Welcome to Under the oaks!
Under the Oaks is an educational initiative focused on wild plants, local food security, history, and culture – with a particular emphasis on acorns as a staple crop. We aim to show how resources that have long been overlooked can gain new relevance in a time of ecological and social transition.
Acorns are abundant, can be stored for years, and are a nutritious raw material with deep historical significance. They have been used as food for thousands of years – sometimes as a staple. In some parts of the world, especially among Indigenous communities, this knowledge is still alive; in others, it has been largely lost.
In research, the term “balanocultures” is sometimes used to describe cultures in which acorns formed the foundation of the daily diet. Today, the concept also serves as a reminder that we have not always relied on crops such as cereals, and that alternative paths to food security have existed – and can be rediscovered.
We believe in local solutions. Knowledge of how to gather, process, and prepare acorns and other wild foods can become one of the most important resources of the future. Through lectures, workshops, and collaborations, we aim to contribute to a broader understanding of the edible wild landscape.