Trembling Aspen

As I look out over the snow covered landscape I'm stricken by how beautiful the copse of aspen trees (Populus tremuldoides) are against the winter sky. They have a graceful and timeless beauty that I can gaze at for hours without ever becoming bored. The bark has a pigeon-blue/grey colour with striking black markings. It's often mistaken for paper birch (Betula papyrifera) at first glance. To tell their bark apart look to see if the bark is flaking off in strips. If it does, you have a birch and not an aspen. The aspen bark does not flake and is coated in fine white powder. Here on the farm the aspens have clean grey bark facing the south and they are encrusted with lichen and moss on the north side.

 

 

 lichen on north side of trembling aspen

Comparison paper birch and trembling aspen, birch on the left- note the papery bark. 

 chalky white/grey powder on aspen bark

Aspens are interesting in that they are able to clone themselves. They also produce seeds, but have the ability to shoot up a new tree from an older existing root, making a genetically identical clone. In Utah there is an aspen grove that has been estimated to cover 100 acres and weigh as much as 40 blue whales. Now that is one big organism! In fact it's considered the largest living thing on Earth. Its age is estimated to be 80 000 years old, making it the oldest organism as well. The sheer enormity of these facts blow my mind away! Aspens are popular with winter grazers such as deer and hares.

Aspen bark sourdough starter

I like using the bark as a sourdough starter. Often little aspens are toppled by heavy snowfall and are snapped. I like shaving off some of the bark of these trees. You don't need a lot to start an excellent sourdough, a handful is enough. The white powder on the outside is where the wild yeasts are located which will rise your bread. I add a handful of the bark pieces to 2 cups of flour and 2 cups of lukewarm water. I let this sit by the wood stove for a day or two. It will start to bubble away. I use a large tablespoon of the starter for a large loaf instead of regular yeast and let it sit for an extra day before baking it. If you use too much of the sourdough starter the bread will have a very strong flavour.

sourdough bread from aspen bark sourdough starter

A new beginning

    Only four more days until the New Year, 2021. Wow! That sounds so futuristic to me. As the world rapidly speeds up towards new and improved ways to live I feel like I am drawn towards a past that I never was part of. A past where everyone knew what wild plants to use for food, medicine and material. A past where it was not the ticking of time that determined the next step but rather the changing of the season. With Covid looming large over our communities and we all huddle down at home in our small bubbles it is easy to imagine what life was like before 24/7 commerce and connected webs of wires. A little calmer and a little bit more self-reliant perhaps? I love that I can go to the store if I need to, can skype or zoom with people on the other side of the planet and that there is help if my family or I need it. I am grateful for the luxuries of life. 

However, as the world is rapidly spinning towards mass destruction of plants, animals and people some change is needed. Now! Thinking about this almost paralyzes me, what will become of my children, the forests I love and the fresh water and all other amazing things this planet has to offer? Act now they say, but how.... 

....This is the way I know how. By teaching people to love nature around them as if it was a part of them (which of course it is). Only through becoming familiar and connected with the natural world will we be its champion and fight to keep it healthy. We are an animal as much part of nature as any other critter, the time to stand outside nature and pretend we don't need it is gone. We need each other and right now the natural world needs us to be its spokesperson more than ever. If we learn to identify our neighbours: the plants, the animals, the bugs and the people; we learn to care for them better and hopefully to live peacefully together.

On this blog I will post information about my corner of the world and its magical plants and animals and how to identify them, protect them and use them.

Wishing you a Happy New Year

Mikaela Cannon, 2020