Survival knowledge - Birch tree

for when the SHTF, you will all be sucking on this baby's sap like your mothers titty...

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Great, now I'm craving... [link to drinks.seriouseats.com]

I have a birch tree right outside my bedroom window, and I love it! They are very "spiritual" trees.

Sadly people around here tear up the native birch trees, completely tear up the native lady slippers (flowers), and destroy the natural growth area of Indian pipe (albino, non-transplantable mystery native "flower")…

They do all this to plant ornamental fruitless mutated-to-weep cherry trees, seedless maples (of various hybridized/mutated forms), and perfectly manicured cemetery-looking-grass-landscaping.

Thanks for the wonderful information!

Amazing information! Thank You for sharing this with us. Now to find out if any grow in this area or if they even can do so.

[link to www.organicfacts.net]

Interesting!

Dang - I just planted a birch in my front yard last fall. Now I have to worry about the neighbors wanting to eat it?

What it hybridized so not to fall over? Some are "changed" from their in-nature design or growth cycle so to remain ever-so-pretty, but stripped of nature's original intent.

But good for you for planting a birch, regardless!

As the saying goes knowledge is power.

The oils in the bark are quite flammable which makes it a great fire starter even when wet from rain.

Thanks Op, in return heres some material for you.

how to construct and use a "proper sling" by a 75 year old master whose heritage was Mescalero Apache.



At approximately 35 yards or less accuracy was more than equal to the fictional Ayla*. After that distance the stone lost velocity rapidly which would make kills more difficult, but his accuracy seemed barely affected. His demonstration target was the bottom metal climbing rung on an old style telephone pole which he easily hit more than 80% of the time with such extreme speed and force that the stone would fracture into small pieces while the rung itself rang like a loud, dull sounding bell.


All slingers should construct their own sling to match their personal height and arm length. (A properly designed sling develops expertise, a poorly designed sling develops frustration - L.W.F.). The woven cordage should be made of a type of material that has little or no stretching properties because cord-stretch somewhat inhibits the stone and pouch velocity increase. As you'll soon learn, the loaded-pouch speed must be able to increase very, very quickly. This requirement eliminates most leather and nylon type materials for the cords. Grandfather preferred modern string but you can just as effectively use your own plant fibers. Several types of braiding can be used but keep it tight, light, and simple to start with. This sling design will be small and light enough to carry at all times. Just wrap up the cord around two fingers and store it in the pouch to retain the pouch shape.

Start with three strong small diameter strings (strands) each 10 ft (3m) or more in length -- at least twice as large and much stronger than kite string. Begin braiding from the center of the string with the ends hanging down from both sides of the braid equally. Make this starting braid (a single 3 strand braid) about 2" (51 mm) long or just long enough to fit easily around your small finger at its base near the knuckle. then hang the braided portion over an anchored peg or the like and combine the six strings so you have three pairs and braid together to form the loop. From this point on, keep the cord taut. You now should have a braided loop with a single braided cord of 6 strings (3 pairs) attached. Continue to braid the single cord, frequently check its length by slipping the loop over your small finger. Lay the single braided cord across your palm, so as to grip the cord with your whole hand and thumb. Clamp the loose strings near the braid (to keep your braid from unraveling), let your sling arm hang straight down beside your body to measure the braid to the ground.

Continue to braid until the single cord reaches 2"(51mm) or more from the ground. Longer is not better! It's worse if the completed pouch ends up too close to the ground. When finished, the loaded sling's pouch should just clear the ground 1" to 2" with your arm held straight down. Allow more clearance if you frequently contend with grasses, etc.

Now, begin the pouch-split "Y" by dividing the braid into two separate cords of 3 single strands each. The two cords should be about 4-1/2" (11.5 cm) long and precisely equal in length. Maybe 5-1/2" (15.3cm) or more longer and 1/4" (5.5 mm) wider on your next sling depending, of course, on the size of the rock you decide to use. The 4-1/2" to 5-1/2" pouch length will hold a 1-1/2" (38mm) to 2" (51mm) stone which, with skill, can kill up to a medium sized deer.

Now blend the two cords together again and return to the single larger diameter cord with the 3 paired-line braiding. Hook the "Y" split over your peg and continue until this cord is 6" longer from the pouch-split than the looped end is. Knot the very end of this non-loop braid.

There doesn't seem to be any better material for the pouch than tanned leather if for no other reason than its ability to be readily shaped. The leather thickness should not be too heavy but not as thin as rabbit skin, for the needed strength. The leather pouch should be the shape of an elongated "oval" with each end gradually tapering to a point. A good usable pouch width is 2-1/4" (58 mm)wide. The leather should be long enough to fill the oval space between the two braided cords. If you use a larger piece of leather, you can sew it to the sling and trim it off later. Be sure to maintain a good pouch shape for the stone as you attach the leather to the cord by sewing with sinew or heavy shoe thread. Don't pre-punch holes in the leather; simply pierce the leather with a large needle as you sew all the way around the pouch. Holes should be located in a line about 1/8" from the edge of the leather and about 1/8" apart. Before sewing, you may want to mark a stitching line to follow that is about 1/8" from the edge of the pre-shaped pouch leather to use as a guide. This should keep the pouch leather from puckering. After gaining experience, you may alter any of the previous dimensions to suit your personal preferences and to match your physical capabilities.

The leather should end up slightly larger than the split opening. The 3-braid cords should lay on the outside of the pouch -- opposite where the stone will sit. Fasten the pouch to the cord by passing the thread around the cord and then poking a new hole. Once you're satisfied with the results of wet-shaping the leather to obtain a shallow cup, let it dry over a period of days with a stone slightly larger than what you plan to use loosely wrapped inside. Later finish by coating with leather sealant (anything from rendered fat to silicones) for moisture proofing and to make it pliable.

Put the loop over your small finger and lay both ends of the finished braided cord side by side across your palm with the knotted (non-loop) end hanging over the base of your hand and the pouch end of both cords passing through the thumb and forefinger. Grip both cords firmly with all four fingers and thumb. Holding the cords taut, slide-adjust the knotted end in your grip so the points on the pouch line up exactly when it is folded in half lengthwise.

Make a mark on the knotted (non-loop) cord just inside your grip where the thumb clamps it tight on the forefinger. Mark this location permanently by wrapping and interweaving a single string tightly around the cord. Wrap it many times to form a thumb-knot so you'll grip this cord in the same place each time it's used. This aids both consistent grip placement and accurate release timing. When finished, cut off the knot on the non-loop end and tie a new knot just 1" (25.4mm) or so past your closed hand and trim off the excess.

One key to accuracy: do not try to make the pouch fit around the stone too tightly or it may not release reliably. If you find your accuracy mysteriously drops after considerable use -- try changing and then reshape a new pouch leather. The more slings you make, the better the quality will get. Keep your first sling as a "good medicine" piece and/or reference to see how much you improve.


Ammunition
All stones of equal size are not necessarily the same density (weight). A smaller stone of greater density is faster for a longer distance than a larger stone of less density. large and very small stones, by their very nature, are usually less accurate, but use what you prefer as long as they work. Be selective and gain skill in locating the stones most equal to your favorites, it should help improve your accuracy.

Find a not too large, very hard and dense keeper stone (small hammer stone) to use in striking potential ammo stones (rocks talk). With time the resulting sound and vibration can tell you much about other stones, things such as density and imperfections, etc. Keep track visually of your more successful stones for retrieval purposes. Mark them with a small paint marker or crayon for both visual and sound comparison to others you find.

Once you have become a "stone connoisseur" it will be obvious that almost no stone is round. However, there are almost always similarities within stone shapes that can be utilized to improve accuracy. The similarities that are difficult to see, can often be felt in the hand. From the very beginning you should use the non-throwing hand to feel the stone shape and weight since that is the hand you will use to correctly place the stone in the pouch. By placing those similar landmarks (such as a small end or flat spot) in the pouch the same direction each time, the trajectories can be calculated to make very fine compensations in direction for precise aiming.

Once you've passed that magical unseen threshold of precision you should have already discovered not to switch back and forth between manufactured ammo and nature's gifts (stones). Pre-made ammunition eliminates one of the great advantages of the sling, free ammo. (With pre-made ammo, unless you are very, very good, you may have to carry a lot of heavy weight when hunting or you'll need to recover most everything you throw.

The Logic
1. When in throwing range of wild game or an enemy, it is unlikely they will stay still while a two-legged predator stands and twirls a weapon in circles. The prey will likely be long-gone or the enemy may shoot long before any projectile can be slung.
2. When you wound a predator with a bullet or arrow, it doesn't usually carry a personal risk factor, but missing a fatal spot with a rock can merely anger some predators (personal experience), so keep at least a good size knife and first-aid kit handy.
3. When asked about the David & Goliath technique, Grandfather would smile and say that "the more times you spin the sling, the more you increase your chances of missing, even on a non-moving target."
4. A taller person can use a longer sling for greater speed but they are a bigger target for game to spot or for an enemy to hit (Grandfather stood about 5'7").
5. The necessity for speed when using a sling is absolute but it only comes with practice

The Technique
Target practice should be approached with an attitude of the hunter. You never know when it might be needed for that purpose and it makes practice more interesting. (To those of you who have practiced by twirling the sling, this Apache method may seem like a very short anti-climax but please give it an honest try. L.W.F.). For the purpose of hunting, practice while standing on uneven ground and from behind partial cover. While hunting, after you've stalked within range (or placed yourself in front of a target while practicing), stand very still while facing your prey with your body at an angle of about 45 or more degrees. Pick an open spot to throw from. You should have previously removed any backpack, gloves, wide-brim hat or heavy coat that is restrictive. Keep the throwing arm side of your body to the rear, hidden from the target's line of sight. Hold your visible arm close to you, across your body. The animal is not necessarily sure you are a human predator until you show your arms. Don't stare directly at the animal until you are ready to aim and throw.

If you have not already loaded the stone, do it now by keeping the sling behind you (out of sight from your prey) with the cords gripped about 2" from the pouch. Insert the stone in the pouch (behind you) and slowly let both cords slide through your hand (behind you) until the pouch stops just above the ground. Quickly concentrate visually on the smallest kill spot possible.

Without hesitation and without moving a step, very quickly swing your arm and sling up from behind you and over the top in an overhand throw while attempting to keep your arm as straight and long as you can for airspeed. Put your body fully behind it in a fast turning motion similar to a baseball pitcher but without the step. Be aggressive and make all motions as large as you can. It's usually harder to correct a bad habit than to learn it right the first time. You may try a forward step as you throw but I believe you'll find that it slows you down. The body motion requires more twisting than an Atlatl or Tomahawk throw.

Birch is anything but "lightweight" and "fast burning". As far as "quick rotting", I can show you 13yr old piles of birch logs and stumps that show little decay.

As far as burning green wood readily and under wet conditions, forget it. Pretty easy to produce significant creosote burning green birch. Ever experienced a chimney fire? It is superb wood for its density and smoothness and rates very high on hardwood scales for longevity of burning, btu values released.

Much greater and readily available vitamin C values in Spruce needles which can be boiled for tea and being evergreen are available year round; usually found in same area as Birch. Much easier to ignite split Birch firewood using Spruce kindling.

Takes a helluvan effort to gather birch syrup and boil it down to sugar or candy, mush less sugar content than Maples.

Not like Moose will even browse on Birch leaves or stems if anything else is available. For all the benefits of the tree touted in the article there are better choices in the wild. The one accurate aspect of the article "facts" is the readiness of dried bark to burn with great intensity. Extracting those resins and oils might produce something like gasoline or highly volatile solvents.

American birch makes great firewood, I wish I had a couple of cords of it.

One year I stayed with a friend whose ex-husband had felled a birch and cut it into lengths, but not split it. Being used to burning alder, which splits readily when dried, I grabbed the maul to split a little of that birch wood for a fire in the fire place. It was like trying to split granite! That maul bounced off that wood and it practically dislocated my arm on the rebound.

We burned logs, not split logs, for Christmas that year.
You have to split it green, or get a machine to do the job.

But it makes a beautiful, long lasting fire..

Love birch trees, wish we had some...

Mother's titty....the NERVE of you krautologists!

Birch is the only wood I burn at the lake. dry it for a year and it burns amazingly well and doesn't coat up your chimney. Will be taking down 5 or 6 for firewood in the next couple of weekends. BTW it burns hot and long, a lot of BTUs in a chord of birch...

I fucking love this site


With the censorship and all

So many birch trees on my acreage
I had no idea

Unicorns live near birch trees.