After the fall of our modern civilization, the only way to continue life in Butte County will be to adopt traditional methods and recourses. Local resources that are fit for the environment will have to be harnessed to supply the new society with food, medicine and shelter. Native plants evolved to grow in local conditions and will therefor not require watering, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, giving us the most reliable resources. To begin picking up the pieces of society, three versatile, native crops that I would choose to utilize would be the California Black Oak, Goodding Willow, and Deergrass. For many California Indian tribes, one of the most common and essential sources of nourishment was acorns, the nut of the oak tree. Acorns have been a staple of the California Indian diet for thousands of years, and for many tribes, it was the most important plant food 3. To begin harvesting Acorns I would choose the California Black Oak, which is native to Butte County, as well as most of California. The tree’s binomial name is Quercus kelloggii, and has distinctive characteristics making it simple to distinguish 1. They have bright green leaves that are clearly six-lobed, ending in one to four bristle tipped teeth 1. The acorns are deeply set in the cup, which is covered with flat, thin scales 1. California Black Oak provided many resources to Native Americans including food, medicine, dyes, and construction materials, so it would be very useful to our rebuilding society. Large quantities of young, supple sprouts were utilized for countless items. It took a lot of time to harvest and prepare them, because West Coast acorn species contain tannic acid that must be filtered out before consumption 3. Acorns are gathered in the autumn and laid in the sun to dry and store for future use 3. To prepare for eating, the acorns are cracked out of their shells and can be ground to flour. After the flour is ground, the bitter tasting tannin can be filtered out by repeatedly pouring water over it 3. Since tannins attach to and change proteins, it is poisonous when ingested but the extracted tannins makes a superb disinfectant. The Indians frequently used tannin eyewashes and ointments to combat infections. Acorns can be stored for up to two years, so long as they are protected from rodents 5. In the past, acorns formed a principal food to indigenous Californians, made into soups, mush, bread, or patties. After the 2012 apocalypse Black Oak will not only provide acorns for nutrition, but also the resources for countless other applications to help us endure. Another incredible tree I would select to utilize is the Salix gooddingii, commonly known as the Goodding Willow. The Goodding Willow has numerous applications, but it is predominantly known for its medicinal benefits, which is why I would select this particular plant. This trees bark is the most medically pertinent portion of the tree 8. During the summer, the inner bark is removed and dried for future use 8. The willows fresh bark contains a chemical known as salicin, which decomposes into salicylic acid, a chemical closely related to aspirin, with similar effects 8. When consumed, the salicylic acid within the dried bark works as a painkiller 8. The bark is also a natural source of sodium and magnesium 9. The leaves, fresh or dried, can be prepared as a tea for the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and stomachache 7. The Goodding Willow prospers in most soils, but truly thrives in a damp, heavy soil in a sunny location 8. To propagate this plant, it can either be surface sown, or planted by using cutting techniques 7. The Goodding Willow is a fast-growing, deciduous, native tree that attains a height of twenty to sixty feet 9. Its leaves are two to four inches long, and there are female catkins up to 3.2 inches long. The Goodding willow’s bark is thick, rough, deeply wrinkled, and dark blackish brown in color 9.
