Working With Birch Bark

Phreshayr shows a few tips that he has picked up on how to harvest and use Birch Bark to make utensils, containers and other useful projects. A few tips on how to use fresh as well as older bark found on dead trees.

[@bearygoodbeans8169]

I love that "First of all, you get the birch bark..." My grandmother's recipe for porcupine stew (really!) started "Carefully catch a porcupine..." My grandfather flew a bush plane fire fighting, and they lived in the remote north part of Ontario six months of the year. I've seen some items made by members of the Objiway nation here that are stunning in their beauty, amazing functionality. When we would visit Manitoulin Island as kids, we were taught respect for the trees and the gifts of the forest. WARM greetings from Toronto.

[@trackmccreary5719]

when harvesting wigiwaas, here in northern WI it's best to wait until the last 2 weeks of june, then the bark will 'pop' right off without much effort. First and foremost one should offer asema at the base, in thanks for harvesting. A beaked blade knife will work best, and carry some binding twine with you to tie up the roll of birch after harvesting.

[@stefm8251]

Who a excellent video, i heard that native amerindians made canoe from birch bark as cover hard like wood but thin and light and still resilient i think they use some kind of pine tar to waterproof it and stay hard and dry using fire to melt pine tar with bark. That should be pretty flamable thought but all natural. Amerindians are awesome people, smart, living with nature and not against it , with knowledge that most of us have lost. Thanks Lonnie take care.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Yes the Indians sealed their canoes with spruce or pine pitch glue. To make the glue, teh maker needs to add charcoal and some organic matter to the pitch. The organic matter is often animal droppings such as rabbit. The pitch requires these additions in oder to make it more flexible. If these additions were not added then the glue would be too brittle and the seams of the canoe would open back up again as soon as the hull was flexed.

[@theonecandlestickmastery]

Thanks again Lonnie :) I keep watching your videos :)

[@markwilson3941]

Thanks again for sharing. It is always nice to see the forest. Like the heat treatment

[@66bigbuds]

I found directions on birch bark containers in a library book back in the 70s.

[@davidspassage]

Absolutely love your channel! Thanks for all the cool tips :-)

[@kullcraven]

This is a very cool video, i made a cup similiar to that design in one of my vids, it worked well. Love this vid, very useful info and thanks for sharing

[@joybickerstaff194]

Hi ya Lonnie! Useful knowledge to have, I agree with u on not using live trees, downed trees give the same end results, it just takes more patience and time. Thank u Lonnie! Now on to the video to the video where u make something with it!!!

[@ChrisssV]

some great tips here, birch is such a great source of useful stuff from "life-giving" sap to making fire from paper bark, its unbelievable, by the way is that some kind of Marttiini knife? thank you for sharing your knowledge...greetings from Slovakia

[@karenchakey]

Very nice video, I wish I could find birch bark where i live, it looks like a fun wood to work with, love hand mad items as well, Take Care

[@BartleyJ]

Good, good! love the vids! next time you "sew"" the baskets, sew some pinky sized sticks in the sides, it will give added strength, and also will have a way to carry the bowl with handles.

[@TheDiomedef16]

Superb vid, really informative. I am going to have a go at that.

[@DkAcidFire]

Inspiring as always :)

[@virginiacopeland108]

Thanks for sharing. Clark

[@reedcooper6545]

Thanks!

[@mauricedubois4918]

I used to live in Valdez Alaska for about a year and a half . Like Alaska

[@jamesfishfish9099]

Lonnie I don't have birch bark So I use Fat wood with a pincel Sharpener in a plastic case then I Split my Fat wood into small pieces and press it into the pincel Sharpener and turn to get a lot of shavings your friend and bushcraft And survivalist Jim Fish

[@bearygoodbeans8169]

So this has been niggling at the back of my mind since i first watched this excellent video. Lonnie, you showed how to soften the birch bark with water to make it more pliable, maleable. Would that not also work when removing the old bark? I could see stripping the whole log like this: horizontal score on the top of the log, initial lift, add water or a wet tshirt to soak; initial score & lift on the next section. By this time the initial section would be ready to lift some more. OR! do it in the pouring rain LOL. Am I making any sense?

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

I have never tried that but I would guess that if you have the time then that may very well work. I don't think rain will help since the rain will be cool. You would need to apply heat in the form of hot water in order to make the bark more flexible. You need to heat up the oils in the bark.

[@1357243]

Lots of great videos. Very interesting and motivating fro me as I believe we are almost neighbors(Hatchers Pass/Fishhook area for me) and what you talk about, especially the birch which is everywhere for us, is very helpful. I spend an enormous amount of time in the Moose Range/Arkose Ridge area which is my front yard. Retirement is a week away and plan on being out more. I will be setting up a solo moose camp for two weeks in the Lazy Mountain area in a week and plan on practicing my longer term bushcraft skills. Your many ideas have been helpful and make me think of things and ideas I normally would not have thought of. Thanks and maybe our paths will cross in the beautiful woods we live in. What Creek is that in the background?

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

You are right that we are not too far apart. Congratulations on your retirement. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos and that they are helpful for you. Sorry but I do not wish to give any specifics as to my location. My wife and I often come into town for groceries etc and perhaps we will meet someday that way. I often do meet some of my video viewers that way. Almost every time we go to town someone will come up to us and introduce themselves and tell us how much they enjoy the videos. So perhaps someday we will meet.

[@1357243]

I completely understand your desire to not disclose your location. I also value my privacy, that is one of the reasons I live where I do. With the growing number of subscribers you are attracting you may very well be on your way to becoming a local celebrity! Keep doing what you are doing and again thanks for the ideas!

[@JohnDoe-zl6ph]

A great video. If you can find a book called " Wild Wood Wisdom" it shows how a lot of things were made from birch bark.

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

You are right, that book is excellent. It has been in my private library for several decades at least.

[@66bigbuds]

I think it's easier with fresh cut trees especially in spring.

[@truckerenoch8824]

0:53 You *never* cut into the triangle of death! You're in the daynjah zone!!! ...any Archer fans? 😆

[@waynelewis5647]

try steaming the bark should do both at once

[@Mooesatola]

Have you tried hot water?

[@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

Hot water does work but hot water can also assist in extracting the natural oil in the bark thus rendering the bark more brittle once dried out again.

[@Mooesatola]

Far North Bushcraft And Survival ok thanks.

[@jamesfishfish9099]

I would boil it in water

[@brianstevens1249]

I can hear your dog lol

[@anitadale655]

Maybe yoy can cook it.

[@Moonshinedave1]

Very enjoyable video. I don't agree with pulling the knife towards you like you did at the beginning of the video, I would imagine emergency medical treatment would be a little harder to get at your location? Ever try steaming the birch bark? Woodworkers use steam to make wood more bendable . Anyway, thanks for posting, have a great day.

[@iSTAYuGO]

As allways total helpfull, i would be carving a vessel :) But taping a birch tree for sap to drink...yeah i woudnt come on that idea, would probably run to creek and camp there. Shelther, water, food and protection. Thank you