Harvesting Pine Nuts from my yard (Pinus sabiniana)

Pinus sabiniana Dougl:

"Seeds of Digger pine have considerable nutritional value. Their protein and fat contents are similar to those of Pinus pinea (a pine of the Mediterranean region whose seeds are harvested for the table), and are equal or superior to those of other commercial species (4). Although Digger pine seeds are not raised commercially, they once were an important supplement to the diet of California valley Indians (23,30)."

"Cones may open slowly so that dispersal, beginning in October, sometimes extends into winter. Although open, cones may contain moderate numbers of seeds as late as February (6,16,30)."

And Permaculture Plants has a good stat on their nutritious value (30% protein, 60% fat, 9% carbs).

Now to wait until late summer when they become ripe. I think that they traditionally roasted the cones to help them open.