David Douglas

The Douglas-fir is a native of 35 of the 36 Oregon counties (all except Sherman County). It can be identified by its flat needles about an inch long, and its egg-shaped cones have odd, three-pointed bracts (leaf-like structures).

The largest coast Douglas firs commonly live to be at least 500 years and sometimes exceed 1,000 years. Rocky Mountain Douglas firs have a shorter lifespan, usually living no more than 400 years.

Douglas fir is an evergreen species. Douglas fir is native to North America but was brought to the UK in 1827.

The root system depth in Douglas fir is determined pri- marily by the soil structure and texture. On perme- able soils with favourable moisture conditions, the roots may reach down to 60–100 cm but they may penetrate even deeper (Hermann 2005).

Fir Bark – yum. Apparently, an entire fir tree is edible. Adding some bark (the inner whitish part called cambium) to boiling water and letting it soften will theoretically keep you alive for quite a while. Here are some helpful hints for eating bark.

You can eat a few tips straight or make them into a hot infusion or a sun tea. As the needles get older they develop more tannins, become tough and are less aromatic, but you can still use them for tea. Douglas Fir Gummy Treats. These little snacks are the perfect remedy when you feel depleted.

Douglas fir may be beneficial for arthritis. Pine needles, in general, have been used for respiratory problems and externally for a number of skin conditions. However, miscarriage, low birth weight and other similar toxic reactions may occur in humans and domestic animals after eating pine needles.

Yes, you can eat tree bark as a safe and nutritious wild food–as long as you are using the right part of the bark from the right species of tree. Many Native American cultures included the inner bark of pines and other trees as an important staple of their diet.

Here’s a survival tip of immeasurable value: The inner bark of all the native pines of Southern Appalachia is edible. Being one of those pines, hemlock could save your life. Will you like the taste of it? In spring you can then peel the inner bark up with your fingers.

Tree bark nutrition facts The bark is nutritious and contains 500-600 calories per pound, depending on the type of the tree, the soil and other factors. Nevertheless, all tree barks are rich in digestible starches, some sugar, vitamins, minerals, and tons of fiber, thus good for your stomach.

Unfortunately, no. Grass and leaves are composed of cellulose, which the human gut is incapable of digesting. Ruminating animals (i.e. cows) can, but we can’t. There are other things you could theoretically survive on (fresh water, fruit, roots, meat) but not grass and leaves.

Plants you can eat to survive in the wild

• Amaranth. (Flickr/Nomadic Lass) Amaranth is a weed that looks a lot like pigweed, and is a tall, upright, broad-leafed plant that grows all-year round.
• Burdock. (Flickr/Martin Labar)
• Cattail. (iStock/Thinkstock)
• Clovers. (Flickr/Randi Hausken)
• Chickweed. (Flickr/J Michael Raby)

Honey

Stay prepared: Foods with the longest shelf life

• Bouillon cubes.
• Peanut butter.
• Dark chocolate.
• Canned or vacuum-pouched tuna. • Shelf life: 3 to 5 years after “best by” date.
• Dried beans. • Shelf life: Indefinite.
• Honey. • Shelf life: Indefinite.
• Liquor. • Shelf life: Indefinite.
• White rice. • Shelf life: Indefinite.

Survival foods that have the longest shelf life

1. SOFT GRAINS. Soft grains, such as barley, quinoa, rye and grits, can last up to 8 years if their package is sealed with oxygen absorbers.
2. HARD GRAINS.
3. ROLLED OATS.
4. WHITE RICE.
5. HARDTACK.
6. FLOUR.
7. DRY PASTA.
8. RAMEN NOODLES.

20 Survival Foods That Will Last For 20 Years

• Baking Soda. Baking soda is another key baking ingredient with an indefinite shelf life.
• Bouillon Cubes.
• Cocoa Powder.
• Corn.
• Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables.
• Dried Beans.
• Freeze-Dried Cheeses.
• Freeze-Dried Fruit, Meats, & Vegetables.

32 Long Shelf Life Foods to Keep In Your Pantry

• Bouillon. magnez2/Getty Images.
• Canned Fruits, Vegetables and Beans. SarapulSar38/Getty Images.
• Corn Starch. Shutterstock/ Michelle Lee Photography.
• Dark Chocolate.
• Dried Beans, Lentils and Legumes.
• Dried Fruits (Raisins, Dried Cranberries and More)
• Dried Pasta.
• Grains.