Young birches have dark bark. They don't develop white bark until they're several years old. Mature white birch trees can get up to 60 feet or taller. If you don't have enough birches around, you can propagate green cuttings.

Medicinally, the oil distilled from the inner bark and twigs is used to purify the blood, to ease rheumatism, and to expel worms. Applied externally, it is beneficial for boils and sores.

Birch oil is also used as an insect repellent. The juice from leaves is used for treatment of kidney and bladder stones and as a mouthwash.

Rake up birch leaves in the fall and throw them in the compost pile, as they help with fermentation.

If you're out in the woods and get bitten by mosquitos or other bugs, grab a few birch leaves, crush them between your fingers, and apply to the bite. It'll relieve the itching.

There are even anecdotal stories that chewing on a birch twig will relieve teething pain. It might seem kind of funny to give a baby a birch twig to chew on, but it worked for Native Americans.

Birch sap flows about a month later than maples, but three times faster. Tap just like maple. Boil the sap down. It turns out much heavier than maple syrup, and is more like molasses.