Dirca pilustrus ...rope bark...

Amazing what natural materials can produce, if you have the knowledge about how to use bark or fibres.

It has been used by the native people, it's called jiibegob in Ojibway. In French...Dirca des marais and it's similar to Lindera benzoin..(or spicebush) which is probably even more rare than the dirca..but I'm keeping an eye out for it.

Interesting . it would be a shame to lose these ancient skills ! I watched a programme on how they made rope from Flax on TV what a long process that was the rope was vital in the last war for just about everything even parachutes the farmers were encouraged to grow it on every spare piece of land ....

I planted flax seed in my very first garden. I had been very energetic digging but didn't have a lot of resources at the time. So I bought a lb. of flaxseed and made a drift of it across the bed. It was beautiful...loved the blue colour and sought it ever since. Planted a handful on the "meadow" and it came up so dependably. Did you know that the green seed is poisonous? When ripe they are very healthy but the husks are not good! I didn't bother with the seed. dried the the globe shaped hulls and made a wreath with it...it looked very good in dried arrangements too.

I didn't know the green seed was poisonous Lori I sprinkle a spoonful of Flax / linseed on my cereals every morning it is good for you , farmers grow fields of it in Norfolk it looks amazing when in flower......

http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=8e652ef5-f098-43fe-8d9f-d3ceca667147
This link may help explain, Amy. Other sites I've read say that cooking the seed ensures safety. I read also that it's the green seed pods that should not be consumed. If you have purchased seed from a reputable source you will be in no danger at all, as you would have to consume mega amounts of the stuff!. It is wonderfully nutritious. when boiled it produces a mucilaginous goo. Had a great auntie who had long lustrous hair well past her 90th birthday and claimed it was partly because she had linseed water in her tea every day! Personally, I love the taste of it.

I get my Linseed from a health store Lori it's in packets ready to eat , how do you make linseed water do you boil the seeds and then drain the water using it for tea ?
Thanks for the link I've read all that it almost put me off having any more !!

My dad used to make Linseed , Liquorice and Lemon when we were unwell with chest colds. He crushed the black liquorice with a hammer between brown paper. Boiled up linseed and added lemmon juice and thin peel, disolved the liquorice in the boiling solution. Strained it and it made a yummy but slithery drink which never failed to make us feel the better for having him take all that trouble.

What a lovely father Dorjac , it wouldn't have occured to my father to do something like that , did he boil the seeds how much would you need to use in lets say pint of water , teaspoon / table spoon can you remember ?

Oh that sounds delicious Dorjac. Agree with Amy...what a lovely father! Wouldn't mind making up a little drink for myself! The water is as you say, "slithery"...lol. You cook it as you would a cereal grain, Amy. about 4 cups of water would make you plenty...with say 2 or 3 tablespoons of flax seed. it doesn't become "slithery" until it cools a bit. My dad told me about the grooms mixing it with the oats for the horses ...said it gave them a very lustrous healthy coat. Please don't let the agri link put you off ...the source of the problem is the green seedheads and reblooming flowers on a late crop...to be used as fodder for livestock.