|
This information is reprinted from the For Beginners column
of Hand Papermaking Newsletter #46 (April, 1999).
To learn how to order Hand Papermaking bi-annual magazine
and quarterly newsletter, click
here.
Common Plants for Paper
Seasonal cycles affect some people more than others but
few can ignore the coming of spring, when life bursts forth
at every opportunity in every locale--from mountain meadows
to sidewalk cracks. With such drama unfolding, even
non-gardeners yearn to get their hands in the dirt and be a
part of it all. Papermakers, like cooks, can expand their
experience by growing their own raw materials, thus enjoying
more control over--and connection with--the finished
product.
While it is possible to make paper from the fiber of
thousands of plant varieties, some are more suitable than
others. Fibers can be too short to bond into a strong sheet,
too difficult to extract from the plant without expensive
equipment, or unattractive for a variety of other reasons.
It helps to follow others’ lead at first, and grow plants
known to produce interesting papers. Then begin to
experiment. Branch out, so to speak.
Here are a few suggestions. These plants grow fairly fast
and easily in temperate climates. Start with plants like
these and you will have a plentiful supply of fiber within a
year or two. They fall into three categories: grass, leaf,
and bast fibers.
The so-called “grass” fiber plants are often the easiest
to process. If you have room, plant some Pampas Grass (Cortaderia
selloana), an exotic-looking mound of coarse-edged leaves,
with white or pale pink cotton-candylike flower plumes
rising up to twelve feet above. Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
grows and spreads so quickly that many suggest planting only
in a large pot or confined area. Choose from dozens of
varieties of Corn (Zea mays) to grow your food and paper
fiber simultaneously. All of the above grow happily with
lots of sun in just about any type of soil.
Among the leaf fibers, fast spreading Hosta (Hosta
fortunei) is your best bet for ground cover in shady spots.
In sunnier areas, try Yucca (Yucca filamentosa), whose
four-foot high clumps of stiff, sword-shaped leaves launch
dramatic spikes of gorgeous blossoms in the summer. One of
the easiest perennials to grow is the Iris (Iris germanica
and other species). Their delicate blooms put on a great
show in early summer, and their clumps of glossy deep green
leaves look good all year.
Bast, or “inner bark” fibers are the most commonly used
for hand papermaking. A tasty choice is Raspberry or
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) whose branches die after flowering
and bearing fruit and can be easily removed, especially the
thornless varieties. Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) grows
fast and easy since it is, well, a weed. And though it is
harder to find and harder to grow, Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia
papyrifera) is worth an effort given its rich tradition as
the raw material for much of the world’s best handmade
paper.
Once a few of these are in the ground and taking root,
sit back with a good book and watch them grow. Here are some
suggestions: Plant Fibers for Papermaking by Lilian A. Bell;
Papermaking with Plants by Helen Hiebert; Handcrafted Paper
and Paper Products made from Indigenous Plant Fibers by
Harold and Marjorie Alexander. While these offer a
particular emphasis on selection and preparation of plant
fibers, any beginning papermaking book will provide enough
information to get you started come harvest time in the
fall.
Copyright 1999 Hand Papermaking, Inc.
|
