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Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/21746
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

<p>What are uses for red spruce (picea rubens) by humans in wilderness settings (e.g. in primitive technologies, bushcraft, wilderness survival, low-tech rural livelihoods, frontier homesteading)? While this could fall under other StackExchange categories (e.g. DIY, chemistry), I'm interested in uses that obviously apply to The Great Outdoors. Some examples I'm aware of:</p>

<ul>
<li>Thread and rope: "Native Americans in North America use the thin, pliable roots of some species for weaving baskets and for sewing together pieces of birch bark for canoes." via <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce#Other_uses" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce#Other_uses</a></li>
<li>Pitch: useful for sealing/waterproofing surfaces like buckets, barrels, and boats. via <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce#Other_uses" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce#Other_uses</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce_gum" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Spruce gum</a>: a natural chewing gum; doesn't seem particularly useful but used to be used!</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruce_beer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Medicinal tea</a>: young needles nearer to the tip of the branch can be boiled for 3 hours then cooled and served as a vitamin C supplement healing scurvy. </li>
</ul>

<p>Are there other uses of red spruce in this context? Have they been used for wilderness construction, either of shelters or palisades? In modern times this wood is used for construction of objects not exposed to weather: crates, instruments, interior construction.</p>