Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Other Ways to Use
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Your Harvest
As long as people have cultivated the ground, they have worked hard. But that doesn't mean it was
all work and no play. Hobbies emerge when there is downtime, and the hobbies of the farm are
time-tested.
Imagine just 100 years ago, before TVs and blockbuster releases. What did the family do when
they weren't working the fields, shelling peas, tending the animals, or cooking up meals? Put
that way, it doesn't sound like much time was left at all. Still, people always have and always will
look for some relaxation and enjoyment. The difference between then and now might just be that
relaxation still meant productivity.
Do we need colorful clothing, flower arrangements, striking baskets, or homemade crayons? Maybe
not. But we enjoy them, and you might just find that you enjoy making them. A key trait of a
successful backyard farm is to not let anything go to waste. So here are just some of the things that
can be done, and enjoyed, with the excess of your harvest.
Basketry and Weaving
Plants can be productive contributors to your garden or homestead long after the fruit is harvested
and the flowers fall. Many of the leaves and stalks around your garden are built of strong fibers
that can be turned into rope, baskets, trellises, and even yarn if you have the patience and curiosity.
At the end of the growing season, watch for the strongest leaves. If you can tug on them without
breakage, they are likely a good candidate for weaving.
Flax is the source of linen but can also be braided and woven. Bamboo is another that is used for
fiber to be spun but can also be used for weaving and basketry. Iris leaves and cattails are good for
weaving as well. Even pine needles can be harvested to make baskets.
To harvest and braid or weave leaves, follow a basic formula of drying before use and then wetting
as you need to manipulate the fiber. Some will need to be harvested green and dried slowly out of
the sun. Others must be harvested when they are dry and no sooner. When the time comes to use
the material, either spritz them with water or, if they can handle saturation, lay them in a pan or
pot of water for a short time.
 
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