Sacred Medicine Trees of North America

treesNick Polizzi – A few years ago, I took a trip up to the coastal wilderness of Northern California to meet with  Native American elder, Dennis Martinez.

Born of O’odham and Chicano heritage, Dennis has spent his life educating both native and non-native people in the practices of indigenous reforestation and wild medicines that grow in the Klamath Mountains. His deep wisdom and gentleness made learning from him easy! I was intrigued from the moment he opened his mouth.

We spent the entire day walking through the woods, discussing the medicinal plants used for generations by the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Continue reading

Did You Know Pine Trees Can Be Used As Food, Medicine And Survival Equipment?

FrenchMaritimePineBarkTreeThe pine is one of the most useful trees on the planet, providing food, shelter, medicine and fuel. Knowing how to utilize this versatile resource could someday be the key to your very survival if you find yourself alone in the wilderness.

There are many species in the pine family (or genus Pinus), and they can be found virtually everywhere in the world.

Here are just a few of the many uses for pine trees (or conifers):

Food

Many types of pine needles can be used to make a tea rich in vitamin C. Simply steep a handful of needles for 5-10 minutes. The longer you steep them, the less vitamins will remain, so don’t overdo it. Continue reading