Healing Appalachia: Sustainable Living through Appropriate Technology

13. Nontimber Forest Products

Witch hazel is not only a most interesting shrub in itself, but also has connected with it many legends. From its forked twigs were made the divining rods by which hidden springs of water or mines of precious metals were found. It was firmly believed that the twigs would turn in the hand when the one who held it passed over the spring or mine. More recently, its fresh leaves and twigs were used in large quantities for the distilling of the healing extract so much in demand as a remedy for cuts and bruises and for chapped or sunburned skins. It is said that the American Indians first taught the European settlers concerning its medicinal qualities. Gene Wilhelm, retired professor, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania Applying appropriate technological concepts to Appalachian forests involves the choice of what is to be harvested or removed (this chapter) and actual harvesting practices (see chapters 14 and 15). Let’s review the types of nontimber forest products (NTFP) and discuss decision-making processes related to their gathering and use. TOURISM A recent scientific publication on NTFP neglects even to mention the most important Appalachian forest product: the experience CHAPTER 13 Nontimber Forest Products that visitors enjoy when using the scenic forest for recreation. Forests can be observed by the visitor, camped and hiked in, climbed over, traversed by bike, water tube, boat, or motorized vehicle, or just enjoyed through videotapes or photographs. Though the U.S. Forest Service acknowledges that recreational experiences are the number one NTFP, recreation receives little attention from NTFP experts because it is not a commercially quantifiable commodity. Yet the 11 million annual long- and short-term visitors to Appalachia represent immense potential economic value. Tourists spend money for services so that they can enjoy the forests in widely varying ways. And these tourists are loyal; the great majority return year after year because they enjoy the scenery. NATIVE FOODS From before the beginning of civilization, hunter-gatherers have stalked the woods searching for food to keep them and their families alive. Gathering practices continue today, especially at the edge of or outside the traditional economy. Native foods from forests have economic value based on commercial sales, but these are small compared to the noncommercial supplemental value these foods have for many residents and visitors. Some general food classes include: greens (see chapter 15) fruits (e.g., crab apples, persimmons, papaws, mayapples, fox and other wild grapes, wild cherries, plums) nuts (e.g., black walnuts, hazelnuts, various types of hickory nuts, butternuts, chestnuts, acorns) berries (e.g., blackberries, raspberries, wild strawberries, blueberries, elderberries, dewberries) Nontimber Forest Products ❖ 161 mushrooms, both native varieties and imports such as shiitakes , which have high commercial value and can be grown on oak, black locust, sweet gum, and red maple logs honey for use as food and to make beeswax maple and other tree-sap syrups roots and barks (sassafras and others) wild game and fish FUEL Firewood is a major NTFP even though it comes directly from the portion of the tree that yields the timber. Firewood has great commercial value, especially in forests near large urban and suburban areas. Chips, brush, and other tree wastes are used as fuel in certain wood-burning devices, but coal, natural gas, and oil are not products of the forest except in the most indirect manner. Massive resource-extraction practices can harm the forest, especially the surface mining of coal or overharvesting of timber. MEDICINALS Plants like American ginseng, goldenseal, yellow root, and bloodroot (see chapter 15) have become valuable commercial resources from Appalachian forests. Poaching of such products is quite common today and needs to be controlled to keep the plants from being threatened or endangered. Unsustainable extractive processes are the result of the high price of ginseng root and the growing market for other medicinal herbs. 162 ❖ Healing Appalachia Nontimber Forest Products ❖ 163 HANDCRAFT AND HOME PRODUCTS The range of handcraft products is quite wide, limited only by the imagination of the crafters. Grapevines and other nonpoisonous vines, even kudzu, can be woven into baskets and Christmas wreaths. Wood knots and burls can be carved into bowls and statues. American bamboo or “river cane” (the only native bamboo species) can be threaded into mats, racks, and furnishings (see figure 13.1). Grasses and dried flowers can be made into bouquets for commercial sales or home decoration. Tree bark has...