Extracting Dogbane Fibers To Make Cordage

[Xactualize]

how to you harvest and dry the plant?

[MiWilderness]

@Xactualize Wait until the plant dies back in the fall and the white sap has left it. It will be ready for use then. My "Day Hike ( part 7 ) Dogbane and Chanterelles" vid shows the plant in season and explains when to harvest it as well.

Thanks for watching, Roosevelt

[MiWilderness]

@Xactualize In other words you don't have to dry it, nature does it for you. I typically wait until after the first frost, but have used stalks from previous years in the spring and summer and they usually work just as well. The fibers are very rot-resistant making this cordage ideal for use in situations where it will be exposed to moisture or underwater; fishing nets, snowshoes, gigs, etc.

[ceeprus]

thanks man this is cool

[MiWilderness]

@ceeprus You're welcome!

[Wintertrekker]

Thanks! First time I have seen a vidoe of dogbane fiber extraction. Very well done! I am going to try that if I can find it in the boreal forest where I travel.

[MiWilderness]

@Wintertrekker You're welcome. Dogbane has a wide range, but I'm not sure how far north it extends. I typically find it at the edge of wet areas, especially small creeks, ponds, and even roadside ditches.

[MsCountrywitch]

Wonderful lesson. I've made cordage out of milkweed before (not very well) so I'm going to try it with dogbane now. Thanks for this video.