Sticks In the Ground
A slow, painful dialog with willow
We ask a lot of our willows. Each plant starts as a stick in the ground and has one chance to reach into the foreign soil and survive on one square foot of earth.
Our first planting included about 1,500 plants of 40 different willow varieties. In parts of the field every plant died, (about a 15% loss). To our question, “can you live here?” they said “no”. But through their effort, before their final and definite reply, they explained what went wrong.
And even though we couldn't understand, we watched. While we watched, we noticed pests (as we call them) who were in no way confused about the willow's distress. They showed up ready to profit from the willow's loss.
The dried stumps marked the end. Through their struggle we gathered dozens of observations. And we have as many ideas about why they failed. But the only thing that will confirm those ideas is more sticks in the ground. Hundreds of plants will die on our way to growing the most vigorous willow for the land here.
Every year, since our first planting, our plants convey our increased understanding. We're on the cusp of our fourth planting. And everything we've learned goes back in the ground for another productive season.
By the way, if you’re interested in purchasing willow for basketry, please let us know by filling out this form on our site.
Great writing about a noble endeavor! Congrats on a successful harvest this year. Onward and upward for your beautiful willows. And may they find their way into the hands of amazing artisans who create objects of beauty for our lives.