Harvesting roots for basket weaving | Spruce Root Harvesting

Learn more about the wonderful world of spruce root (videos from Sealaska heritage):
Harvesting, Processing Spruce Roots with Master Haida Weaver
• Harvesting, Processing...
Learn Spruce-Root Weaving Series: Video 1
• Learn Spruce-Root Weav...
#harvestingspruceroot #spruceroot #agreatalternative
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[@whitewolf9705]

Thank you for including the part where you bury the roots to protect the trees, it honestly cannot be stressed enough how important it is! I've heard the horror stories of people taking shortcuts from my mother and uncle. Taking everything from a single tree because they're too lazy to go start another, or leaving the dug-up area torn-up and exposed. These trees can provide us with roots for a lifetime, they should outlive us. To find an old friend dead because of abuse and neglect is heartbreaking.

[@agreatalternative]

Thank you for your support, I have felt a little like an imposter in this regard as I’m not certain I’m always doing the best thing for the plants I’m taking from! That sounds awful, and like you said probably just come down to either ignorance, disrespect or laziness.

[@agreatalternative]

Also thank you for your upload of the spruce root basket weaving video, it was one of the videos I watched when researching recently 😁

[@benmoffitt7524]

I’d never thought of using spruce roots for weaving. The baskets you made with them were really uniquely colored and very beautiful. I’ll definitely have to try it. Thanks, as always, for sharing this!

[@agreatalternative]

Honestly it’s my new favourite material to work with! Good luck with it and let me know how it goes 👍

[@timothylongmore7325]

Many roots work. Pine , tamarak , and elm are some of my favorites. Spruce a great because they tend to be the same diameter for long lengths. Especially black spruce.

[@agreatalternative]

@@timothylongmore7325 Thank you Timothy, I haven’t even heard of a couple of those!

[@christianwitness]

Very well done. Here in Southern Indiana, the black walnut husk is a nice dye. The husk also is a natural source of IODIDE ( iodine )!!! IN THE aMerican civil war; the southern army used Butternut ( white walnut) as dye for their uniforms... Good blog. I have no access to spruce. I make handles of hop hornbeam, and American Hornbeam. Hop Hornbeam is strong and especially durable. American not so much under moist conditions. Carry on and may God bless you.

[@agreatalternative]

Thank you for all the information! Although (I’ve just had a quick look) we do have hornbeam in the UK it’s not one I’ve got much knowledge of, so certainly something new to go and research further! It’s so helpful learning through the comments from kind people like yourself, thank you for taking the time to message!

[@RAMUNI-Viking]

great video. And interesting techniques. I love it:) new subscriber

[@agreatalternative]

Cheers, hope it was helpful!

[@surfearth1]

Great video. Keep making videos! Don’t quit!

[@agreatalternative]

Thank you, that means a lot!

[@CampfireKodiak]

Excellent video! You are very creative. I wonder if you could make fishing line with it?

[@agreatalternative]

@@CampfireKodiak Thank you! That’s a really interesting question, I had never even thought of that! My guess would be it could work as it’s a strong cordage, but I wonder if the it would be strong enough? Maybe if it could be twisted into a stronger cordage? Also I’ve got hardly any knowledge when it comes to fishing (especially using primitive techniques) so I wouldn’t know where to start! Thank you for the comment, I’m off now to check out some of your videos! 😊👍

[@TinkeringWithTim]

Thanks for the video. How long do you think you can keep the roots "hanging" around before they are no longer going to get soft again when you soak them to get them soft and usable? just a thought but maybe a short video on how to id a spruce tree. (-:

[@agreatalternative]

Hi Tim, great question! I’m only in my first year of using spruce root and so far there hasn’t been a time that they wouldn’t re-soak without issue. One thing I’ve definitely confirmed is the best time of year to harvest being summer-autumn. With what I’ve harvested over winter, the bark is a lot harder (has to be scratched off vigorously, rather than an easy peel) because they are not full of sap. I’ll be testing that throughout the year and this gives me a great idea for an update! Thank you for your idea about the ID video, it’s not one I’d thought of doing because I’m not a tree expert but maybe I’ll give it a go!

[@tnyberg67]

@@agreatalternativeThere are apps that will ID tress you could call out and you could just take some more direct video of trees... LOL Let us all know about the ongoing info on the harvesting and storing and rejuvenating of the roots.

[@agreatalternative]

@@tnyberg67 Thank you! I have had a use of a few of those ID apps before and I’m fairly confident in ID for my personal use but not sure if I’m confident enough to make a video about it 😁 I still use KZbin/ books a lot to be sure myself!! One channel I use as they are a fountain of natural ID/ crafts knowledge is @WoodlandClassroom

[@kringsja9913]

great video

[@agreatalternative]

Thank you!

[@annapadalikova6727]

Asi máte silné ruce

[@agreatalternative]

nemusí být moc silné! jedna z metod odstraňování kůry, kterou jsem zkoušel, byla vytvořena pro mou mladou neteř, abych dokázal, že téměř jakákoli úroveň síly úchopu bude stále schopna snadno odstranit kůru. Děkuji za váš komentář! Doufám, že tento překlad dává smysl 😁

[@undefinednull5749]

Do the roots rot or get attacked by mildew ? Are there some species better for that? Or how do you treat the roots against these things ?

[@agreatalternative]

I’ve not had a lot of experience with this but what I’ve found so far is; - If the root has been dug up from underneath the ground and was clearly alive then no, I haven’t had any issues with rot. The only times I’ve found mould is after harvesting it I have therefore introduced air and various other debris to the root. If it’s not cleaned/ bark stripped and not stored in a dry, ventilated area then mould can appear. - If the root wasn’t fully submerged in the ground before harvesting, for example if it was poking out of the ground but still alive, or if it was pulled out by a falling tree and had been above ground in all weather for a period of time, then yes sometimes ‘rot’ may have already set in. I believe that this will appear different to the type of mould I mentioned above. Obvious types are either where the root snaps very easily or is very brittle, or another obvious sign is the white mycelium showing, although I’ve only seen this on bigger bits of tree/ root. I haven’t attempted treating anything yet at any stage of the process. That said I am looking into ways to treat a finished basket (for example mineral oil and beeswax), however generally one I have a finished product like a basket it’s ideally kept clean, dry and in a warm, ventilated(ish) area, like a standard home. If you were to leave any basket made out of natural materials outside in the elements it would rot/ deteriorate fairly rapidly. I hope I haven’t rambled too much and that helps! Any more questions let me know 👍

[@undefinednull5749]

@@agreatalternative thanks so much for detailed answer! Baskets and objects made with roots and twigs such as these are a great alternative to pollutive plastics! But they need to be more long term durable. Come to think of it, yes, beeswax seems like a good option. Or soaking them in virgin flaxseed oil. Maybe adding some drops of tea tree essential oil in the solution would be great for anti fungal. Thanks again for your input. I would love to see such a project on your channel! 🙂

[@undefinednull5749]

Additionally, using tree roots from Species preferring Flooded areas/swamps may be worth it, don't you think?

[@agreatalternative]

@@undefinednull5749 They are some great ideas! I think I’ll definitely have to try them out at a later date. From the basket weavers I’ve learnt from as far as I’m aware they don’t treat the willow baskets and providing you’re not leaving it outside they can last many years, longer than some plastic alternatives!! I’ll also have to look into other root systems as well, the main reason I’ve used spruce so far was that there were already some resources on the net/ KZbin about using it! Thank you for your comments!!

[@SebDrewett]

Thank you for sharing! Will by trying this next time I'm camping

[@agreatalternative]

It’s so easy to get going and if you don’t use the root there and then you can always save it for later! Let me know how it goes, I’d love to see pics! 👍

[@kevshelley]

Thank you for the great information and thank you for taking care of the trees!🌲

[@agreatalternative]

@@kevshelley My pleasure 😊 Thank you for your kind comment, if you make anything from spruce root please share with me on insta as I’d love to see!

[@jefferylawrence9812]

Bro this was an awesome video!! I’m so interested in gathering spruce roots! I live in Juneau Alaska,and I want to learn to weave a basket : )

[@agreatalternative]

Thank you so much! I just quickly googled Juneau….. absolutely stunning!! 😍 I bet you’ve got miles of material there, and (if I’m correct) it doesn’t have to be just spruce either, I think most evergreen trees would work. I’d recommend random weave, super easy and there’s no wrong way to do it 👍

[@jefferylawrence9812]

@@agreatalternative 😎 Yes tons of spruce! This is the town we’re the Sealaska heritage videos are from. And thanks yes I’m going to start just with simple easy weaving I’m excited for this..i look forward to more great content of yours!!!

[@agreatalternative]

@@jefferylawrence9812 Ahh wow, the Sealaksa videos are what we’re my inspiration when I started out, although after having watching the beautifully intricate, mathematical basket designs they create I think I’ll stick to more simple weaves like you for the time being! 😁 Good luck with what you create, feel free to share with me on insta as I’d love to see 👍

[@timothylongmore7325]

I've dug a lot of spruce roots. I learned some new things. My interest is spruce roots for binding. Native north american used spruce to lash there canoes and basket rims. On my channel I do show them used in the art basket.

[@agreatalternative]

They are certainly my favourite natural material to work with so far, like your beautiful Ash pack basket I’ve attempted using spruce for binding a board (got a video coming out in January about it). You mentioned the other roots - from your experience are the other just as playable and strong? Also have you had success harvesting root all year round or just in a particular season?

[@timothylongmore7325]

@@agreatalternative late spring they seem to peel the easiest but can be harvested anytime the ground isn't frozen. tamarack/larch are supposed to be good. Elm root and root bark are super strong but harder to harvest. White pine are not as strong but make great weaving roots.

[@agreatalternative]

@@timothylongmore7325 Thank you for the great advice!