Where to get started with Homespun

As part of putting in our permaculture garden, we want to be sure to leave enough space for natural fiber products. We are thinking of growing nettle, hemp, or flax. Anyone have experience with each of these and have some commentary as to which is easier to work with? How about which one is more versatile? I.e. if you had to wear only clothes made of one of these, which would be the least likely to land you in a dermatologist's office with The Worst Chaffing of All Time? I've bought my darling dear a rod distaff and drop spindle for their birthday and we are excited about moving forward with our own crafting. We're also hoping to get into basketweaving but that's another matter entirely.

I think Flax would be the better option. You can also get an edible seed/oil harvest.

S Bengi wrote:I think Flax would be the better option. You can also get an edible seed/oil harvest.

Couldn't you also do that with hemp? And hemp is taller I think so maybe more fiber per plant?

Hemp seeds have a hard hull, so aren't great for fresh eating. You can make nut milk without hulling them, though. I don't know anything about the oil. I imagine you might have a problem with kids ripping up the plants to smoke.

Flaxseed oil goes rancid almost immediately and is no good for cooking. The seed is edible right off the plant, though.

I don't know anything about working with or wearing the fibre, but I bet r ranson would!

Before setting aside garden space, maybe see if there are any fiber plants that grow wild where you are. I've got spreading dogbane everywhere I look, which supposedly is very like hemp.