Euell Gibbons and Pine Trees

[Servovenford]

Ever eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible.
Who here remembers Euell, the charismatic grape-nut commercial guy (their taste always reminded him of "wild hickory nuts")?
He has been living rent-free in my head since the talks of food shortages fired up. It may sound almost comical to the average food consumer at first, but pine trees really do have a lot of nutrition to offer, and Euell was no grape-"nut". 

Ever Eat A Pine Tree? Euell Gibbons

"Who the heck is Euell Gibbons?  Any American kid growing up in the 1970’s would know.  Gibbons was the spokesperson for Post Grape-Nuts cereal, made instantly famous by a single television commercial where he uttered, “Ever eat a pine tree?  Many parts are edible.”  That statement was so bizarre – and laugh-out-loud to us kids – it spread like wildfire (and sold a ton of Grape-Nuts cereal). But it was only recently I learned Gibbons wasn’t just a hired bindle stiff, but a man ahead of his time.  He had a lifelong interest in foods foraged from “nutritious-but-oft-neglected plants” (surely learned from an impoverished and transient childhood).  He wrote several successful whole-foods cookbooks, including “Stalking the Wild Asparagus” (1964) and “A Wild Way to Eat” (1967).  In his later years, Gibbons and his wife joined a community of Quakers in Philadelphia, where he cooked the daily shared breakfast (of course he did)."

Chances are, you've probably eaten parts of a pine tree already. Pine nuts are a popular food item and are often incorporate into pesto!
Pine trees are packed with nutrition. Even that annoying yellow floof (pine pollen) is a meal. According to https://thegrownetwork.com/eat-pine-trees/

Pine pollen is a good source of nutrition, including protein, folic acid, several B vitamins, and vitamins C and E. It even contains some vitamin D, which is not common in plants. Pine pollen also contains several minerals and trace elements.

One of its more interesting properties is that it contains a chemical very similar to testosterone. While the levels are not high enough to be frightening, they may contribute to some of the health benefits of pine pollen, such as lessening inflammation, lessening the effects of arthritis, countering the effects of excess estrogens, increased prostate health, and anti-fatigue effects.1)2)3)4) Pine pollen also has liver protective properties.5)

There are plenty more ways to enjoy the nutrition from a pine tree. The needles also make a decent (delicious) spice:
Pine tree recipes, click here

This is a great starter on eating pine trees: Edible Pine Tree Parts
In the link above, the author discusses some important points about harvesting bark and resin. Only harvest them from a tree that has recently fallen (say, within a few weeks) or a tree that is going to be otherwise cut down. Bark (and resin) harvesting severely (and permanently) damages the tree:

Similar to harvesting bark, intentionally wounding a tree to harvest pine resin will scar a tree and provides access to insects and microbes that could stunt or kill the tree.  Harvesting from small branches or existing wounds is a better more ethical option.  Only harvest resin from the trunk of a tree that’s destined to be cut down for other reasons.

(from above link)

I highly recommend you read the linked articles if you're seriously interested in adding conifers to your diet, even if only for a survival option or a tasty spice!
Word of warning, I've heard from several pine-munchers that the bark can be a little tough on the human digestive system, so use caution.

Other than that, do your research and be responsible in your pine-chow harvesting. 
Bon appetite.