{"id":5096,"date":"2019-03-24T21:05:12","date_gmt":"2019-03-24T21:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/?p=5096"},"modified":"2019-03-24T21:05:12","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T21:05:12","slug":"working-with-willow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/posts\/working-with-willow\/","title":{"rendered":"Working with willow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While activity revs up the in the veg patch, and work is done on our newly-made compost bays, it\u2019s also been a great time to harvest our willow wands.<\/p>\n<p>Volunteers have been helping Deggie, our resident willow expert, to coppice trees that were planted about three years ago and produce new \u2018rods\u2019 each year from a \u2018stool\u2019.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-5096 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/posts\/working-with-willow\/willow1\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow1-432x432.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow1-268x268.jpg 268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/posts\/working-with-willow\/willow2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow2-432x432.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow2-268x268.jpg 268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/posts\/working-with-willow\/willow3\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow3-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow3-432x432.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow3-268x268.jpg 268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>We used secateurs and loppers (whichever were sharper!) to clear the deadwood and cut the rods off at their base, as close to the stool as we could.<\/p>\n<p>We then tried to trim the cuts back further to help the new growth for next year, and cleared nettles and other growth from the surrounding soil.<\/p>\n<p>Next we sorted the rods into similar sizes and types.<\/p>\n<p>We grow a variety of fast-growing willow (salix) including \u2018Fanny\u2019s White\u2019 (salix alba), purple continental (salix daphnoides) and black willow (salix nigra).<\/p>\n<p>A helpful way to identify different lengths is to stand with your hands loosely holding a bunch and let them gently fall within your hands so their bases all meet the floor. Then pick out long, medium and short (or thick, medium and slim!) into piles.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re deciding how we want to use our willow this year, so it was important to get the bundles safely stored away from the elements.<br \/>\nDeggie explained how to make a \u2018rose knot\u2019 from a thin rod tied around the middle and ends of a bundle.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-5096 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/posts\/working-with-willow\/willow7\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow7-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow7-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow7-432x432.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.organicarts.org.uk\/projects\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/willow7-268x268.jpg 268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Once secured, it\u2019s much easier to carry and stack the bundles.<br \/>\nWe also started propagating our black willow, which looks so striking against the light that streams down to the bottom of the sloping land where our willow grows.<br \/>\nVolunteer John dug a trench which enabled Deggie to start creating drills using a stake and mallet.<br \/>\nAround 12 inches of rod, cut from the bottom with the end nicked off to expose the fresh sap, was dropped into each about two thirds in depth. Mulching with earth up and around the base can also help if the drill isn\u2019t quite deep enough.<br \/>\nWillow has a strong will (something in a name?) to grow so we look forward with hope to next year and a new crop to coppice.<\/p>\n<h4>Did you know?<\/h4>\n<blockquote><p>You can use rods for weaving baskets, sculptures and wattle fences.<\/p>\n<p>Willow bark has a long history of medicinal use, with its inner bark containing the active ingredient of aspirin.<\/p>\n<p>The branches are also said to be the best for diving water.<\/p>\n<p>At OrganicArts, willow is part of the fabric of mindful activities that we enjoy in the beautiful surroundings of West Town Farm.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While activity revs up the in the veg patch, and work is done on our newly-made compost bays, it\u2019s also been a great time to harvest our willow wands. 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