I found this little story and thought it quite relevent to Bulgaria

The Walnut Tree

Long time ago, when people didn’t know many things about nature and that included how to eat walnuts, a walnut tree grew by the road. It might have been planted there by someone for the benefit of other travelers or it could have grown there by chance if you believe that anything in life can happen by chance. One day a traveler passed. He stopped by the old walnut tree to rest in its shade. Then he noticed the green fruits and tasted one of them only to spit it out in disgust with its bitterness. Some time after he had gone another traveler passed by. He too sat under the tree and noticed the tooth marks on the fruit the first one had bitten.

“This fruit must not be very tasty,” he thought. “But everything in this world has a purpose. It must be the hard heart that is to be eaten.” And he bit the hard shell but nearly broke a tooth in the process. He too walked away hungry. Next came a traveler with scholarly disposition. He studied the fruit carefully, first tasting the bitter skin, then scratching the hard shell until he came up with the idea to break the shell with a stone. That was rewarded with the tasty walnut. The scholar smiled contently: “Wisdom and patience conquer all,” he thought. Soon a businessman leading a donkey laden with his goods arrived under the tree. The scholar happily shared with him his secret.

The businessman thanked him and after they had eaten loaded the donkey with walnuts for sale. He let the scholar ride the donkey as a reward for his discovery while he himself walked and rubbed his palms in anticipation of his future profit.

They traveled in silence but soon darkness fell over the road. They were worried because there wasn’t a town or village to be seen and they were afraid to spend the night in the dark forest. Suddenly the merchant saw a faint light in the distance.

“There, he said. “I see a light!”

“But how can that faint light help us,” said the scholar. “It is so small and lonely while the forest is big, dark and threatening.”

While they were arguing the light moved closer and they saw a man carrying a lantern. That man was a philosopher who lived in a hut by a lake nearby. He took the travelers to his place to spend the night. As they entered the dark room the small lantern pushed the scary shades in the corners. Now the room looked bright and cozy.

The inventive travelers shared with him the secret of the walnut tree.

“Well done!” said the philosopher. “Tomorrow, I’ll go and pick up some of those wonderful fruits. Then I will travel all over the world and plant a walnut tree by all roads that I pass.”

“But, then who will buy the walnuts that I am trying to sell!” said the businessman, disappointed.

“Don’t worry,” answered the philosopher. “When more people taste the walnuts from the trees by the roads they will be more likely to buy them from you in the city marketplace.”

“But what will be your reward for your labor?” asked the businessman.

“And how exactly do you plan to do it?” asked the scholar. “I mean how many walnuts will you start with and where you will plant them. Where you will start your journey will you go East, West, North or South?”

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know,” answered the philosopher. “But as the light from my lantern is just enough for us to see the immediate road in front of us my initial intention and desire will carry me perhaps to the next step on my way towards my humble goal. And if I meet someone else with a lantern then together we will be able to see further.”

Thus they spent the night chatting leisurely until the sun rose over the dark forest and they went each on their way to find their own happiness.
Dreams always come true

Enchanting story Willow

Oddy

This is really a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it with us all.

What a great story :Clap:thank you for allowing us to share this I loved it

Its not just a nice story but a parable about life as it should be. The walnut tree is protected in Bulgaria as many of you will know. Pickled walnuts are picked before the shell forms so you have to prick the green to see if it goes right in. Then follow the recipe. Its quite easy but a little time consuming but we retirees have plenty of time on our hands anyway.
Thank you Willowsend for posting the walnut story.

Thanks for the share mate good story and good insight and thank you too oldun

cheekychops wrote:

Thanks for the share mate good story and good insight and thank you too oldun

:Howdy:I am pleased that you and a few other members liked the story

I will tell you what prompted me to share the story with the forum.

The road leading into our BG village is lined with walnut trees and every October when I go to winterise our villa I see the gipsy's throwing lumps of wood up at the trees so they can fill their black bin bags with walnuts and get their winter income. I drive slowly down the pot-holed road missing the many branches that are now all over the place and dodging in between the donkey and carts.

You can see why the story captured my imagination and that the gipsy's dreams for a happy Christmas came true, but it doesn't answer the question.
Who planted the tree's there in the first place

I hadn't thought of that Willowsend. But then, who planted so many fruit trees growing in the wild? Probably birds. Those walnut trees you mention must go back thousands of years when many of Bulgaria's traditions started.
By the way, I have just re-read my post and of course, I meant putting a pin into the green to see if the inner shell is forming. It does sound a bit rude doesn't it and the computer has deleted the original p.....k!

oldun wrote:

I hadn't thought of that Willowsend. But then, who planted so many fruit trees growing in the wild? Probably birds. Those walnut trees you mention must go back thousands of years when many of Bulgaria's traditions started.
By the way, I have just re-read my post and of course, I meant putting a pin into the green to see if the inner shell is forming. It does sound a bit rude doesn't it and the computer has deleted the original p.....k!

oldun, If birds planted those seeds they certainly had a good eye for a straight line.

You might find the following interesting:-

Walnut Tree information all about the Walnut Tree. ... The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter ... Important nut-growing regions include France, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania in Europe, ...
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - Cached - Similar

A great read willow thank you very much for sharing this and I have now leaned something about nuts

Well said, Gimp - you certainly will have

What a great link. Thanks. We have many walnut trees in our village and one local man sells them on his stall in the VT bazaar.
In Greece (and maybe here in Bulgaria) they preserve walnuts in a very sweet sugar syrup like many other fruits. These are so sweet that they are usually served on a small plate with either a coffee or glass of water on special occasions. They are also the main ingredient in the filling for Baklava.

Brilliant story, theres a massive one in the next garden maybe we can introduce home made Walnut whirls.

Vic S wrote:

Brilliant story, theres a massive one in the next garden maybe we can introduce home made Walnut whirls.

Here is another idea ::
Banitsa desert. Use the banitsa pastry, roll it out, add crushed walnuts, roll up like a swiss roll, after cooking, slice and serve with a honey sauce made from the neighbour's bees. This was done as the desert at a Bulgarian evening that I helped to organised at our local Pub. None was left on their plates so I think it is true to say it went down well

Thank you Brian I will give this a go I'm sure I won't have any left for anyone so don't ask