Tools and equipment required for creating a simple woven flax basket
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Flax is very fibrous and tough, a good sharp pair of garden hand pruning secateurs are the ideal tool for cleanly cutting the leaves to length. Collecting and preparing flax without modern metal tools must have been rather difficult.
Working with the long, slippery strips can be difficult in the beginning. Clothes pegs are helpful for holding corners and edges while you work, helping prevent things coming apart while you work. If you don't have pegs on hand (the early Maori certainly didn't) you can create your own from the thick base of the flax leaves. Cut short pieces and add a slit.
Working with the long, slippery strips can be difficult in the beginning. Clothes pegs are helpful for holding corners and edges while you work, helping prevent things coming apart while you work. If you don't have pegs on hand (the early Maori certainly didn't) you can create your own from the thick base of the flax leaves. Cut short pieces and add a slit.
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Practical uses for flax
New Zealand Flax, the native Phormium tenax, is an excellent plant to include in the forest garden. Not only does it grow in almost all conditions from wet to dry and full sun to shade, flax has some great practical applications.
The plant produces tall flower stalks that feed native bell birds. These stalks can be over 2 meters long and can be used for poles in the garden. While not as long lasting as bamboo, the flax poles decay after a season or 2, they are extremely light and easy to work with.
The flax leaves contain extremely tough fibres making them ideal fro tying and weaving. From simple rope to intricate baskets, woven mats and dental floss, the flax leaves and fibres are very versatile and durable.
I use flax constantly for tying and training plants. Being biodegradable is an added bonus as it breaks down into the soil and trees tied with flax will not strangle.
The plant produces tall flower stalks that feed native bell birds. These stalks can be over 2 meters long and can be used for poles in the garden. While not as long lasting as bamboo, the flax poles decay after a season or 2, they are extremely light and easy to work with.
The flax leaves contain extremely tough fibres making them ideal fro tying and weaving. From simple rope to intricate baskets, woven mats and dental floss, the flax leaves and fibres are very versatile and durable.
I use flax constantly for tying and training plants. Being biodegradable is an added bonus as it breaks down into the soil and trees tied with flax will not strangle.
