Birch Tar

[Cajoes]

Birch Tar

A substance derived from dry-refining of birch bark. Used as a adhesive, medicine and midge repellant for thousands of years.

[Granger]

Birch Tar [as] midge repellant.

Can we apply feathers after soaking the character in tar?

Apart from that particular joke: would be fun, interesting things from the RL in the game are always nice.

[Hrenli]

Can we apply feathers after soaking the character in tar?

YES PLEASE!

[Yorla]

Ugh, anything better than all the farmers dressed in the same pink robe!

[Cajoes]

Please remain on topic, we have regular wood-based tar for that sort of thing.

Birch bark tar (or birch pitch) is distinct from say Pine Tar (which was traditionally used as wood sealant for boats and outdoor furniture/construction) As well as having a even lower viscosity, almost appearing as a solid. ... Also it's derived from the birch bark, not the birch wood.

From the wiki article itself, I can draw a few items that might fit into Hafen n Hoff

Chewing gum (curio/consumable)

Russia leather (regular leather with birch tar worked into it) or Juchten or Juften. Not only waterproof, but repels insects, finally a solution to midge bites.

Generic adhesive because bone-glue bone glue bone glue bone glue ad nauseum.

And something called Vishnevsky liniment, which is apparently a burn treatment, since Aloe don't grow in the Hearthlands (yet).

It also apparently repels gastropods, but I can not imagine snails to be that big of a issue.