Did you know there are actually survival uses for Christmas trees? This info is sure to make your holidays brighter!
Christmas is right around the corner, and people are going out and getting freshly cut pine trees to celebrate. And why not? Fresh trees are amazing, since they make your house smell terrific and help small businesses thrive during the holiday season.
However, the unfortunate truth is most people throw out the tree after the holidays. And, with it, they throw away the precious survival uses these trees can offer.
It’s important to utilize every item as much as possible when SHTF. That’s why it’s important to know about these…
9 Incredible Survival Uses For Christmas Trees
Make Pine Bark Bacon
Here’s a cool thing – you can make “pine tree bacon” out of your Christmas tree after the holidays! This food is not only tasty, but it can also save your life.
Essentially the trick with this is to cook the inner bark of the tree just as you should a slab of bacon. Then when it’s all crispy, it’s time to eat! Check out the video below to learn more.
Make Nutritious Tea
Good news – pine needles aren’t just pretty on a tree. They’re also chock-full of nutrients! Turns out these needles are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and shikimic acid (a major ingredient in the anti-flu medicine Tamiflu).
To take advantage of its health benefits, simply collect young, fresh pine needles. Remove the brown ends and chop the needles into small bits. Then boil them in water for about 10 minutes. Strain out the needles, and drink the tea.
Make Bandages
The inner bark isn’t just great for eating (see above). It’s also beneficial for making bandages!
Turns out pine resin has antiseptic properties, which can help prevent infection. This makes the inner bark of a pine tree perfect for bandaging wounds.
To make the bandage, simply remove the outer bark of a pine tree. Then cut the inner bark into long strips. Then wrap these strips around a wound, and use paracord or rope to tie the bark onto the injured area.
Use As An Antiseptic
Pine sap also has antiseptic properties, which can make it ideal for wound care. Collect fresh pine sap and apply it directly onto the wound. If you can’t get sap, heat up the resin in a pot, and then use that soft, heated resin for your wound care.
Protect Yourself From Radiation
Here’s something cool. The natural properties in pine tree pollen can help protect you from radiocaesium!
Here’s a video with more information:
Keep The Bugs Away
Pine resin has a very intense fragrance, which makes it great for use as a DIY insect repellant.
To make this effective, simply combine 3 oz. of pine tar with 2 oz. castor oil and 1 oz. peppermint oil. Now rub this on your skin, and this will help keep the bugs off.
You can also heat pine sap and combine it with any type of fat (tallow, lard, etc).
Build A Fire
Pine trees are ideal for fire-starting. To get the most effective kind, use the “fatwood” found at the bottom of the pine tree. This is exceptionally useful because it contains rich deposits of flammable resins. Use the shavings of it to get a fire going, and then stock up for future uses.
Make A Shelter
Pine trees can be ideal for building shelters, since there’s so many uses for them. You can use this tree for building the frame for a house, or as a support for it. Pine boughs can help create an insulated roof, and pine resin can help fill any holes or cracks to keep it toasty warm.
Light Your Way
Guess what! You can make glue out of pine resin, and then use that glue to make a light in the darkness.
Check out this cool video to learn more:
It’s pretty amazing to know how many survival uses for Christmas trees there are! Know of more? Let us know in the comments below.
