Plant Hike Today - Lots of Pics

Brian Andrews said:
Hey Doc,
I have seen nettle used for cordage in videos, but have not done it. I can see how removing the leaves would be easy, but how do get around all the hairs on the main stem? B
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Hey Brian,
Chances are that the nettle you saw used in videos was Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) not Wood Nettle. I find Stinging Nettle a pain to process.

For Wood Nettle, I harvest it in the fall just as the plant starts to die, so that the fibres are maxed out in size. I cut the stalk off at ground level rather than pulling it up, because it appears that it spreads by rhizomes and I don't want to damage the rhizome network. The plant is then run back and forth in my gloved hand to remove the prickles and leaves. Then I crack the stalk and remove the outer layer (bast layer?) (where the fibres are). It is then left to dry. Here's a bunch I have in my back room from a couple of years ago.

WoodNettlefibres.jpg


If I remember this fall, I'll do a photo shoot on harvesting and processing it.

Doc
 
Brian,

Thank you for the post, great information. Is that a Tilley hat and if it is what model is it?

Thanks again

Paul
 
valcas1 said:
Brian,

Thank you for the post, great information. Is that a Tilley hat and if it is what model is it?

Thanks again

Paul
Click to expand...

Hey Paul,

It is the Tilley LTM5 Airflo hat. It is my hot weather, and don't care if it gets crushed to bejezus hat :D

B
 
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