Notes from the Forest...

We’re Done Chewing Plastic: Why Spruce & Pine Resin Gum Back

We’re Done Chewing Plastic: Why Spruce & Pine R...

Maria Gladue

Let’s get straight to it. Most chewing gum sold in stores today is made from plastic.Not sugar. Not plants. Plastic. The chewy base in almost all commercial gum — the...

We’re Done Chewing Plastic: Why Spruce & Pine R...

Maria Gladue

Let’s get straight to it. Most chewing gum sold in stores today is made from plastic.Not sugar. Not plants. Plastic. The chewy base in almost all commercial gum — the...

Medicinal Uses of Spruce and Pine Resin: Traditional Forest Medicine, Practical Applications, and Cultural Knowledge

Medicinal Uses of Spruce and Pine Resin: Tradit...

Maria Gladue

Spruce and pine resin have played a foundational role in forest-based medicine for thousands of years. Long before the development of modern pharmaceuticals, resinous substances derived from conifer trees were...

Medicinal Uses of Spruce and Pine Resin: Tradit...

Maria Gladue

Spruce and pine resin have played a foundational role in forest-based medicine for thousands of years. Long before the development of modern pharmaceuticals, resinous substances derived from conifer trees were...

Fire, When It Actually Matters

Fire, When It Actually Matters

Maria Gladue

Fire in winter is unforgiving. In this post, we document real-world winter fire testing in snow, cold, and wet conditions, exploring what actually matters when fire isn’t optional. From lighting...

Fire, When It Actually Matters

Maria Gladue

Fire in winter is unforgiving. In this post, we document real-world winter fire testing in snow, cold, and wet conditions, exploring what actually matters when fire isn’t optional. From lighting...

Part 4: How to Harvest And Filter Resin Pitch

Part 4: How to Harvest And Filter Resin Pitch

Maria Gladue

A Simple guide to harvesting and filtering spruce resin using traditional methods. Learn sustainable collection practices, the double-melt filtration process, and how to create clarified pitch for gum, salves, waterproofing,...

Part 4: How to Harvest And Filter Resin Pitch

Maria Gladue

A Simple guide to harvesting and filtering spruce resin using traditional methods. Learn sustainable collection practices, the double-melt filtration process, and how to create clarified pitch for gum, salves, waterproofing,...

Spruce resin formation on tree bark in Alberta forest showing natural sap collection

Part 3 — How to Find Resin in the Forest (Train...

Maria Gladue

Now that you can identify spruce and pine trees, the next step is learning how to find resin in the forest. This is a skill that develops over time, and...

Part 3 — How to Find Resin in the Forest (Train...

Maria Gladue

Now that you can identify spruce and pine trees, the next step is learning how to find resin in the forest. This is a skill that develops over time, and...

Spruce tree bark and needles showing identification features for wildcrafting resin

Part 2 — How to Identify Spruce (and Pine) Tree...

Maria Gladue

Before we can harvest resin or talk about purification, we need to start with something simple: learning how to recognize spruce and pine trees. These are the two main trees...

Part 2 — How to Identify Spruce (and Pine) Tree...

Maria Gladue

Before we can harvest resin or talk about purification, we need to start with something simple: learning how to recognize spruce and pine trees. These are the two main trees...