Paper Birch

 

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) is one of those rock star plants that support humans with food, beverage, medicine, material and firewood, not to mention aesthetic decoration. It is often mistaken for trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) because they both have whitish bark with black markings on it. The paper birch has bark that flakes off which the aspen does not. The aspen tends to have more bluish/greyish bark and the birch is brightly white. They both have black markings around where branches attach. The aspen bark is coated in a powdery dust. The birch has some of that but nowhere near the amount that the aspen does. For more info on aspen and pictures, go to entry on trembling aspen.

https://foragingforestfables.blogspot.com/2021/01/trembling-aspen.html

Comparison between paper birch bark on left and trembling aspen on right
 

    Now in March we're just seeing the snow give way to muddy spring grounds. The sap has started to run. The sun is warm during the day and the nights are still freezing. Here at the farm we have had many birch fall prey to what I believe is the Bronze Birch Borer (Agrilus anxius). The name anxius means just that: anxious or troublesome. They attack trees that have been stressed by drought or unusually high temperatures, and as the borers eat their way through the tree the birch first develops stunted yellow growth and later complete die-back of upper limbs. A sign that it is the bronze birch borer that is the culprit are D-shaped holes in the bark- their exit holes. 

Bronze birch borer exit holes in bark

 

     Once the trees develop dead tops they do make me anxious, rotten limbs can fall off without warning. They call these trees "widow-makers" for this reason. We're trying to fell these trees safely before the sap rises too much. This way the wood (that can still be salvaged for firewood) will season faster. Birch makes the best fire wood. At this time we're also harvesting the outer bark to use for crafts such as basket making and decorations. The small bits of bark are put aside to use for fire starters. They are excellent, they make a bright hot flame that can set your kindling alight.

   Birch log fire and fire starter
 

    The inner bark, (the cambium), is another fantastic resource that this tree has. I shave off chunks of it and dry it slightly before roasting in oven. The last batch I roasted for 15 min at 350°F and then turned off the oven and left the bark in there for the night. The next morning they were nice and crumbly. This crumbly stuff I grind finely into a flour. The finer you grind it the easier it is to bake with. I add this flour to cookies and bread.

                                                    Close up inner bark/cambium (left), harvesting cambium (right)

                                                  Ground birch bark flour (left), birch bark cookies (right)

 

Chocolate chip/birch bark cookies

Ingredients

2 cups regular flour

1/4 cup birch bark flour

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup finely chopped dates

 Directions

Whip egg and sugar

Mix all dry ingredients, then slowly mix in with egg mixture.

Add dates and chocolate at end and gently fold into the mixture. 

Place dough balls on oven trays with parchment paper and bake for 10 min at 350°F. Let cool. Enjoy!

 

    Below are some pictures of paper birch throughout the year to use for identification.

 

Birch twig Feb (left), birch seeds in snow Jan (right)

 

Birch catkin February

 

Birch flowers in April

 

  

Young birch leaves in May

 

Mature birch leaf in May bottom and top

 

 Comparison: paper birch on left, trembling aspen on right (left photo)

Comparison: paper birch on left, beaked hazelnut on right (right photo)

 

Dead birch with Birch Polypore fungi (Fomitopsis betulina) in October 

There are a multitude other uses for birch and I will cover them in different blog entries. I'm so grateful to our birch trees for everything they give us. One concern with global warming and rising temperatures across the continent is that extending seasons of drought means that the paper birch will have a harder time to fight off pathogens such as the bronze birch borer and we might see further losses of this species. Just think about how connected everything is. A few degrees warmer and we stand to lose so much. This is such a serious issue and it needs addressing now. What can we do? There are many ways to take action: 

Contact government and local politicians and explain your concerns and demand that they have a plan to minimize carbon emissions and hold them to it. Use you vote, vote for the party that will do something about climate change.

Plant trees

Grow a garden and harvest your own vegetables. 

Avoid using plastic. 

Ride your bike or walk instead of using the car.

These are just some simple ideas. I'm sure you already have a handful of ideas that can help. It is never futile to try your best to keep the planet safe. 

Here is a quote by Edward Everett Hale that I chant to myself when I feel helpless about environmental damage and climate change.

 

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." 

-Edward Everett Hale

 

Humans are incredible, I really hope we can turn this around before it's too late.

Here is a song I find inspiring and sing with my kids: Glyn Lehmann, I am the Earth

To listen click on link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkn1B7cJYQo

Until next time, keep safe and always harvest sustainably.