River Birch – Betula nigra

River Birch

“I’d like to go by climbing a birch tree,

And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk

Toward heaven… One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.”

By Robert Frost

 

This native of Eastern United States is a lover of swamps, yet has the same exfoliating bark as the paper birch. Unfortunately it is listed as Endangered in New Hampshire. Prior to his becoming the Emperor of Mexico, Prince Maximilian toured North America and proclaimed the River Birch the most beautiful tree to grace the northern lands.

 

This tree has been used for many years by the Native peoples of North America for medicine and food. As an herbal medicine the Cherokee used, the leaves, in infusion form, to treat dysentery, and colds. A decoction of the bark was used for stomach complaints, for ‘milky urine,’ difficulty urinating, and urinary discharge.

 

As a food stuff it was one of the sweet treats that Native children could enjoy. The sap was gathered, much like maple sap, and boiled down to make a sweet syrup that could be used with anything. The only other use made of the tree was during famine times when the inner bark was used to stave off death.

Hazelnuts – Corylus avellana

Hazelnuts

Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind…

 

By  Pablo Neruda

This native of Europe and western Asia grows in woods and hedgerows. The Hazel shrubs were part of the hedgerows that were traditional field boundaries in England. The twigs are used as dowsing rods. The wood is soft, easily split, but not very durable…yet it was used for inlay work, small pieces of furniture, wattles, basketry, etc.

 

Several parts are used medicinally…the bark, leaves, catkins and fruits. They are astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, nutritive, and odontalgic (treating toothache). The seed is used as a stomachic and tonic. The oil is used in babies and small children to treat threadworms and pinworms.

 

The nut or cob can be eaten raw or roasted, added to breads, cakes, biscuits, and sweets. An edible oil that is used in salad dressings and baking is expressed from the nuts. They are rich in protein, unsaturated fat, thiamine and Vitamin B6.

 

Hazel twigs have been used to make magic wands, and dowsing rods. To create a quick, simple circle of protection use a Hazel rod to draw a circle around you in the dirt! In a similar way the twigs hung over window frames and the door lintel will protect the house from lightening.

Paper Birch – Betula papyrifera

Paper Birch

…The Birch was very noble,
Armed herself but late,
A sign not of cowardice,
But of high estate…

By Gwion,

in an early Celtic work of great antiquity

 

 

This really cool tree is one of the first trees to establish in freshly cleared land from Alaska to Newfoundland. It will often be found growing with or near Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea),Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), White Spruce, (Picea glauca), Black Spruce, (Picea mariana), Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides). But be careful, it will start to die back with competition that shades it. Almost all birch trees have peeling bark.

The Paper Birch was very popular as a building material for wigwams, made waterproof bowls and lightweight canoes for the Native Americans. The strong and flexible wood was made into spears, bows, arrows, snowshoes, sleds, and other items. They also would soak the bark until it was pliable enough to form, and then used it for casting broken bones for healing.

The sap can be used to make birch sap, and the inner bark can be safely consumed. Even moose find it a staple winter food!

In magic the birch twigs were traditionally made into the witch’s broom. The Druids referred to the Birch as the ‘Lady of the Woods.’ She (the tree) represented renewal, birth, and inception.

Paper Birch – Betula papyrifera

Peeling bark of the Paper Birch

…The Birch was very noble,
Armed herself but late,
A sign not of cowardice,
But of high estate…

By Gwion, in an early Celtic work of great antiquity

This native of North America has a range from Alaska to Newfoundland. The bark of this tree is flexible, lightweight and strips from the fallen tree easily, all of which made it very popular with many Native American peoples to make canoes, bowls and wigwams.

Birch sap has been used to make a pale green colored refreshing drink. The sap has also been used to make syrup, vinegar, and birch beer (a soft drink similar to root beer). The syrup is less sweet the maple

Native Americans use Betula papyrifera medicinally in enemas, to shrivel the womb, to alleviate stomach cramps and pain, and as a tonic (D. E. Moerman 1986).

The birch is considered a national tree of Russia, where it used to be worshipped as a goddess during the Green Week in early June. It is the provincial tree of Saskatchewan. The birch tree is also New Hampshire’s state tree.

At one time the traditional witch’s broom was made by binding branches together of the birch. Used in spells of protection, purification, for warding off negativity, attracting love, for new

beginnings, and changes. Birch is a feminine tree and an embodiment of the Great Mother. Cradles are often made of her wood as a protection for the child.

Birch Beer

Measure 4 quarts of finely cut twigs of sweet birch into the bottom of a 5 gallon crock.

In a large kettle, stir 1 gallon of honey into 4 gallons birch sap and boil for 10 minutes, then pour over the chopped twigs. When cool, strain to remove the twigs and return to the crock.

Spread 1 cake of soft yeast on a slice of toasted rye bread and float on top of the beer. Cover with a cloth and let ferment until the cloudiness just starts to settle, about a week but it depends somewhat on the temperature.

Bottle the beer and cap tightly. Store in a dark place and serve it cold after the weather gets hot. It should stand in the bottles for about 3 months before using. If opened too soon, it will foam all over and pop worse than champagne.

This is not a Drink for Children!