Cattails

[ninnymary]

bobm, can you post pictures so we can see those above mentioned items?

Mary

 

[catjac1975]

My husband ran a Survival trip with 7ht graders from his school for many years. In the early years they only ate what they foraged for about a day and a half of the trip. They ate cattails which were plentiful. The part of the stalk that grows under the water was quite tender and tasted a lot like celery. Of course over time with the babying of American children it became a glorified camping trip. Still a great experience.

 

[baymule]

Since you will be farming the extra acre ... you will also have to weave a cat tail winnow basket to separate seeds from the chaff. We have one that is 24" wide and has 2" high sides made with pliable wood branches hanging in our DR wall as a decoration as well as a 3 ft. long broom made from a stick with cat tail leaves woven over the handle and small diameter brush/ bush stems 12" long fan shaped as the business end of the broom. Also, 3 ( about 12" tall and wide ) various shaped baskets made from small diameter reeds.

Bob! Take some pictures and post them so we can see what they look like!!

 

[Smart Red]

I've also eaten cattail stems. They are a bit slimy in texture, but not distasteful. I rather think that -- like zucchini -- they would take on the flavor of whatever you cooked them with.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

every year that i've worked around my parent's ponds and pulled plants i would break off a few pieces. they have such a pleasant scent and i knew they were edible. but never really thought of what to make with it. i thought i read somewhere it is dried and used as a flour.

 

[flowerweaver]

Anyone here ever make a broom? I have a field of broomweed and I sure could use a nice broom. I find the cat chewing on the synthetic one, so I feel like a natural one would be better. I have used the broomweed as a tea and bath addition for aches and pains.

I have a bag of kapok that came with a loom at an estate sale. It's interesting stuff and I'm trying to figure out what I'll do with it.

 

[Jeni Ann]

Carol Dee is an expert basket maker ... lets challenge her to make a cattail basket!!!! The ditches around here are full of cattails, so she has plenty of materials. Heck, I'll even gather it for her

 

[Nyboy]

What a good sister you are, gathering cattails for her.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Since you will be farming the extra acre ... you will also have to weave a cat tail winnow basket to separate seeds from the chaff. We have one that is 24" wide and has 2" high sides made with pliable wood branches hanging in our DR wall as a decoration as well as a 3 ft. long broom made from a stick with cat tail leaves woven over the handle and small diameter brush/ bush stems 12" long fan shaped as the business end of the broom. Also, 3 ( about 12" tall and wide ) various shaped baskets made from small diameter reeds.

Your right, probably will want to make a winnow basket. That can wait until later though, seeing that I won't be winnowing much of anything for nearly a whole year.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Carol Dee is an expert basket maker ... lets challenge her to make a cattail basket!!!! The ditches around here are full of cattails, so she has plenty of materials. Heck, I'll even gather it for her

"Oh no you didn't, sistah!"

@Carol Dee, you've just been challenged. Now you have to weave a cattail basket!