Burdock fiber

I have learned (from Sally Pointer, a British archeologist who studies traditionnal fiber arts) to make fiber out of burdock.

The process is fairly similar to nettles (look at her YouTube channel) but burdock. is far more plentiful round here than nettles. It's fairly foolproof and meditative (or cathartic for the "beating it with a rock" stage.

I made a tiny fairy coiled basket. It also makes sturdy cordage for tying tomatoes to stakes.

I highly recommend giving that a try.

Could you tell us a little more about the process?

Both for preparing the fiber and weaving your beautiful basket?

I'm growing burdock for the root, but it would be cool to make use of the tops too. I hear they're edible too but not particularly delicious.

I cut long side stems, remove the leaves and bang the stems with a pestle to break the inner pith.

Once it splits a bit, I use my fingers to kind of break it apart and remove the pith. Using a butter knife, I gently scrape the rest of the flesh on both the pith and bark sides until fibers start to appear.

Eventually, it gets easier to split into individual fibers. The fibers are dried, and rehydrated when ready to use.

Just to be clear do you harvest the stems when they're in full life? or when they're starting to die back? Or does it matter?

And do you do this during their first year, flowering year or both?

So far, I've harvested them just before or during flowering, but certainly from the second year plant. I forage from the alleys from the biggest specimens, because you want long thin stems to get long fibers. They are not cultivated plants.

I'll try to take pictures of the plant next foraging session.