Acorns are not edible, and are considered poisonous to livestock if eaten in large amounts. While documentation of human poisoning isn't clear, children should not chew on acorns. To grow an oak from an acorn, it's best to plant them right away. Put acorns into a bucket of water, the sound ones will sink. Thin seedlings to 10-35 seedlings per square foot next spring and then transplant after 1 year.
Hickory nuts are edible, but take considerable effort to produce significant quantities.
Shells should readily fall off when the kernels are ready. Crack nuts open and extract the kernel inside. To grow a hickory, remove husks and store nuts in plastic bags at about 41 degrees for 3 months, or plant them right away and heavily mulch the soil. Walnuts should be harvested as they fall from the tree. Hull right away for light-colored kernels, which have a milder flavor than darker kernels caused by allowing the hull to remain on and decompose.