Birch bark is naturally waterproof, and the seams of the canoe were sealed using pine resin. How to Clean Tree Bark Mold, mildew, insect debris—all sorts of things can lessen the beauty of gorgeously barked specimen trees like sycamore, birch, and lacebark elm. The bark from white birch trees is a highly sought material used by woodworkers and crafters. If you do soak your wood, the above “washing” method is effective for cleaning any bark that becomes discolored. The bark’s silvery white sheen offers a rustic beauty that can be applied to crafts as accent pieces. When treating birch with the bark on, Pentacryl can be applied directly to the wood itself. The images in this Instructable were taken by Ale… Harvesting Birch Bark: Birch bark is a lovely material that can be woven, folded, and lashed into a great variety of projects. Native Americans stripped bark from trees to make canoes and vessels for foods. This would mean using the brushing method (not soaking) to avoid the absorption into the bark area. The inner bark of white birch is also edible and many consider it to have medicinal properties. If done mindfully, birch bark can be sustainably harvested without permanently damaging trees. You can remover bark from birch logs or branches with hot water. Use a sharp knice to cut down the center of the log & start pouring very hot boiling water on the cut...using a putty knife or your knife loosen up the bark just a bit as you loosen keep it hot..it will come loose from the wood.You can even slit the bark into several layers zfter its off the wood. With two ingredients and a little time, you can easily and safely wash specimen trees—and potentially protect … Birch bark can be easily harvested from trees, but it is preferable to remove the bark only from tree limbs that have broken or fallen off. Answer from the Experts: Keeping the bark on chunks of wood, in my experience, is a hit-and-miss business. Craft items made from birch bark include baskets, containers and ornamental items. May 16, 2016 - The slender, smooth, white-barked trunks of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) grow naturally in the eastern and northern U.S. The inner bark can be cooked and eaten or dried and ground into a powder … Some species are reputed to shed their bark regardless of treatment (hickory is one with a bad reputation in this regard), while others are more likely to not shed their skin — walnut and basswood have a good reputation here.