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favorite PNW basketry materials? | (Read 86 times) |
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kelda
Posts: 263
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August 12, 2008, 12:22:54 AM |
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I'd love a 'top ten' of good basketry materials for this area and a rough timeline of when to process/dry/use.
I bet on that list are:
cedar
horsetail
reeds
willow
I guess what I'm asking is, for folks who are regulars at this, how do you organize yourselves? and your storage sheds?
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1338
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August 13, 2008, 10:47:35 AM |
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I'm looking at a black locust tree and thinking about putting some branches away to get good and dry and use for trellises and the like. Black locust makes for the longest lasting wood for anything outdoors.
Not exactly the same, but close ....
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permaculture.dave
Posts: 113
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September 17, 2008, 04:28:54 PM |
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Kelda,
You should talk to Heidi Bohan. She's on point with this stuff. Email me if you need her contact info.
For the record I'd add red twig dogwood and tules to your list.
Dave
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heidi
Posts: 3
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November 16, 2008, 11:02:29 AM |
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Hi Kelda, Paul and Dave and others,
I'm on Kuaui right now, researching and working with the local Hawaiians using their fibers for hats, mats and netting (hau, hala, olani, beachnut, coconut, more) and I was doing a search and found this entry!
Top 10 basketry fibers for the northwest?.... hmmm. Sounds like another good article Dave? or add to my book ideas. But for now;
red cedar bark, red cedar withes, red cedar roots, yellow cedar bark, spruce root... would be at the top of the list. Easy to get? no, and I wouldn't really want people racing out to get as much as they can unless they understand it's importance, how to use it, harvest ethically, etc.
For easy to get, sustainable to harvest, top natives for basketry/cordage;
Nettle, Cattail, Tules, Willow, Red Osier, Basket sedge, Hazelnut, Pine needles, Red cedar withes, Dogbane hemp, wild cherry...
How to use it? how much to get, what part to get, how to cure, how to store? That's what apprenticeship is all about. There are so many subtleties. I've had people proudly tell me they harvested a whole garage full of cattail, then ask me which part is used. That is unethical harvesting.
I started out harvesting a little of each, learning from my relatives, practicing, studying, seeing what worked and what didn't. It's all very interesting. Maybe I'll do a workshop series this winter on fibers of the Northwest.
Interested?
Hau fiber is amazing, super strong, from a plant that grows out of control everywhere. I'm going to make a net from some. The people here are intriqued by cedar bark. Cool.
Check out my new blog, http://heidibohanblog.blogspot.com/ , I've posted an article on poi making I participated in.
Heidi
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kelda
Posts: 263
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November 16, 2008, 09:25:32 PM |
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Heidi,
I am so happy about your blog and I'll take some time to read it soon. From a glance though it doesn't Nearly have as much information about all you do, as that would be pretty darn complex.
I just finished reading 'Keeping it Living' and 'Tending the Wild'. awesome books!
one interesting basketry thing that was mentioned in california was harvesting of sedge roots, but in the northwest they listed sedge foliage.
Hm. I should really dive in more before asking more questions (so yes! am very interested in a workshop taught by you). but it seems odd that sedge roots wouldn't also work up north.
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