Well, you can eat them! Do a google search for lots of recipes and other information.

The desert critters make good use of them, as well.

Since they are high in protein, they would serve as a good organic fertilizer (if crushed). High protein organic matter will yield nitrogen as it is broken down by soil microbes. Takes about 3 weeks for this to happen. People in the lawn forum advocate high protein meals like soybean and cottonseed for their lawns. I don't see why mesquite beans, if crushed into a meal wouldn't do the same.

The Desert Botanical Gardens wants them! They use them in their demonstation garden for visitors to make into flour. Only problem is you have to gather and deliver them I believe. Kathi

The Urban Farm in Phoenix is sponsoring a mesquite bean grinding program. They tell you how to dry them, and will be having seminars on making flour this autumn. I have attached their link. You might email Greg at the farm and ask about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Urban Farm

The problem with making flour from the beans is this: usually about the time you realize you have gazillions of beans, they are already dried and dropping. So you gather some and try opening up a few to put in the food processor. Then lo and behold you find bugs in the beans! Yikes... that's what happened to us the couple of times we tried making flour from them. Anyone have any tips to getting bug free beans? Or maybe the bugs just add a little protein? ick!!!

I knew about the flour. Last year I looked this up, but I know the bug problem too, which is probably why they're not widely used. That's why I thought compost or something, but I'd hate to add them to a compost without smashing them up then find I have a tree growing in the middle of my compost bin!

Just rake and compost them ... if the pile is damp enough, they break down in a year or so.

The number that sprout in the piles we have is pretty small ... those bugs take care of a lot of the seeds.

Apparently, they can be used in the grill for flavor the same way you would use wood chips. We just tried it earlier for grilling porkchops, yum! We used pods collected from the neighbor's tree. ::grin::

DBG sells them by 8oz bags on their website. I guess you're lucky to have that abundant supply. Maybe you can bag a few and give out to friends who love to grill. Here is the description from DBG.

"A flavorful alternative to mesquite charcoal or wood chips. Mesquite bean pods lend a sweeter, more intense taste to grilled foods. Soak a handful for 30 to 45 minutes before adding to your hot coals or gas grill. Three to four uses per 8-ounce bag."

Here is a link that might be useful: DBG: Tastes of the Desert

Oh WOW ... I bet you could throw some on a fire for some nice smelling winter evenings.

I'm coing to rake up a couple of trash-cans FULL of them for BBQs.

We compost them, mostly.

There are people that take tons of the bean pods back east, dry them (to be bug free), package them cleverly, and sell them to easterners as a grill flavor additive, like you'd buy apple or alderwood chips, or grapevine trimmings! Got a truck or trailer? You can make some money there!

Re: bugs - do you still get bugs if you pick them instead of letting them fall to the ground?

$$$ trash to treasure? $$$

I would love some mesquite seeds..I'm willing to trade or send SASBE.. Please let me know.

take care
Vicki

I just got an email from Greg at the Farm at South Mountain, It says:

Hi all,

If you did not get around to collecting beans come and join the festivities anyway. See you this Saturday.

Greg

*****************************************************************
Saturday, November 5 - First Annual Mesquite Milling at Roadrunner Park Farmers Market
For those of you that have collected Mesquite Beans bring them down to our fist annual Milling at Roadrunner Park. If you don't have beans come on down anyway and see what it is all about. We have all kinds of things planned - more to follow.
Date: Saturday, November 5
Time: 8:30 am till we get done milling
Donation: Requested to help offset the cost of bringing the Mill from Tucson
Location: Roadrunner Park Farmers Market, 36th Street and Cactus
Phone: 602-565-7045
Email: Greg@urbanfarm.org

Sounds interesting and gives you an idea on what to do with those beans next year!

What would you charge to put about 25 lbs of unshelled beans in a box and ship them north to UT zip 84003?

Shipping should be about $14 or $15. (Or $20 for 50 lbs if it will fit in a nice box.)

I'd be willing to pay $15 or so. (plus shipping)

I'd like to experiment with them in cooking.