Paper Birch aka Canoe Birch, White Birch, Betula papyrifera, Wiigwaas (Anishinaabe) - theHumm February 2019
Paper Birch aka Canoe Birch, White Birch, Betula papyrifera, Wiigwaas (Anishinaabe) - theHumm February 2019
By Susie Osler
On New Year’s Day I went for a bush walk on the farm with some friends. Along the way I passed a mid-sized, dying birch that had a mushroom growing on its trunk. I had never noticed a mushroom like this before (as yet, I know little about fungi). It had a camel-coloured, leathery top and a distinct, rolled-under edge. No one I was with seemed to know what it was either. I took a picture with my phone and upon returning to the house sat down with a couple of field guides and my computer to try to positively identify it. Before long I’d discovered that it was a birch polypore — one of our forests’ finest medicines. I was captivated, at first by the mushroom, but increasingly by the tree it grew on. And so, as it turns out, the past month wound up being an exploration of one of the most recognizable, elegant, and luminous trees in our northern forests – Betula papyrifera, or paper birch.
Many closely related species of the genus Betula, or birch as it is commonly known, grow abundantly across the northern hemisphere. This tree is known as a “pioneer” species, and was among the first to re-establish when the last Ice Age ended around 12,000 years ago. Paper birch is shade intolerant, so it tends to be found on the edges of forests, in clearings or on its own. It is one of the first trees to re-generate after a fire, or to colonize open areas where conditions suit. Once established, birch creates the nursery ground for seedlings of other genera like oak, pine and maple that require shade in infancy. In time, these seedlings mature, begin to dominate the canopy, and overshadow their birch nurse-maids as the birch come to the end of their relatively short life-cycles.
In our area, B. papyrifera is likely to be the species familiar to most people. She is admired for her graceful, bright presence — especially eye-catching in our stark winter landscape. In addition to her beauty, paper birch has significantly impacted cultures throughout human history in other ways. For many Indigenous Peoples from the Great Lakes region and further east — where rivers served as the arteries for transportation (prior to roads), canoes were a primary means of travel. Birchbark provided a strong, lightweight, water-resistant and abundant building material for those canoes.
Birchbark’s rot-resistance and antifungal qualities made it equally suited for building wigwams, and in Nordic areas even provided a substructure for sod roofs. The bark’s smooth papery qualities made it a fine material from which to fashion a long list of objects including kettles, torches, sleds, clothing, beautiful containers, moose calls, musical instruments and even coffins.
Perhaps the most potent birchbark objects I have recently learned about is the Mide-wiigwaas — a type of birchbark scroll used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa Peoples for keeping records for instructional and guidance purposes. These scrolls enabled the transmission of esoteric ideas, songs, ritual and healing practices and would have been used by lineages of healers. Archeological records indicate that such scrolls have been used for at least 400 years. To me, there is a beautiful symmetry between these bark scrolls that have contained and protected important traditional knowledge, and living birchbark that contains and protects the heart of a birch tree itself. In both cases, the bark holds powerful wisdom and energy within.
Reverence for birch is widespread across the global north and, it would seem, stems from the centuries-long relationship humans have had with this tree, in both its material and healing properties. Folklore follows from such relationships, and in stories and ritual birch is variously associated with protection, magic, returning light, new beginnings, purification and feminine energy.
Birch has important medicines to offer. Her sap in spring is a fine healing tonic — still very popular across Russia — that can also be fermented into beer. Inner bark can be used as flour in bread making; astringent leaves, buds and twigs (which taste like wintergreen) can be used in tea to strengthen the kidneys and help heal urinary tract infections. Birchbark has antiseptic properties as well and can be prepared as a salve, or, when soaked, as poultice for skin ailments. (I will be posting a recipe for birch salve on my Instagram page this month.)
But it is birch’s Latin name Betula that presents a clue to another exciting protective and healing component the tree contains. Betulin is oft-touted as the reason for birch’s white bark, whose light-reflecting colour helps protect the tree from sunscald, and from heating up too much and cracking in winter’s freeze-thaw cycles. Betulin, a triterpene compound, is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral found in the bark and sap that has shown promise in the treatment of some cancers including melanoma. And as it happens, two significant medicinal mushrooms, birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) and chaga (Inonotus obliquus), are most commonly found on birch. Both mushrooms concentrate betulin into its more bioavailable form betulinic acid, and, no surprise, they have long been used in folk medicine as a treatment for cancer.
To me there is something deeply meaningful about how layers of bark unravel, peeling themselves away from the trunk like a constant letting go. In The Essence of Healing, Steve Johnson says paper birch (flower essence) is indicated for when one is “unable to connect with deeper levels of insight regarding life purpose” and that paper birch “encourages a gentle unveiling of the true and essential self that is present within”.
The snow is coming down in fat flakes outside my window now as I finish writing. A curtain of Betula papyrifera stands on the other side of the pond next to the house. I thank them for the beauty and medicines they offer in both their youthful and aged forms, their ecological role here, and the mysteries they quietly hold. It’s difficult not to be dazzled.
For more portraits and information on plants featured in this column, follow the Pine Oak & Yarrow Instagram page at instagram.com/pineoakyarrow .
And the Award Goes to… Don Wiles! - theHumm February 2019
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
theHumm is celebrating this awards season by commending Almonte’s beloved and esteemed Don Wiles for his interest in his community and the contributions he continues to make that enrich its cultural and intellectual life.
Journalists should never miss a chance to invite a nonagenarian to share their most treasured piece of advice. Soon to be 94, Dr. Wiles was momentarily surprised at my invitation, and then counseled, “Be interested.” He is a persuasive example of the wis......
Knit with Love… - theHumm February 2019
By Sarah Byrne
Mrs. Wilma Winton has spent her life quietly sharing her significant talent with others. From the warmth of her home at the end of a winding cottage road on Rideau Lake, Wilma has knit hundreds of items, giving them to people young and old during times of celebration and times when they could use some extra comfort. Wilma’s generosity is inspiring, and so too is the skill with which she knits. The intricately detailed, often personalized blankets she creates are obvious examples of her skill and......
The Mississippi Mudds Youth Theatre PresentsThe Lion King Jr. - theHumm February 2019
Once again, the Mississippi Mudds Youth Theatre group is in the final stages of rehearsals for another wonderful show — this time its production of The Lion King Junior. With seven shows scheduled at the Town Hall in Carleton Place (from February 22 through to March 3), this delightful story brings the African savannah to life on stage.
Join this unforgettable young cast of characters while the plot builds as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back agai......
Alone Together Again — A Crowded Empty Nest! - theHumm February 2019
By Dana Ruprecht
A very wise and witty play is coming to Studio Theatre Perth this month.
Alone Again Together, by playwright Lawrence Roman, is the honest and funny story of an empty-nester couple whose nest refuses to stay empty, leaving them in a chronic state of parenthood.
Helena and George Butler’s adult sons have finally moved out, and husband and wife are both looking forward to the next phase of their lives together. Anticipating leisure and privacy, Helena has set new professional goals for h......
Out of Order at the Station Theatre Keeping You Warm on a Cold Winter’s Night - theHumm February 2019
If you aren’t a winter person, February can be the dreariest of months. The snow, cold and bitter wind seems to be have been here forever, feeling like it will never be done. You need a pick-me-up! A time to forget about it all and just submerse yourself in a whole lot of nonsense for an evening or afternoon. That’s where the Station Theatre comes in. Their traditional British farce — Out of Order — by the master of farce, Ray Cooney, is sure to brighten any February drearies!
Director Lynda ......
Fifty Flippin’ Years Fulton’s Pancake House Celebrates the Big 5-0! - theHumm February 2019
Fulton’s Pancake House & Sugar Bush is very excited to be celebrating Fifty Flippin’ Years in the Pancake House! The family has been in maple syrup production for more than 150 years. Fourth- and fifth-generation owners are busy at the helm and sixth-generation grandchildren are making a contribution to production, customer service and quality control. Fulton’s is open for ten weeks from Family Day weekend through Easter weekend.
Fulton’s invites current and forme......
Fall in Love with Local Art! - theHumm February 2019
By Miss Cellaneous
FIGURE in Almonte
From February 8 to March 24, Almonte’s Sivarulrasa Gallery presents FIGURE, a trio show featuring figurative paintings, drawings and sculpt......
“Here We Go, Up A Row” - theHumm February 2019
By Glenda Jones
When I was six I took piano lessons from a stern no-nonsense teacher. She wore her hair in a bun, and sat in a straight-back chair next to the piano in reach of my little hands that quivered over......
Claire Hunter Returns with Something to Give - theHumm February 2019
Singer/songwriter Claire Hunter now lives in Toronto, but she grew up and went to school in Almonte, where she developed her musical skills playing at coffeehouses and appearing in such ADHS prod......
Paper Birch aka Canoe Birch, White Birch, Betula papyrifera, Wiigwaas (Anishinaabe) - theHumm February 2019
By Susie Osler
On New Year’s Day I went for a bush walk on the farm with some friends. Along the way I passed a mid-sized, dying birch that had a mushroom growing on its trunk. I had never noticed a mushroom li......
Libraries Love Babies (And Babies Love Libraries!) - theHumm February 2019
By Karen Schecter, Librarian
One of my favourite sounds to hear in the library is the laughing or babbling of babies enjoying Baby Time. Some people may wonder why you would take your baby to the public library. After all, t......
A Musical Interruption in the Winter Season Kanata Choral Society’s Show - theHumm February 2019
Although it has not been that long since we all either listened to or sang our hearts out to Christmas carols, it is already time for some more music!
For the past several years, during this ......
Eat LocalSupport a CSA! lanarklocalflavour.ca - theHumm February 2019
Do the grey winter days have you dreaming about the greens of spring and summer? Why not ensure a steady supply of those greens (as well as lots of other delicious produce) by investing in a loca......
Putting the Outside Inside Kids - theHumm February 2019
Need a break from winter and everyday life? Then come on a canoe trip into Algonquin Park wilderness with Bill Kennedy and his five-year-old daughter Suzanne. Described as “a charming read” by au......
Almonte Resident Wins Library Award - theHumm February 2019
On February 2, Mary Lou Souter, Chair of the Mississippi Mills Public Library Board, will be in Toronto to accept the Ontario Library Association’s (OLA) President’s Award for Exceptional Ac......
Local Green Party of Canada Fundraiser - theHumm February 2019
Come out for a great Green brunch at the Maberly Hall on Sunday, February 17! For only $10 you’ll learn lots, eat some terrific food and have an opportunity to support the Green Party. Child......
Febeery — A Draft Article - theHumm February 2019
By Sebastian Weetabix
In the course of his perambulations around Humm territory, Weetabix has repeatedly encountered the phenomenon and products of “Craft Breweries”. Weetabix is not a serious beer drinker, but beer i......
Family, Films, Folk… and a Loppet! - theHumm February 2019
By John Pigeau
I feel like a kind, gentle way to begin this month’s column would be to remind all of you that Monday, February 18 is Family Day, a provincial statutory holiday. There. Now doesn’t that feel......
Family Day & MidWinter Milling - theHumm February 2019
By Miss Mills
February 18 is Family Day in Ontario, and there are many affordable (and free!) activities to enjoy close to home. In Almonte, Pakenham and area, you can enjoy free public skating, explore l......
A Tribute toDeputy Mayor John Levi - theHumm February 2019
By Christa Lowry, Mayor, Mississippi Mills
Deputy Mayor John Levi passed away on Sunday, January 13, in Florida with his beloved wife Helen by his side. So many of us were shocked and saddened by John’s untimely passing.
John has......
9th Annual Snow Angel Making Party - theHumm February 2019
By Susan Cressy
I am thrilled to say that we are celebrating the 9th Annual Snow Angel Making Party at Highlands Gate (4381 Wolf Grove Road, Lanark Highlands, Ontario) on Sunday February 17 from 1–4pm, and ......
Celebrating Black History Month in a Unique Way - theHumm February 2019
By Catherine WrightCadieux
Just over two years ago when Almonte-based photographer Monique Renaud left for Senegal to do some volunteer work with Women’s Global Engagement (FEM – Femmes engagement mondial), she had no idea......
February Evensong - theHumm February 2019
By Hilary Barrett
Everyone is invited to attend Evensong at St. James the Apostle Anglican Church in Perth on Sunday February 17 at 4pm. There will be a prelude at 3:45pm by guest organist Damien Macedo, who ......
Adaptive Snowsports Programs AreSeeking Volunteers! - theHumm February 2019
Mount Pakenham Adaptive Ski Program
Serving the west end of Ottawa and Lanark County, the Adaptive Ski Program at Mount Pakenham provides the opportunity for children,......
Seedy Saturdays (and Sundays) - theHumm February 2019
By David Hinks
Our relationship with plants is a complicated one.
On the one hand we are hugely concerned about the negative health effects of certain plants such as wild parsnip. Like giant hogweed and oth......
Stained Glass Show Highlights Art Nouveau - theHumm February 2019
Looking to bring extra light into your winter? The Elgin Art Gallery invites everyone to the show opening of Otty Lake stained glass artist Gregori Robinson on February 9 from 2–5pm.
“Gr......
Historical Society Presents Annual Heritage Dinner - theHumm February 2019
The Carleton Place and Beckwith Historical Society is getting ready to host their 7th annual fundraising Heritage Dinner. To kick off the Carleton Place 200th celebrations in style, they are pres......
Apr 20 Perth Trashure Hunt Clean-up
Apr 20 Solitary Man
Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
May 11 Engelbert Humperdinck & Tom Jones Tribute
May 16 MMLT Talk & AGM
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
- A Classic Whodunnit Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee at Studio Theatre
- Readers, Writers, and Poets
- Celebrate Indigenous Culture in CP
- Celebrate the ClassicsWith the Arnprior Choir
- 4F Auction Concoction Food, Fun, Fashion & Favourites
- Cheerfully Made Spring Market
- Electrify to Decarbonize Lanark
- Volunteer Forum
- Frankenstein Comes to The Station Theatre
