Arkansas's Honey Locust | Making the United States out of Native Trees

I'm carving a map of the United States where each state is made out of wood from a uniquely important and interesting tree native to that state.
For episode 3 it's Arkansas out of a piece of honey locust. If you ask me this episode is an instant classic for a couple reasons at least:
- I attempt (AND FAIL) at making natural sweetener out of honey locust pods, so you get to watch me writhe in pain as my homemade locust powder assaults the back of my throat
-AND this wood glows under black light! Neat!
Make sure to stay tuned as we make 47 more states out of 47 more fascinating trees!
Reminder, the only rules for which species of trees I choose for each state are: the tree must be native to the state (no introduced species at all), and no trees that were featured on the official state tree map!
Buy Tree Map merch! www.rangenativ...
#woodworking #trees #map

[@CharlesReiche]

Things you didn't know you are horribly allergic to, Honey Locust edition.

[@miippi]

Absolutely. I did this with apple and honey. And then apple again. Because I clearly don't learn the first time.

[@davidjohnston2212]

As an Arkansan, thank you for doing Arkansas. We generally don't get much attention in State focused content.

[@joobletmaster5000]

Backing this up. I moved to Nz and now any and all Arkansas mention and I'm like - ITS ME! :D

[@spencerlaverde6674]

Ikr

[@toadsworld]

I’m not usually someone who sticks around to the channels making shorts, but you have changed that! I LOVE this series! The cooking, the woodworking, the facts, all of it. Can’t wait for more episodes! Hopefully you don’t die of Honey Locust poisoning before you can make any more videos, LOL…

[@markwduns]

Note to self: if I ever decide to try to make the honey locust sweetener thingy, have a couple of EpiPens handy.

[@hylkema101]

Fun fact about the honey locust- the Hershey developed a variety of honey locust (the Hershey Honey Locust) that produces about 10x the sugar as a typical honey locust. I’m planting about 30 of them across my pasture and my animals will eat the mast as a way to fatten before butchering! Thanks for producing such great content

[@demonkiller479]

The Red Mulberry, Shagbark Hickory, American Sycamore, Pawpaw, and Sassafras trees would all be fantastic additions to your map. The hardest one would be pawpaw as the trees are very small.

[@miciarokiri5182]

Well, the Shagbark hickory has been done now, let's see how many more he listened to you about

[@shelbyjohnson9790]

Yes pawpaw!! Do it for WV!! 💙💛

[@livinglettuce6789]

*tastes it* immediately afterwards: “oh no”

[@Justinthetrees]

A uniquely unpleasant sensation

[@elliot2415]

@@Justinthetreesif you boil the pods, split them then scoop all the insides out of the pods and it wont hurt your throat! I made sugar from the pulp and it was fine and i had no reaction but when i nibbled on the dried pod my whole mouth started hurting

[@wendynordstrom3487]

​@elliot2415 that's what I was going to suggest as well! Scoop out the inside and leave the bitter shell.

[@stinkybinky6441]

you’re so brave for still eating the powder 😭😭

[@CatsAndPokemon]

The fails make you human, relatable and charming! I love this channel!!!

[@tia7753]

I found your channel about... 4 hours ago, shocked to see a new video so quickly. Beautiful woodworking! Sad that the sweeter dealt damage to you..

[@Steveofthejungle8]

“Hey dude, watch out for those honey locust trees with their thorns and whatnot” “I know” 😂

[@thibeauclaes2526]

Hey thanks for the long form content, I think it suits your videos better then short form. I wanted to ask if you plan on continuing this series with other regions when you're done with all the states? Like Europe or Asia. Anyways hope you're having an awesome week!

[@Justinthetrees]

Thanks! I agree, it’s much more fun for me too! And yeah, more regions to come. They’re kinda difficult to get wood for (been stuck on Canada without wood for over a month now) but definitely moving onto a new one after Canada!

[@chris2thejmedia]

If it's possible to get peach tree wood (or a variant as such) I think that'd be a great tree for Georgia if you're wanting to avoid reusing magnolia (unofficial state tree, has a lot of spread here) not really familiar with tree species in Ga, but peach seems fitting being the state fruit and a synonym for Georgia

[@WilhelmWilder]

Found your channel earlier and was looking for my state, what luck lol. And yes, while these trees are very pretty I dread running into them while walking through the 'woods' as we call it. Their thorns are VERY hard. And sharp as a needle.

[@DaftAlive2007]

I love seeing the wood carvings and the stuff that you make out of them, you are incredibly talented and keep up the great videos!

[@justanotherrandomchannel4566]

You should do the Kentucky Coffee tree for Kentucky. It mostly came to mind because of your other state map where you mentioned it and said you'd wondered how'd the Coffee tree would look.

[@rindoe9253]

I can’t wait to see what you end up doing for Virginia! It’s hard to choose one particular tree-we have so many diverse types, especially because the ones on the coast can differ greatly from the ones in the mountains. I’m personally biased towards loblolly pines, since they’ve got a fun name, make an amazing tea, and have a distinctively home-y smell to me. But there’s definitely a lot of other great trees here and it would be wrong to ignore our massive numbers of oaks and hickories, or the maples that we can thank for our beautiful autumns. I look forward to seeing whichever you choose!

[@Justinthetrees]

I couldn’t agree more!! A tough choice but a fun one!!

[@nicholasmartin2544]

Minnesota with the Jack Pine! I worked in Minnesota as a wilderness guide this summer, and the Jack Pine was always wonderful to have at campsites since you could crack its cones open over the fire and then plant them nearby. Super fun tree, I'd love to see what you can do with it!

[@AWindy94]

I'd love to see the rest of the first map if you can upload a full version. I was curious what you used for Minnesota on the first map🌲

[@MultiKswift]

He has the video on the channel. It's over an hour (an hour and a half I think) long. It should be an easy find.

[@saanvitalanki8915]

Didn't know those seed pods were honey locust! They used to be all over my elementary and kindergarten schools and we'd always collect them as rattles. Probably good I didn't know about them though... I definitely would've tried eating one 😂

[@mimimaitri1]

There are several other legume bearing trees around that make large pods like that, native and non-native depending on where you live.

[@venymae]

The sap is really yummy as is the honey made from the flowers. Our bees made a very very floral honey from honey locus. We also had a broken branch leaking sap that we tasted and it was super sweet and yummy

[@RampagingPixie]

Im sure you won't see this since this videos a few months old now, but your non-content-creator vibes are honestly Really refreshing! You're authentic and a total joy to watch in a landscape of people constantly yelling and trying to sell me their personal brand. Im so glad you're putting out longer form stuff and I hope your efforts to grow your audience succeed!

[@emmalucas4177]

I'm so happy I found this channel - as someone who loves learning about both botany and woodworking, I'm looking forward to the rest of this series :)

[@xolzir]

Love the long form man! And I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow!

[@DrDingsGaster]

Dude, I just finished the state tree map and I can't wait for Michigan part 2! There's a lot of cool trees up there.

[@theteaspoonman5633]

Love the vids!

[@llvb420]

No such thing as a failed experiment , i love this

[@Anna31415926]

I loved this SO MUCH 😂 I found you through your short video, I was excited to see you made longer form videos as well

[@twiningsirishbreakfasttea3826]

This video is easily the best thing to come out of Arkansas, which, come to think of it, isn’t really saying much

[@RobinShiSummers]

Been watching your shorts and your compilation of the first tree map and have to say, you've got such a pleasant vibe. You're informative and respectful in a way that's so genuine, you seem to really enjoy what you do and I'm excited to see where you go next.

[@robmarshallofficial]

I wouldn’t say it was a failed experiment, you’ve learnt something quite valuable.

[@MisterBoat]

The thumbnail says episode 2, not sure if you noticed. Love the videos by the way

[@Justinthetrees]

lol, I totally missed that, thanks for pointing it out! Fixed!

[@MisterBoat]

@@Justinthetrees no problem, as a thanks you can keep making good videos.

[@xgamerx360x]

Next you should do Maine! When you do get to it, I think yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) or red spruce (Picea rubens) would be good choices for a non-white pine wood. I’m loving all of your videos! I’m thinking about getting into woodworking now…

[@MultiKswift]

I was just thinking Birch would be good for Maine. Although I was thinking it should be White Birch. We had one in our yard and it was definitely everyone's favorite tree.

[@k1a18i5]

Saw your yt short and immediately know that I'll be enjoying your content :> Thanks for making videos like these. I like how you share information and what you know, I love to learn about random stuff. Please continue doing what you do, I believe you'll blow out soon enough

[@staceyhunt6769]

It's currently 12:40am and I was unable to sleep due to stress with the school my oldest (5) attends, his mental health etc. Don't know why but this video is the first thing in hours to help ease that. Thanks. :)

[@cadecountryman6145]

You should use eastern red cedar for Virginia some people call it Virginia juniper but It is a species of juniper and I think it is a hard wood. The heart wood smells amazing and has a dark red almost purple color it is a very interesting tree.

[@Lab_Dad]

Thank you this video, I love it when a creator shows the prefect videos with the failed ones. It sure makes me believe those incredible videos no matter how crazy. Love you channel. 🎉

[@rw218]

Working well as a bass guitar nevk so far, and i love the feel/look with a shellac finish

[@CzBMusic]

I live in Arkansas and have a wild honey locust on my property with some pretty gnarly thorns. I've had no idea what type of tree it is until this video, cool coincidence you used it for my state.

[@riggsby139]

Very excited for this longer form version just finished the tiktok compilation video so much knowledge🌳🌲

[@carolreaume6518]

There's a honey locust in front of my house. Those damn pods are a nightmare when they all fall in October. Also, thank you for helping me to finally identify that tree! I've never seen one anywhere else; I grew up out in the counties of Ontario and only encountered this tree once moving to city.

[@MoonLitChild]

Omg, we've had one of these in our yard since we moved to this house and I had no idea what it is until now!

[@rubyh6256]

just found you from your big compilation with the last US map you made and these are really cool i'd love for the big leaf maple to be the wood for Oregon. its an amazing tree with leaves bigger than your head, i'd say its my favorite tree. I had one in my backyard that looked like a persons hand rising up from the ground it had this wide angled base like the palm of you hand and had five trunks, i guess, coming up like fingers and perfectly spaced. like there was a big gap between what would be the pointer and middle finger and the thumb was coming out below and to the side of the pointer like it does on your hand. sadly quite a few years ago the tree started falling apart literally one of the fingers fell, in the grand scheme of trees they don't live long and i think it was getting old, i don't believe the tree is still around we moved out around the time the finger fell and now i wish i had something from it. that was long anyway i just think the big leaf maple is an amazing tree, i looked up the wikipedia of it i guess its also called Oregon maple.

[@evergreenappreciator]

Wood love to see Maine again, makes a nice far point up there in the corner to fill in the rest from. And I'm curious to see what tree you pick!

[@renedemers8218]

I was thinking that a Beech tree that hasn't been infected by boring beetles were found in West Virginia recently, and Abhorists are hoping this West Virginian strain is resistant to the disease that's been wiping them out for decades - Doing Beech for West Virginia could be a great way to talk about conservation efforts and hope of recovery!

[@malwareinc]

Great video! I'm super exited to see you work on this wood map.

[@i.b.b8187]

You should definitely do ponderosa pine for Idaho I’d love to learn more about that tree then you covered in your shorts video Edit: I just finished the state tree map video and realized that the ponderosa pine is the Montana state tree so instead of Ponderosa, why not use a lodgepole pine instead

[@prow_9218]

Thank you for paying attention to us. We don't get that much attention.

[@NicklasNylander87]

Failed experiment, successful video! Love it!

[@selfawarefungus4462]

I see those pods all the time, and now I know what they are, thanks for that

[@thewitchbasket]

I literally just found this channel a few hours ago and I love it so much. I'd love to see Maine made out of balsam fir, or maybe tamarack. Both are favorites in-state :)

[@adr3114]

For Colorado you should do the lodge pole pine as there is some pretty interesting uses for the trees.

[@ElegantHope]

the honey locust reminds me a lot of mesquite trees; with both trees having similar looking leaves and leaf arrangements, bean shaped seed pods, and plenty of angry thorns. Apparently they're part of the same subfamily, so that's something I've learned today. :D

[@ThoDuSt]

For NJ you should consider using Pitch Pine, since it's the most common type of tree in the pine barrens. Also, consider doing the five inhabited territories after the 50 states are done.

[@MultiKswift]

I grew up in Massachusetts and Maine. For Maine I recommend white Birch. I don't know how common they are throughout the state, but we had one in our yard and it was my favorite tree growing up. As for Massachusetts I don't have any ideas or preferences, but I am eager to see what you pick.

[@Milites98]

Such an awesome series! Love all the different facts you bring in combined with the woodworking. Can’t wait to see the whole thing

[@spencerhall]

Loved this one! Thought we were going to watch a real medical emergency on camera there for a minute, haha.

[@Ninjetta]

We used to take a stick and bust them open so they would fly like confetti when we were kids! Grew up in central Arkansas

[@daemoc7430]

I have an odd Duck here in Maryland. A Kentucky coffeetree. It’s a legume like the locusts but with a larger pod. It is a hardwood and had an interesting back story if you look it up, they’re becoming very hard to find naturally, aside from ours I’ve seen maybe two others.

[@mumurioste790]

In Arkansas we also have Black Locust trees they look just like Honey Locust but without thorns and tree is actually poisonous

[@craigmartin1918]

I love trees. I love the Maker and Designer of trees. I like your videos and that you posted this video including the failed sugar making process. I want your channel to grow as we need to learn more about trees. Please keep it clean and free of vulgarity so we can continue to enjoy your videos for years to come.

[@reesehendricksen1871]

As someone who does tree care, I have a passionate hatred of Honey Locust trees. Though it was nice to find something nice about the tree I otherwise loath. Thank you

[@pewdseptiplier6934]

I love your content dude it’s such a niche interest for me now

[@saraa3418]

You need to make something out of Sweet Gum, Sycamore, Sassafrass, or Mulberry! When I was a kid, we used to call sweet gum, "itchy ball tree" because of the spikey seeds that would litter the ground around them. Osage would also be an interesting tree to see too. We called them "brain fruit trees" because of the bumpy texture of the fruit that are about the size and heft of a cannon ball. Itchy balls and brain fruit were classic playground projectile weaponry.

[@fredrickfraser1659]

Seeing as you covered both the Red and Sugar Maple I think the Silver Maple would be a great tree for Connecticut considering it’s historic use by the Mohegan-Pequot people as a cough medicine (Tantaquidgeon, Gladys. "1928 Mohegan Medicinal Practices, Weather-Lore and Superstitions". SI-BAE Annual Report #43: 264-270 (p. 269))

[@Ichiidino]

You eating the powder reminds me of the time I put a fuzzy leaf in my mouth and basically started dying for three months because the micro bristles stuck into my throat :)

[@Brixbury]

I grew up with a Butternut Tree in my back yard. Oval shaped nuts with a pointy taper on one end, surrounded by a sticky husk. The nut meat inside tastes really good. I would love to see something made from that!

[@TM-ro7lh]

We have them all over the place in Chicago. When the power company takes them down I always snag a few logs

[@bi_swamp_thing]

Thank you for all the information handsome wood man ❤️🌳

[@Jack-ql7cj]

I would love to you do Oregon next!

[@iampoppyseeds]

Highly underrated channel you have. Very wholesome and relaxing videos too 😊

[@Spring_rhys]

Man, I love these trees- I found some native ones in Mississippi a few years back, and was blown away by how crazy the thorns are! I had no idea about the pods, though! I’ll have to see if I can find some if I’m ever back that way during fall

[@moyacevedito]

In my town everywhere you see these trees even out on the country sides we have painting of the tree

[@Beanz-_-]

As someone living in Arkansas rn i never knew this, i always used them as maracas cause i liked the noises. Now i know some interesting facts

[@KyleLGlasgow]

Maryland must be the White Oak tree!! Love this series

[@Marialla.]

I live in Washington State, and I'd like to cast my vote to have Western Red Cedar represent our state. The leaves have been used by natives as a delicious tea for centuries, and has a sweet, fruity, floral sort of flavor. One grows 50 feet from my front door and I drink tea from its leaves all the time. The wood is beautiful, prized by artists and woodworkers of all kinds. To be fair, I don't think most people know that the tree makes tea, so this is honestly just my niche interest. But the tree is very common here and the tea story is true. The tea can only be made from fresh, never dried leaves, which might be why it never became a commercial thing. But to be boring and stereotypical and familiar to everyone I guess apples are most associated with Washington State. I don't know what species of apple would be chosen, or how different varieties might affect the wood, or why anyone would chop down an apple tree just for the wood when you could keep it alive and get apples. Apple trees are generally ugly and grow with shaggy lichen and twisted branches, which is so different from the children's coloring book idea of what an apple tree should look like. Not to diss them! I love apples. But the trees just aren't what you expect them to be. But lots of people do grow them in their yards, as well as Washington being famous for our apple orchards.

[@thereisahill3119]

Super interesting love learning about the different trees hope you can find some really unique trees for each state like the iron wood or Holley wood

[@joashpfeiffelman8623]

Actually, the leaves can be both pinnately compound and bipinnately compound. Both of these leaf types can occur on the same tree during the same season.

[@greenecrayon]

I can't remember if you used Mesquite wood for anything but I grew up in a town named after the wood so that might be one to use.

[@avaschulte3282]

I live in Arkansas, and honey locus really are amazing

[@snowpuppies1]

NGL, I find the idea of you trying to piece together enough Mesquite to make the state of Texas quite amusing. 😝🤠

[@audrey8556]

I’d like to see Michigan next, and I would recommend the American Sycamore tree. This has to be one of the most majestic trees in my opinion.

[@Xx_Lara2323_xX]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS! You’ve got my sun and notifications are ON! ❤❤❤❤ I can’t wait to see more!

[@heerkozuur]

My all time favorite woodspecies. Honey Locust, or in dutch: Valse Christusdoorn (false Christ-thorn), hence the spikes of the wild variaty. Didn't know why it was called in dutch like that, since the cultivated (false) doesn't have thorns at all... But now I know!

[@JuniXp]

Can you do South Carolina next and use Pinewood? Pine trees are everywhere down here.

[@arnoldmmbb]

Carob tree pods are used as chocolate substitute makes sense locust ones have similar flavour

[@samuraibeck]

Cows love the bean pods which makes them a nuisance on cattle farms. I have cut down scores of honey locust trees.

[@samo4648]

You *have* to do a mangrove for Florida, they are such cool and unique trees

[@jamespetercharles7532]

Hey, I absolutely love your channel! Do you have an update on the spruce beer?

[@myname9407]

As someone from Arkansas I have never seen a hunny locus

[@kittycat817k4]

You should totally do new York, I'm not from New York but I would love to see more connecting States. Maybe Ohio try to connect the States all of them

[@kazumahoshizora5175]

i live in eastern arkansas down in the lowland forests west of crowleys ridge we have tons of honey locust here same thing with cypress and mimosa's

[@melissadanneil9058]

If you do Michigan or Ohio could you use sweet crab apple? It's such a beautiful tree and crab apples as fruit are amazing little guys.

[@zerobanana]

found you cuz of shorts. this content is so relaxing and interesting

[@elliekitabjian2069]

I’d love to see a Torrey pine for Southern California representation but our state has so much variety that I’m sure anything you end up picking will be lovely!

[@ooooneeee]

European here: we have fully thorned cultivars growing on several spots of our city 😂. On many of those the lower thorns were removed though.

[@HeavenlyHavoc]

Amazing the coincidence that your second and third states are the states I currently live and the state I just moved from, respectively.

[@Rea13434O]

1:20 oh wow

[@katesclabassi3857]

I'm sure you've already gotten this suggestion but you should do Koa wood for Hawaii

[@briannekueny7019]

Please use the northern white-cedar for Minnesota! It's been such an important part of Ojibwa culture!