When you are out in the woods and trying to survive, knowing a bit about the trees and the plants out there can help you immensely. One of the trees that offers a wealth of help for those in the wild is the white birch. If you happen to live in an area where this tree grows, count yourself as being very lucky. They tend to grow in the northern parts of the country. Let’s look at some of the many ways you can use this tree to help you survive.
Benefits of Birch
Another name for the white birch is canoe birch, because the Native Americans would use the bark to make canoes. It is naturally waterproof, and this means it can provide you with some great tinder to help you start a fire. You can simply cut into the bark and peel away what you need.
In addition to tinder, the inner bark of the birch is edible – you can cook it or dry it and grind it into flour. You can use the strong inner bark to make cordage, and you can use oil on the inner bark to act as an astringent to treat wounds. The outer bark has antimicrobial properties, so you can use it as a container for water. People have made hats, shoes, containers, and more with birch bark. It has so many uses, it will become one of the most welcome sites in the forest for those trying to survive.
One of the things you do not want to do is ring the tree, meaning take off all the bark in around the circumference of the tree, as this can make it more prone to infection and kill it. If you find deadwood, though, take what you need. In a survival situation, though, this is probably one of the last things on your mind.
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