for acorns to be stored, dried, and processed. After processing is complete, the acorns are then distributed to Indigenous community members. The acorn hub ensures the longevity of Indigenous foodways.
Oaks provide gifts to all walks of life. One of these gifts is simply their ability to instill awe. As a child who often wandered the East Bay hills, the valley oak is probably one of the first trees I became aware of. It is not just a tree to me, it represents home. Whenever I am lucky enough to come across an old growth valley oak, I like to sit with it for a moment. I think about all the changes it has witnessed while staying rooted in the same spot. Each year, it grows a new ring, literally keeping time within its core. My presence may just be a blip in this oak’s long life, but the relationship we share is as deep as its roots.
