How to harvest birch bark without killing the tree. Removal of birch bark when done correctly does not kill or greatly harm a tree. Removal of birch bark when done correctly does not kill or greatly harm a tree. Birch bark or birchbark is the bark of several eurasian and north american birch trees of the genus betula. Birch bark is a lovely material that can be woven folded and lashed into a great variety of projects.
Remove only the outer bark from birch taking care not to damage the inner bark. Birch bark was also utilized for a variety of traditional medicines eg. Harvest only the outer bark. Isaac murdoch shows how to harvest a piece of birch from start to finish always do a headcount before and after you get back.
The images in this instructable were taken by a. To treat blood diseases and gastrointestinal aids. If done mindfully birch bark can be sustainably harvested without permanently damaging trees. Because of the remarkable preservative properties of birch bark it can be harvested from dead or fallen trees.
If you are considering a bigger birch bark project consult these guidelines from the us. Bark does not have to be harvested from live trees. The polypore fomitopsis betulina which looks like a fluffy pancake protruding from tree bark has proven in studies to be antimicrobial and even anti cancerous. The following considerations should be taken into account when harvesting birch bark.
If youre foraging from a birch tree and notice fungus growing out of its bark it could be one of several beneficial fungi that thrive on birch trees.