5 Tree Bark Harvesting Basics to Remember

Harvesting tree bark could be one peculiar task for someone who hears it for the first time but there are a lot of benefits and tips to remember with regards to the task. For example, some harvest tree bark for medicinal purposes. Here are five tree bark harvesting basics:

#1 Uses of Tree Bark

Baskets are most frequently made from bark. People in the Amazon basin have been collecting tree bark fibers for hundreds of years. Initially, the bark was processed by air drying it and then being pounded with a mallet on a smooth stone's surface until it became pliable. It was separated into flexible long strips after it had hardened. After that, the strips were weaved together to make containers, baskets, and a variety of other things.

Additionally, wonderful canoes and corks were made from bark. For more than 3000 years, people have used canoes. Paper birch bark was used to construct the earliest canoes in Canada. The boats required numerous hours of human labor to build, but they turned out to be remarkably robust, says SavATree.

Some people gather tree bark for medicinal rather than culinary purposes. Different types of tree bark are utilized as cures for various issues.

#2 Timing

The best time of year to begin collecting tree bark is in the spring. Between spring and summer, trees shed their old bark. At this time of year, the tree's bark is still developing and hasn't yet begun to harden. Thus, beginning the collection of tree bark is not too challenging.

#3 Harvesting Tree Bark Safely

The golden rule is to never kill a tree by not girdling the trunk of the tree when collecting bark by not removing sections of bark all the way around the trunk. Girdling makes it difficult for water and sugars to reach the leaves, effectively starving the tree to death.

Experts advise making a proper identification of the tree species before removing its bark. Then cut off a tiny branch that is about the size of an arm, stopping just past the branch collar. With a knife, cut lengthy segments of the inner bark called cambium from the branch's length. Place the inner bark on a drying rack in a single layer and let it air dry for a few days, according to Gardening Know How.

#4 Sustainable Tree Bark Harvesting

It is not sustainable to harvest tree bark from the trunk because this can cause infections in the tree. Instead, The Herbal Academy says it is best to harvest from the pruned lower branches. Aside from protecting the trunk, this may encourage new growth and remove damaged growth.

#5 Edible Tree Bark

Because certain trees may have other edible portions but inedible tree bark, it should be noted that not all woody plants produce edible bark. According to Mother Earth News, although there are a lot of tasty tree bark, four all-time favorites include birch, linden, slippery elm, and pine. Tree bark from pine can be sliced into thin pieces and toasted in oil. Slippery elm can be boiled and made into porridge.