Woad – Page 2 – j.m.jamison's site of perpetual reconstruction & backyard dyer blog

Possims Ate My Woad

Posted on January 30, 2013 | by jamie_work_admin | Leave a Comment

I haven’t written for quite awhile. I seem to be wandering into various non-dye projects. As far as the dye plants go there is the ongoing collecting and drying my favorite invasive weed/dye-plant/Bee-snack – ie. Oxalis.

The woad and weld in the ground is surviving what passes for winter out here but the woad in-planter (on the porch) was nibbled down to the roots and what wasn’t eaten rolled over and died.

[woad from last year]

[new weld plants]

It’s probably not fair to blame the woad snacking on the Possums. We have a surprising variety of wild life that have adapted to city living: Racoons, Owls and Coyotes along with the Possums. Most of these aren’t seen too often unless you work really early or night shifts.

Woad in the Planter

Posted on November 23, 2012 | by jamie_work_admin | Leave a Comment

I had this project idea to see how the Woad would do in a planter vs yard. It started out well enough then one night something made its way to the porch ate most of the Woad in a pot – but not the yard. I guess the next few test plants will be wrapped in hardware cloth.

Woad plants in starter pot and the yard.

And the Weld. These are from last years Weld plants. Just starting to come up.

Weld seedlings just coming up.

Weld a few weeks later.

Weld under hardware cloth to discourage local beasties from rolling in it.

Weld section of the front yard, backed by Rosemary, White Sage and Valerian.

Woad Root (or why I think this might do ok in a planter)

Posted on July 1, 2012 | by jamie_work_admin | 1 Comment

This is the root from a Woad plant that went to seed last fall. Looks like it could be small enough to survive in a planter.

Woad: in Yard and Porch Pots

Posted on July 1, 2012 | by jamie_work_admin | Leave a Comment

Most of us don’t have a field handy for our favorite invasive blue dye producing weed. I have a small front yard area for a few plants but in the past had to limit my home gardening to pots and planters. So with that in mind I decided to see what Woad in a few porch pots would do.

A couple of starter plants along with ones in the yard (dirt).

Graduated to a larger pot.

Woad Seeds, dye pots and more or less interesting messes

Posted on October 24, 2011 | by jamie_work_admin | 7 Comments

I’m still collecting Woad seeds. When the one plant that had started going to seed took off I wrapped it in a tomato cage and will continue collecting seeds as long as they appear. Also on the to-do list is to start sending out seed packets to various fellow-dyers.

My idea of an enjoyable weekend: dyed more yarn, Woad and Onion peel pots and made a batch of Plantine and Lavender salve.

Woad Seeds

Posted on August 21, 2011 | by jamie_work_admin | 2 Comments

Since last week I started harvesting Woad seeds as they are ready.

Tomato cage wrapped around the plant going to seed – so it doesn’t fall over.

This last year I didn’t process enough Woad to dye more than a pair of socks or gloves and I’m still buying Woad powder along with processing my own.

Next year I’m planning for more plants. More of my neighbors are planting vegetables in their front yards so no one will be surprised by the expanding herb and dye garden.

Woad: Seeds

Posted on July 24, 2011 | by jamie_work_admin | 3 Comments

One of my favorite dye blogs is Rihivilla Dyeing with natural dyes. Wonderful pictures and good information. The current post: Riihivilla, Dyeing with natural dyes: Now in my garden Nyt puutarhassa has a good picture (scroll down a bit) of what Woad seeds look link when ready to harvest.

Pictures of my going-to-seed Woad plant below. (Hand in pictures to give an idea of the size of the seeds.)

Woad and aphids

Posted on July 4, 2011 | by jamie_work_admin | Leave a Comment

Woad flowers. What you don’t see in this picture are the aphids.

Up to now it seemed that nothing wanted to lunch on my dye plants, not even snails – and the latter are capable of tearing up a cactus.

At least until a couple of days ago. Went out to water the garden and found a herd of aphids parked on the Woad plant just below the flowering stems.

The plant seems ok, continues flowering and I’ve started spraying with my home brew ‘insecticidal soap’ (dish soap and water).

Woad and Weld: more going to seed

Posted on June 6, 2011 | by jamie_work_admin | Leave a Comment

Most of the time my Woad plants have looked rather cabbage-like. Now that one of them has switched into seed producing mode it is shooting up like a mutant broccoli.

For the Weld, I’m going to dry most of the plants and let a bit go for seeds.

Spring, Woad and Weld: going to seed

Posted on May 16, 2011 | by jamie_work_admin | 2 Comments

Jack, through the back screen door. The cats are always looking for the door to spring.

Garden around late January, early February.

Still looks a bit bare. Shortly after this picture was taken the Weld took off.

Weld
I haven’t written much about using Weld. From: A Dyer’s Manual / Jill Goodwin (ISBN 0-7207-1327-7)
“The whole plant above ground may be chopped and simmered fresh, or carefully dried for use during the winter. There is little difference in the depth of yellow color from fresh or dried plants but the range of greens is greater from freshly cut leaves and stems.” (p.63)

[Weld plants, pictures taken only a couple of weeks apart. ]
Goodwin also mentions that the the plants grow about 3ft before flowering.

And the Woad