Flax for Temperate Northern/Southern self-sufficiency

[Guest guest]

Let's not forget the other hemishere and talk/write in climate zones

otherwise we real southerners will get an inferiority complex :-)

 

Dear Hare Krsna prabhu, your generosity in researching topics for the

devotees is a constant inspiration to me, thank you.

 

We are at 37 degrees south of the equator and have come to the same

conclusion that flax is the fibre for us. My wife was fortunate enough to

find a bonafide flax guru :-) She is a Finish lady about 65 years old who

learnt her craft from her grandmother. She grows flax in spring and autumn.

Flax for fibre is grown for about 60 days in this climate, indicator is the

stem of the plant is brown instead of green for the bottom 10cm. Flax for

seed is grown for about 90 days. I was wondering why your references spoke

of drying the flax over a fire as I had not heard this before. I speculate

that maybe the spring planting was used for seed for there is time for the

seed to mature in the heat. And the autumn planting was for fibre because a

shorter season is needed. This is maybe why a fire is needed to dry the flax

because in summer I am sure the flax can be dried properly without fire. I

have also heard that the longer the plant is dried before breaking, and I am

talking about many years, the better the quality of the fibre.

 

My wife desiring to learn about spinning and weaving joined a local spinning

and weaving club in a city near us, Pop. 180,000. It was here that she found

out about the Finish lady. I can recommend this practice as we know that

learning from books is good but being taught by a master is better. Plus

lots of preaching opportunities. Plus opportunities to buy or copy the

equipment to turn flax into linen, this lady now has rheumatoid arthritis

and sold us a big floor loom for a bargain because she is thankful that she

has trained someone to carry on the craft.

 

Your servant, Gokula das.

[Guest guest]

"COM: Gokula das (New Nandagram - AU)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2403511 from COM]

>

> We are at 37 degrees south of the equator and have come to the same

> conclusion that flax is the fibre for us. My wife was fortunate enough to

> find a bonafide flax guru :-) She is a Finish lady about 65 years old who

> learnt her craft from her grandmother. She grows flax in spring and autumn.

> Flax for fibre is grown for about 60 days in this climate, indicator is the

> stem of the plant is brown instead of green for the bottom 10cm. Flax for

> seed is grown for about 90 days. I was wondering why your references spoke

> of drying the flax over a fire as I had not heard this before. I speculate

> that maybe the spring planting was used for seed for there is time for the

> seed to mature in the heat. And the autumn planting was for fibre because a

> shorter season is needed. This is maybe why a fire is needed to dry the flax

> because in summer I am sure the flax can be dried properly without fire. I

> have also heard that the longer the plant is dried before breaking, and I am

> talking about many years, the better the quality of the fibre.

>

> My wife desiring to learn about spinning and weaving joined a local spinning

> and weaving club in a city near us, Pop. 180,000. It was here that she found

> out about the Finish lady. I can recommend this practice as we know that

> learning from books is good but being taught by a master is better. Plus

> lots of preaching opportunities. Plus opportunities to buy or copy the

> equipment to turn flax into linen, this lady now has rheumatoid arthritis

> and sold us a big floor loom for a bargain because she is thankful that she

> has trained someone to carry on the craft.

>

> Your servant, Gokula das.

 

No question about it, Srila Prabhupada taught us that the best way to learn is

not just by book, but by having a living teacher to explain the process and

answer our specific questions. Now I wish I were a millionaire so I could go

to

these flax training sessions with your wife -- or at least fly her to Maine to

give workshops here, once she learns.

 

The spinning and weaving club sounds like it could be the basis of good

preaching opportunities. Try to make sure that your wife takes some prasadam

treats for the other members. My guess is that she will make sure that the

Finnish lady gets to hear about Krsna. This sounds very inspiring and very

promising all around.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi