Medicinal Trees: Oak (Quercus)

Comments

  • Linda Bittle
    Linda Bittle Posts: 1,500 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A friend mailed me a single acorn from a Burr Oak tree back in the fall. I potted it up and have kept it in the kitchen sink because that's the best light I have. It sprouted a couple of weeks ago!

    20230126_125718.jpg


    · Share on Twitter
  • Torey
    Torey Posts: 5,516 admin

    The only oak that is native to BC is Quercus garryana but here we call it the Garry Oak, not the Oregon Oak. :) It was widely distributed as part of the hardwood forests in southern BC during a warm dry period following the last ice age (about 7000 years ago). Since then, with a cooler, wetter climate, their range has diminished, primarily to the southern Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island where it has protected status in some ecological reserves.

    English Oak (Quercus robur) has naturalized in a few places and I'm sure we have other species that are grown as landscape plants. But that's further south in BC, not my area.

    I've studied oak during the course of my herbal education but it isn't something that I have used. Maybe I will add a small bottle to my next herb order just to have on hand.

    · Share on Twitter
  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/919575#Comment_919575

    Wow, that is tiny... from little acorns, mighty oaks

    · Share on Twitter
  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/919576#Comment_919576

    I use it as much as pine, so pretty dang often! My region is full of oaks of several varieties. Right now, I have a white oak that needs to be taken out and my mom has a water oak that has big limbs too much over her house. I will certainly have a surplus of oak bark this year! I'm not sure what I will do with all the wood yet. It is a beautiful wood for carving but very hard - more used for cabinetry and furniture. My bed, when I am home was hand carved from white oak by my great, great grandfather! I will probably save several yards of the trunks for woodworking and use the rest for firewood. Top priority plans after the garden this year are building some good woodworking benches and tools like a shavehorse and a springpole lathe. Oak will certainly work well for those. I want to get as far away from power tools this year as possible, since the electric grid is getting less reliable and gas is so expensive - hand saws, axes, froes, etc.

    · Share on Twitter
  • gardneto76
    gardneto76 Posts: 528 ✭✭✭✭

    @judsoncarroll4 There always seems to be interest in wooden furniture. What do you think about cutting rounds for tables. You could use the smaller straight branches for lets. Could even be used to make stools. I believe my mom still has the one her father made years ago, crack and all.

    · Share on Twitter
  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/919585#Comment_919585

    I'll get there eventually.... one woodworking skill at a time!

    · Share on Twitter
  • heirlooms777
    heirlooms777 Posts: 208 ✭✭✭

    I would love one! Where can I find it? --Christina

    · Share on Twitter
  • jowitt.europe
    jowitt.europe Posts: 1,413 admin

    I was about to comment, but I noticed that my comments on oak are in the text. Thanks, for including. I strongly believe in oaks. They are magic trees. The legends say that in pagan times decisions made under oak trees were more tough, strict than the ones made under lime trees.

    I have also seen oaks in Spain where they use the oak bark for making corks for wine bottles - cork oaks Quercus suber. They looked strange, half shaved.

    I am not too fond of furniture made of oak wood. It is long lasting, that is true, but so heavy and dark. It gives me some heavy feeling. Actually we bought out house with built in oak furniture and we changed it all. It was too dark in the house.

    · Share on Twitter
  • jowitt.europe
    jowitt.europe Posts: 1,413 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/919575#Comment_919575

    Oaks take such a long time to grow. A plant for generations. It is amazing that these majestic trees start from small acorns and have already all the genetic information inside.

    · Share on Twitter
  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin

    A British friend has promised a "country wine" recipe actually made from oak (not just aged in oak). I am looking forward to trying it!

    · Share on Twitter
  • judsoncarroll4
    judsoncarroll4 Posts: 5,361 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/919597#Comment_919597

    One of what?

    · Share on Twitter
  • heirlooms777
    heirlooms777 Posts: 208 ✭✭✭

    @judsoncarroll4 Good point. With 69 varieties are a lot to choose from!

    · Share on Twitter
  • nicksamanda11
    nicksamanda11 Posts: 721 ✭✭✭✭

    I moved to property with many towering white oaks- absolutely gorgeous. Then I realized they could actually be used in tooth medicine. So, now I have some research to do😅- love it😍

    · Share on Twitter

This Week's Leaders


Categories