Black locust in blossom (right) next to a mulberry tree. Both provide edible leaves for animals.
Black locust seeds on snow, after a wind storm.
Black locust seeds litter the snowpack near our duck yard, after two days of high winds dislodged them from adjacent trees. Black locust leaves can be fed in small quantities to ducks, so we occasionally prune low-lying branches and strip the leaves into their water bowls. Black locust trees play a big role on our farm, since they fix nitrogen and create early nectar for pollinators with their sweet flowers. The flowers are also edible as a vegetable, and as a flavoring for syrups, and beverages. Black locust wood also makes excellent fuel wood, since it is both fast-growing and very hard. The downside: abundant thorns make it difficult to handle without good gloves!