Ocote is New Mexico’s ‘palo santo’. It is a resinous pine, once struck by lighting or under some other distress, caused the tree to fill itself with resin to heal. Over time the tree dies and because of its resin does not rot.
Yearly we make the trek to gather Ocote for fire starter and ‘inceinso’ in the deep mountains of Northern NM. I like to hike far, up rocky mountains far from roads to find the best and oldest logs. There are easier ways to start a fire these days, but we love to quote, "Your life is the medicine", and there just isn't much better medicine than gathering ocote in the woods, especially covered in snow. It is a quest in search of nature to sustain our bodies and spirits. The trek to find ocote is part of what makes it so special.
If you have ever been to the Taos Pueblo Christmas bonfires you know the intoxicating, slightly sweet aroma that the black pitch smoke produces. If you haven't it is perhaps too hard to explain and you will need to experience it when you can. What can be explained though is that this wood, is as useful as it is beautiful. It can be used daily in the cold months to start your fire, in your survival kit, or used daily to set intention.
→ You can find Ocote bundles and ocote holders made of pit fired wild micaceous clay in our MERCADO.
→ You can also watch our latest process video of Johnny harvesting Ocote filmed by Maida in RECUERDOS