Hi there.....I've got lots to tell you, but firstly I must apologise for my absence. I've been in a bit of a rut lately and life has been full on to say the least. For those who have written to me asking when I will be blogging again....Thank-you for all your well wishes....I'm back, or at least I'm going to try to be back!
During my absence I've lost touch with what everyone else is up to as well. So I want to hear from you. Tell me what's happening at your house at the moment!
So here is a catch up with some things you may find interesting........
A week ago, I would have said the biggest thing I was dealing with would have been trying to get my Mother's blood sugar levels under control...but thankfully that's all good now.......NOW the biggest thing I'm dealing with at the moment is
VERMIN...It seems my crop of
Madagascar Beans has attracted all the rats and mice in the street...Who knew there was this many....I mean it's not something I care to think about really......I assume they are all coming from the neighbours (3) that keep chickens....
I first thought that the damage was maybe due to birds, as most of the devastation was near the top...(where a bird could perch)...until I found evidence...droppings...large droppings......arrrrghhhhh!
First crop was totally munched....I picked a whole bucket of beans....every one damaged beyond edible.....Thankfully there's still hope because the vines are still flowering.......But I need to get rid of the VERMIN if I want to save any future crops.
You can see how big these rats are....
VERMIN COUNT SO FAR....RATS 4, MICE 10...... to be continued, I'm sure.....
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On to some exciting news.......
I recently attended a BASKET WEAVING COURSE
organised by the Shellharbour Council through the Barrack Heights Community Garden.
What an awesome day we had.....
Lovely hand-crafted baskets and other items made by Mr Jim Walliss can be admired at the
Arts and Crafts NSW gallery at the Rocks in Sydney...Jim, who ran the class was mostly self taught many years ago from studying aboriginal artefacts in State museums in both South Australia and Queensland. Wanting to use plants indigenous to his local area...NSW.....he found there was very little documentation.
Here are a few photos of some of the items which were made on the day.....
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Ross and Joy made these items |
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Bark from the Brown Kurrajong tree |
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Cordage from the bark of the Brown Currajong
Seeds Left to Right:
Bunya (dyed with most likely red ochre),
Macadamia & Wisteria
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Towards the end of the day we were all taught how to harvest and make string from the bark of the brown
Kurrajong tree.
I found this to be very interesting.
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String made from the leaves of the Red Hot Poker plant |
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New Zealand bag using the leaves of a Cordyline plant |
Wanting to finish my own basket from the course...(below)
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This basket is roughly twice the size of the one Joy made : Reason for not being finished...lol |
..........I set out hunting and gathering plants last week...and found many along the side of the road and not too far from home.....I had gathered some on my own, then another day after visiting the
Albion Park Community Garden; both myself and Ross and his wife Joy went gathering more....
Ross has more knowledge of plants and where they are in the area than I do...but I'm learning.
Thanks Ross and Joy for all your help!
Here are the plants that we gathered............................
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This seems to be very brittle....Once soaked.. it should be easier to manage. |
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The base of the thicker plants can be used to make beads like below |
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Phragmites reed used to make the four beads on the top necklace. Cordage was Red Hot Poker leaves |
For some very clear instruction on how to prepare the flax
look here......
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This large Flax will be excellent for weaving a basket. |
Ross kindly showed me where this tree is, but I don't plan on harvesting any of the branches as it has been planted in a Bush Regeneration Program and I also took home the sample of bark from the class.
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Commersonia fraseri BROWN KURRAJONG Branch |
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Commersonia fraseri BROWN KURRAJONG Foliage |
It's an idea to harvest dried plant material as this can save you a lot of time. In order to use most plant matter for basket weaving, you first dry it, then soak it for hours to make it pliable for weaving.
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I think this is the correct photo? |
Stripping the willow of its leaves and gathering it in coils
will make it easier later to soak in water.
See how huge this pod is in comparison
to the front of my car? I wonder what I will make with this?
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Inside the pod |
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The outer layer of the pod. |
I've also gathered some leaves from the
Bana Grass at the local Community Garden
and some Agave leaf...this produces lovely fine thread
Everyone found the class to be very rewarding....now I find myself looking at plants that I never gave a second thought to.....I just need to make time to finish my basket and begin another item......
(I better go do some house-work, this post is far more in depth than I had planned
...but hey...I've loved sharing it all with you)
Have you ever made a basket from raw materials?
Maybe you have done a similar course?
Would you be interested in learning more about
basket weaving with raw materials?