Tapping, fixing the shave horse and willow cordage

Today we harvested some willow bark to prepare it for making willow cordage. First we cut a fresh willow whip and scraped off the outer bark. Next we peeled off the inner bark in a long single piece. To give the bark strength and a darker colour, we boiled it for about an hour with wood ash and the green outer bark shavings. We have rinsed it and left it to cool and next week we will actually make the cordage.

Work continues on repairing the second shave horse and it is almost complete.

Early spring is also the time for tapping trees for their sweet sap. It needs to be done just before the leaves pop open and whilst the sap is rising. Watch the video below to see how we did it- it tasted great - really fresh and pure.