Grading willow and update on willow midge infestation

[@ianrtilley]

Great video, many thanks. I am self taught and collect my willow that grows in hedgerows and small wooded areas where I live. I have only consider diameter and colour when sorting to make anything. you have shown me another important item to consider in looking at the length of the willow which I have sometimes over looked .. very interesting, Cheers ,Ian from England

[@HannaVanAelst]

Hi Ian, yes I only sort by length. Most willow will be of similar thickness when of similar length.

[@annanelson6830]

Thanks for your videos. You are elegant and knowledgeable. I am in interior Alaska and am just beginning to appreciate the willow that grows creekside, roadside, and in the burns - where wildfires have cleared the large trees.

[@HannaVanAelst]

Thank you! Excited for you at the start of your willow journey!

[@aestew]

I am so far from this kind of harvest, but it's incredibly inspiring. Thank you for sharing!

[@HannaVanAelst]

You are so welcome!

[@vheidiheberhard2590]

It is so inspiring and gives me desire to have more time to work with my own willow - even it is not so much plants... Thank you so much.

[@akly1379]

This is so inspiring, your dedication and hard work is encouraging, and your videos are so relaxing to watch at the same time.

[@HannaVanAelst]

Thank you so much!

[@julieg1270]

Thanks Hanna for the information on the midges and how they attack the purpurea willow 🙂👍

[@HannaVanAelst]

very welcome!

[@christineworsdell7856]

A really helpful video. I have both willow and shed envy!

[@HannaVanAelst]

😂

[@theresefransson5244]

Thank you for this inspiring video, Hanna...now I'm getting out to the barn right away to claim a new better space for my willow before I start harvesting...

[@HannaVanAelst]

Super!😀

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

Wow! Glad to see how blessed with willow you are! Looks like you got the midges on the run!

[@HannaVanAelst]

I hope so!

[@twigandroot]

This is wonderful information to have, thank you for sharing.

[@martas-flechtwerk]

so, so much willow...a dream for me!

[@HannaVanAelst]

You will get there!

[@SweetLife529]

Awesome, love seeing your hard work ❤️

[@HannaVanAelst]

Thank you so much!!

[@mariagibbons8437]

Dear Hannah, first of all : thanks for sharing your beautiful craft and continuous learning with us. We live in Ireland, if you could tell me what I could learn and practice with that extra load of 2 foot length you have, I will be delighted to buy some of it and to benefit both of us. Thanks.

[@HannaVanAelst]

Hi Maria, thanks for your lovely words! You are welcome to buy some 2 ft rods anytime. They are useful for small baskets and birdfeeders, or in the side of a basket as double French randing. Love H

[@mariagibbons8437]

@@HannaVanAelst Great news! if you think I can do a couple of small hanging baskets as shown in your video, (for holding onions) I would love to try that... I will send my details via your info email. Thanks again!

[@shelaghmorrison4329]

This may be a silly question, but do you grade before or after the willow has dried?

[@HannaVanAelst]

It's not a silly question at all! Grading willow is much easier when the willow is fresh. It slides better and will less likely break. That does not mean you can't do it when the willow is dry. I have done both but prefer the first method.

[@agreatalternative]

Very knowledgeable, you have a new subscriber! We are soon to start our willow growing journey and this channel is an inspiration! Quick question; do you suffer from pests damaging the willow that is drying at all?

[@HannaVanAelst]

The only thing that would damage the willow once cut is woodworm. I myself have not experienced it. Keeping willow very dry would keep those away.

[@OldCountrySeeds]

Wow! Looks amazing!!! And I am in awe. Well done! What a treasure. Love learning about the midge, but sad that it's an issue. How are things looking in the winter of 2021-22?

[@HannaVanAelst]

They are still there but in lesser more manageable numbers...

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

How much would you recommend planting if you just wanted to basket weave part time? I find it fascinating, however im sad that it will be almost 2 years before i can do it since i have to grow it lol (and everyone is sold out this year for large quantities, so ill have to grow it and replant what i grew for more)

[@HannaVanAelst]

I always advise people to plant as much as possible. There is always a shortage of willow. But I would guess a quarter acre would be a nice patch for a part time maker...

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

@@HannaVanAelst omg. Lol i was hoping a 5ft width along my fence line would be enough Maybe i have to borrow an aunts property too 🤣🤣🤣

[@carolewarner101]

Wow...so much beautiful willow! I'm assuming you sell raw willow as well as the baskets and art you make? You're going to have to have a clearance sale or something this year or you won't have room to store next year's crop! Wonderful...

[@HannaVanAelst]

The wonderful thing about willow is that it does not go bad and there is always a demand for it....

[@carolewarner101]

@@HannaVanAelst But there's only so much room in your barn! You seem to be growing so much willow on your farm. Is there any chance you'll run out of room or do you always sell/use enough each year to have space for the next year's harvest? Another question... When I dry my beans I find that the ones that have been dry the longest take longer to rehydrate and get a good tasting result. They're still ok to eat, but it's always better to use them sooner than later. Do you find this to be true with dried willow? Does the quality of the willow or it's ease of workability go down the longer it's been in a dried state, or doesn't it matter? Thanks.

[@HannaVanAelst]

@@carolewarner101 I use a lot of willow usually. And I sell some when I have a surplus. Yes willow that is dryer will take longer to become soft to weave. I have found that willow that has been stored indoors is a lot more dry and will take a few more days in the tank. I have also heard from people in dryer climates that the one day per foot rule does not apply to them. They double it!

[@carolewarner101]

@@HannaVanAelst Hmmm, good to know. Wow, there's so much to learn! But it also seems like you can just go for it as well. I'll have to wait for the leaves to come out on the small creek side trees that I believe are willows to know for sure, but if they are I'm going to see whether I can weave some baskets with cuttings from them! I may even try weaving some with branches that haven't been dried just to get started learning the techniques, even though when they dry they'll be all loose and possibly unusable... Anyway, no need to reply. I am hoping you go ahead and make that video that goes into more detail about how long to soak willow, what it looks like when it's been over soaked (and the problems with that), etc. Many thanks!

[@Birdieadams-kt3nw]

It looks like it is better to dry the willow standing? If you were drying smaller quantities, can it be laid on its side to dry? Also how long does it need to dry ? I have often been impatient & not allowed my willow to dry long before making something & that later shrinkage shows. Once dry it is good for how many year's? On your steaming video, it looked like you soaked prior to steaming? Thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge!

[@jsa-z1722]

Hanna does your drying shed have walls please? Or just a roof? 🙏

[@HannaVanAelst]

It has both walls and a roof, but the walls are not fully sealed. We have left gaps for air circulation.

[@jsa-z1722]

@@HannaVanAelst Thank you!

[@ratgirl34]

Are there other species of plant that this would work with? My moms lilac bush seems pretty similar to our willows in growth pattern. It’ll need pruning this year and it seems a shame to waste the cuttings.

[@annanelson6830]

We had a strange autumn; it was not as cold as usual. Some of the willow had buds on it like it was making blossoms -white fuzzy inside. Do you see this and do you still use them?

[@HannaVanAelst]

Hi Anna, some varieties make early buds. They are still fine to work with.

[@annanelson6830]

Thanks. Good to know. Without leaves, the balsam poplar looks a lot like willow. In the summer it’s easy to tell the difference, but in winter it’s not sticky or smelly. I wonder if it is good for basket weaving. Would need to be peeled unless the resin dries out.

[@jakesale6087]

How much area do your willow beds cover?

[@HannaVanAelst]

Almost one acre

[@sarahlavalley8556]

How many willow plants do you grow?

[@HannaVanAelst]

😀 never counted them! Thousands....