Harvesting Inner Bark for Basketry
Adventures in Bark Basketry
New basketmakers are often intimidated by the idea of harvesting bark for basketry, but I’m here to tell you that getting started is easier than you might think. You don’t need to find the perfect tree (although that is nice) and all you need are a few tools and some willingness to get your hands dirty and just give it a try.
Locating the Perfect Tree
If you are cutting a tree
Layers of the Log
Trees have a couple different layers to them when you look at the cross section. On the outside is the rough, gray, outer bark. Then moving inwards you have a layer of inner bark, which is softer and pliable. (When people refer to using 'bark for baskets' they are most likely referring to this layer of inner bark) Then you have the wood itself, which is hard and well, solid wood. In the photo below you can see that the inner bark with it's outer bark shell is the darker, orangeish brown layer on the outside. It is started to separate from the wood just a little since I let this log sit a week before processing.
Harvesting the Inner Bark
When looking for a tree you want a completely straight and branchless section of trunk. Mine were about 8 inches in diameter and about 4 feet long. Longer would be better, but I'll take what I can get. I cut the logs and brought them home for further processing.1. Remove the outer barkThe first step is to use a draw knife to remove the outer layer of flaky bark. If there is anything I learned from this experience it is that draw knifes are awesome! I got mine at a flea market and sharpened it on a grinding wheel to get the edge back. You could also use a knife, but it will take much longer. I wasn't sure how deep to cut when removing the outer bark, but decided to be liberal about it. I went just a little bit into the fleshy white inner bark to insure that no remnants of tough, outer bark remained.2. Cut StripsOnce the entire tree has been cleaned of outer bark it is time to peel strips of inner bark off. Taking a sharp utility knife I cut a straight line all the way down the length of the log. Then I cut another line the entire length of the log about an inch and a half to the side of it, making a strip. You could do a smaller or wider strip as well I think.3. Peel the strips offThen you can work your knife into the edge to get started and peel the entire strip off like peeling a banana! It's really easy and rewarding.Continue peeling strips off until you have gotten all the inner bark off the log. You will be left with a solid wood log that is ready to be pounded for splint making. Trust me, you will wish that process was as easy as removing the inner bark!4. Coil for storageYou can then coil up your pieces of inner bark and let them dry. To use them for weaving just rehydrate them in hot water for up to an hour depending on how thick they are. After you have soaked them you can cut them into thinner strips or split them.5. Weave a basket!And just to see if it could be done I wove this quick little twined basket using the ash bark for both stakes and weavers. It seemed to work just fine. Next I'll do a nicer, more refined basket to see how it will hold up in that setting. Overall I'm really please with the experience and am excited to harvest bark from more local tree species to see how that goes. I'll update with my progress soon as well as do a post on white ash splint making. Thanks and let me know your questions and experiences with ash basketry in the comments section. : )