Goldenrod as a Weaving Material
*All of what I will discuss is based on my own personal experience working with this material. I have not researched how to use it.
I started using goldenrod to weave baskets as I wanted to try my hand at basket weaving, yet had no source of willow. Goldenrod is abundant in the garden, so I tried that and found it to be perfect for exploring the art of basketweaving.
Overall, I would say that goldenrod is a difficult material to use. The different parts of the stalk behave differently (the upper part is more flexible, the lower part is thicker and tends more towards splitting). It's not realistic to avoid using the lower part, as there is not enough length in the upper part and it lacks strength. Due to the difficulties with the material, the baskets do not come out as clean and polished as those made with willow. They are also not as strong or durable.
All that being said, goldenrod is not impossible to use. If you have the time and patience, it is entirely possible to make baskets out of them (I'm also attempting to make birdnests, but I think that will require a bit more research).
Preparing goldenrod for use:
Pull out long stalks. Strip the leaves off of the stalk (I like to use these as mulch in the garden). Remove the top of the stalk where it easily snaps off. Remove the bottom part of the stalk where it easily snaps off. Optional: Leave it to ret (leave it outside to begin breaking down) for a few days (I haven't done too much experimenting with retting, but from my recollection from last year it seemed to make the stalk a bit more flexible). I like to bend it every centimetre or so all down the length of the stalk, I find this helps prevent major snapping.
- Leaves and flowers can be used for other purposes
- Tricky to work with without snapping
- Resulting basket not as visually appealing
- Not as strong as wooden baskets
- Does not last as long as wooden baskets (however, will survive outside in the winter)
