The seed heads and my foot. |
This is the 'hackle' or 'heckle' a comb like tool which removed the seed heads from the stalks. |
This being the Summer holidays I had my little helper, Ginny, with me. She kindly agreed to help in the 'hackling'. |
You draw the stalks through the 'hackle' and the seedheads fall off. |
The seed heads are then collected together in a bag (old pillowcase) and either crushed between the fingers or... |
Next you need an easily bribed person with a scythe (a sausage bap worked on Dave!). |
I have been really impressed by the scythe. It clears overgrown areas much quicker than a strimmer and more neatly. Dave is clearing the ground ready for our retting pit. |
To make the pit so that it holds water, we puddled it. Simply pour water into the pit and stomp up and down on it. This compresses the soil. |
Continue to pour water into the pit and stomp. This makes lovely mud and saturates the surrounding soil. |
Don't forget to compress the sides as well. |
You know when its ready when the water starts to fill the pit. |
In goes the flax! Now you just wait for a couple of weeks, check the water is still there and let the bugs do their bit. |
No comments:
Post a Comment