(no subject)

Dried nettles Having been under tarp for a week, the nettles are dry -ish. I say 'ish' because it's been raining and thus somewhat muggy.

So the nettles are now vaguely dry. I say vaguely, as they've been under a tarp, but it's been raining. However they are, at least, not particularly stingy any more. Their hairs a little irritating still, so gloves remain a good idea.

This batch have had roots snipped, and leaves stripped (Picture to follow) by running the stalk through a closed fist.
They've then been put in the "retting tank" which the observant amongst you will realise is commonly known as a 'tidy box'.



I'll have to drain/refill the 'tank' in a few hours, because then it'll be 'clean' water I'm retting in. Unfortunately due to the size of it, I've had to bend the stalks. Hopefully this hasn't broken the fibers inside, but it may have. We'll see I guess. This batch remains 'experimental' so if that has happened, a Wilkinsons £10 water butt will be used for the next attempt.

Oh, and note to self. Bucket or hosepipe makes filling tidyboxes with water _much_ easier.