The Resources of the Woodland

The Resources of the Woodland. . , The Many Uses of Nature , One of the amazing things about the Carolinian forest is what it provides. Native plant and animal species provide not only food and medicine, but resources for furniture, tools, buildings, canoes, snowshoes, baskets, rope, dye, and fabric. Many species are used by different communities for traditional and ceremonial purposes, and some hold sacred meaning. Over generations, Indigenous Peoples learned which plants were useful or which were potentially dangerous- maintaining and cultivating specific ones. The forest and surrounding ecosystems provided rich hunting and fishing grounds, in addition to agricultural space., Early settlers had little knowledge of the plants they would find in their new home, so they brought seeds with them, resulting in the introduction of non-native species. While settlers found comfort in these familiar plants, some would not grow here, which required them to adapt to new species. The early immigrants combined their European agricultural and domestication practices with the traditional practices of local Indigenous Peoples. The sharing of growing techniques, and uses of plants, for both food and medicine, was invaluable. Without this transference of knowledge the settlers would not have survived in Canada., During your visit take note of the biodiversity around you. Notice the plants that grow between trees and the animals, birds, insects, and other creatures who live here. The Carolinian Woodland is home to a variety of species, all with unique uses and traits. Discover the shrub and tree signs throughout the Village's Woodland which share facts about some of these species. We encourage you to continue learning about native plants, as there are far more uses and species than can be listed., Food, Medicine and Materials , The sap of the Sugar Maple is crucial for making maple syrup. The inner bark was used in a tea to treat coughs. The bark could also be cooked, dried, and ground into a thickener for cooking., The bark of the White Oak has antiseptic properties, and was used to treat fevers, colds, and asthma Acorns could be soaked in water, then ground into flour. The hard wood made it valuable for construction, furniture, and barrel making., Branches of the Beaked Hazelnut were used in basketry, and young shoots were used to make rope. A blue dye was extracted from the roots. The nuts could be eaten raw or cooked and were stored over winter., The aromatic leaves of the Eastern White Cedar were used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, and colds. Oil extracted from the leaves was used as an antiseptic and heart stimulant. The moisture resistant wood made it ideal for canoes, shingles, and fence posts.