aldering

Aldering is a rarely used English term that can refer to several different practices connected to alder trees or alder wood. Because it does not have a single, widely recognized definition, its meaning depends on the context in which it appears.

In arboriculture and ecological restoration, aldering may denote activities involving alder trees of the genus Alnus. Alders are known for rapid growth and for forming symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules, which can improve soil fertility. In this sense, aldering might describe planting, coppicing, or pollarding alders to produce timber, stabilize riverbanks, or enhance floodplain soils.

In culinary contexts, aldering is sometimes used informally to describe cooking with alder wood, especially smoking. Foods such as fish are commonly alder-smoked in Pacific Northwest traditions. This usage is informal and not standardized, with most sources opting for “smoking with alder” or “alder-smoked.”

Aldering also appears as a surname in some regions of Europe, reflecting patronymic or toponymic origins.

Etymology: The term derives from alder, the common name for trees in the genus Alnus, with the English gerund suffix -ing. The sense in which it is used is typically clear from the surrounding terminology.