Story of the Land

Photo Courtesy of Seth Andersen

Piñon-Juniper woodlands – containing piñon (pinyon) pine and juniper – are native to our campuses, typically growing at elevations between 4,500 to 7,500 feet. Piñon-juniper woodlands provide pine nuts, berries, fuel, construction material, forage for livestock, and watershed protection.

For Ute people, the pine nuts from piñon pines were an important food source. Typically gathered in early fall around the first frost, pine nuts could be eaten raw, ground into a paste for soup or gruel, or toasted. Pine nuts, which contain 20 essential amino acids, could also be stored for future use after harvest. Juniper berries in comparison were less valuable as a food source for the Ute. The pulp was eaten fresh or dried after it was separated from the seed.