Men in the DIY store / Must freedom truly be boundless Reinhard Mey sings in his legendary DIY store song, while Ernst and Heinrich retort in Swabian: I'm going to the DIY store! / At the weekend!While DIY stores are absolute havens for all DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists today, not so long ago, tradespeople and home improvers had to painstakingly invent solutions for their challenges around the house and yard. Often, materials were used that were versatile, robust, and particularly – endlessly and immediately available. Birch bark, for example. The light forests seemed to yield an endless supply of birch bark, and the properties of the leathery bast layer around the tree are so diverse that even today, the true wealth of the birch is not its wood, but its bark. Whether as a moisture and vapour barrier in house construction, as roofing material, as a canoe, a net float, a handle, an arrow quiver, or as a wrap for composite bows, whether as paper or for making traditional kitchen vessels – birch bark craft is one of the oldest craft traditions worldwide. Not least because of the black birch tar, which served as the first adhesive for Stone Age hunters and gatherers, who their Rucksacks if not leather, then braided from birch bark. Those who understand the traditional craft method of making lapty also find joy in weaving: to this day, these shoes, woven from bast or birch bark, are worn and often serve as a source of inspiration for modern birch bark shoes Today, those who work with birch bark by hand do so for a variety of reasons: birch bark is often used in historical reconstructions, such as in the correct renovation of a medieval church roof, as roofing material in museums, or by bowyers who painstakingly craft historical composite bows with quivers.
Anyone looking for a high-quality, comfortable grip – often sought by fly fishermen for their fishing rods – will turn to birch bark, and not just for historical reasons. It is simply the material that is best suited for heavily used grips – and soft hands. Also Birch bark canoe are very popular once again. Whilst many canoe builders are deeply engaged with the various Native American cultures that built their boats from birch bark, others are focused on the environmental benefits: a vessel that is 100% compostable and, moreover, built entirely by hand, holds a special appeal.
