There are many ways to brace yourself for SHTF. One way is to plant a garden of your own. Another approach is to learn the uses of plants native to your region that are already growing so that you can forage what you need from nature.
A significant tree to know is the Slippery Elm, Ulmus rubra, whether you live in the eastern US or the southern parts of eastern Canada. Although Slippery Elm is mainly known today for its medicinal uses, it is also edible and helpful for artisanal crafts, which should place it high on your plant list to find growth in your field.
The patterns of using Slippery Elm go back a long way. The tree was used medically by Native Americans, and the Founding Fathers understood the importance of it as well. It is said that the troops of George Washington survived the Valley Forge winter by eating gruel made from Slippery Elm bark. Let’s not forget all the wonderful advantages this tree will provide us with.
Related: 10 Trees Every Survivalist Should Know and Why
Identification
The Slippery Elm is a deciduous tree with a height of 40-60 ft. It grows as far south as Florida, as far west as Texas, and in Quebec, its range extends to the north.
Slippery Elm has oblong, serrated leaves that are rough on top and 4-8 inches in length.
The leaves may have a reddish tinge in the spring, which in summer turns green. The leaves are yellow in autumn. It has a red heartwood that makes fence posts perfect for building. The slimy inner red bark that is used medicinally may distinguish Slippery Elm from other elms.
Harvesting
Slippery Elm bark is best harvested in spring between March and June. It will have the highest quality during this time and be easier to extract and process.
You would want to harvest from branches that have a minimum of 1-inch diameter because you want the inner bark. Any smaller one will not yield enough inner bark for your time to be worth it.
You’ll be able to harvest branches or whole trees. Definitely take the time to harvest the bark if you are planning on cutting a tree for the wood. You want to cut the bark from the vertical strips until you have your branches. To get it started, insert a knife. You should be able to pull the bark away quickly once the branch is scored.
There is a corky texture to the outer bark that is soft to the touch. It is fibrous and a little slippery inside the inner bark, giving the tree its name. Peel the outer bark away from the inner bark; instead of strips, it will come off in chunks. Discard the bark from the outside. That’s the inner bark that you like. By either hanging them or putting them on racks and holding them in a dark, dry place for several weeks, you can dry the strips of inner bark. If you put them on racks, make sure to regularly turn the strips so that they do not mold.
Related: Skills And Tools For Every Prepper
Medicinal Uses
Aside from being nutritious, Slippery Elm bark can be used medicinally. We most often associate Slippery Elm with coughs and sore throats. This is because it contains mucilage, a sticky material that coats and makes it feel better in your mouth. Mucilage, however, coats more than just your throat. It even coats your stomach, making it a better alternative for digestive and intestinal disorders as well.
Either Slippery Elm tea or lozenges can be made. You may use small strips of dried bark for tea, but you’ll want to make a powder to make lozenges.
Only place the bark in a coffee or spice grinder to do this and grind it until it is a fine powder. To make tea, simply add 16 ounces of boiling water to 2 tablespoons of small strips of bark. Steep within 5-7 minutes. Strain the strips of bark out. To taste, apply honey or another sweetener.
For calming a sore throat, Lozenges are perfect. Usually, you can instantly sense relief. For an upset stomach, they can also be a great alternative. Slippery Elm lozenges for fast relief are easy to make at home and nice to have on hand. A little honey, water, and slippery elm powder is all you need.
- Mix 1 TBSP honey with ¼ cup of water
- Place ½ cup of Slippery Elm powder in a small bowl
- Slowly drizzle honey water mixture into the powder
- Mix until it forms a kneadable dough (add more water if needed)
- Roll the dough out thin and cut individual lozenges (a small bottle cap makes a great cutter)
- Place on a screen to dry overnight.
- Store in an airtight container, in a cool, dry, dark place
Survival Food
The bark is also extremely nutritious, so you can make a porridge that is easy to eat and suitable because of digestive issues for people who suffer a lack of appetite. Depending on what other ingredients you have on hand, this porridge has several variants. Simply combining Slippery Elm powder with boiled water until you have an oatmeal-like consistency is the most basic way.
However, I suggest adding milk, honey, and fruit or spices to improve the taste. Here is a recipe for simple porridge:
2 TBSP Slippery Elm powder- ¼ cup of water
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¾ cup milk
- 1/2 TBSP honey
2 TBSP Slippery Elm powderMix all ingredients except the honey in a small pot over low heat. Stir constantly until it is at a simmer. Add honey. Enjoy.
Survival Uses
It is possible to apply Slippery Elm topically as well. Slippery elm has traditionally been used by Native Americans to treat wounds and skin irritation. Supposedly, moistened strips of bark were simply wrapped over the wounds.
It has also uses beyond just the bark. The heartwood is straight, so good fence posts are made. But with steam, Slippery Elm is also easily bendable. Traditionally, it was used to make bows and other artisan crafts.
If you harvest a tree for the lumber, though, make sure that you do not neglect to harvest the bark as well. Using as much of the tree as possible is always best.
Slippery Elm was a common treatment for gunshot wounds once, too. You would want to create a poultice in order to use Slippery Elm externally for wounds or skin problems.
You want to use a coarser powder for this. Simply combine the coarse powder with water until a paste forms.
Apply directly to the affected area after that. Cover with a clean cloth. The poultice will draw out any toxins and aid in healing.
Once, in most herbal apothecary’s house, all the many uses for Slippery Elm were common knowledge and Slippery Elm bark was discovered. The information is, sadly, being lost. It is necessary for us to survive SHTF that we learn and cherish traditional knowledge and make use of the assets we develop in our backyards.
