#black birch

                    Ramps, Chaga, Burls, and the Black Birch

I decided to go back and harvest a Burl growing on a young Black Birch (also called Sweet Birch or Cherry Birch) which I found while looking for wildRamps. I did find the Ramps and they are every bit as tasty as they say they are. They’re not exactly rare either. Seek and ye shall find. Almost for sure!

Once I found the Ramps I kept on walking when I ran into theBurl (last Picture) but I had nothing with me not a camera or even a knife. I only had my mountain bike which I was carrying through the woods because the trail had long since ended. I made a mental note of the location using a large rock as a landmark so I could come back and harvest this beautiful Burlgrowing on this young Black Birch.

So then I figured if I kept on walking in the same direction I would eventually run into a familiar trail. So off I went. That’s when I saw what appeared to be a small amount of charred remains at the base of a tree. There was absolutely no possible way this could be the remnant of a fire being so far off the beaten path. Then I concluded it must be aChaga.ButChagas only grow on Birch. Right? So how can it be? As I examined it closer I saw that it was indeed the beginning of a Chagafungus. There wasn’t enough to harvest and I had no tools with me anyway so off I went. After about twenty paces I saw another Chaga on the exact same type of tree and it was nice sized. I didn’t think I would be able to find this tree again that’s why I decided to harvest it. I kicked it and the whole fungus fell off onto the ground. Now I’m carrying my bike and this huge Chaga through the woods.

When I got home I did some research and found out that Chagadoes grow on other trees besides Birch, but it’s kinda rare and it’s not as potent a source of nutrients. Then as I did more research I found out that these trees were in fact older Black Birch. I would have never guessed that a young Black Birch and an old Black Birch are that much different in appearance.

About a week after finding the Ramps, Chaga, and Burl I went back with some tools and a camera. Surprisingly I had no problem finding these trees way out in the middle of the woods.

All photographs by Gary Cremese.