TENDING OF SEDGE BEDS

THE POMO WEAVERS TEND THEIR SEDGE BEDS BY REMOVING WHOLE PLANTS AND BY REMOVING STONESAND , STICKS, AND ROOTS, AND DEBRISFROM THEIR PLANTS. THEY REMOVE LEAF LITTLE AND OTHER DEBRIS SO THAT THE RHIZOMES UNDER THE GROUND GROW STRAIGHTER AND HAVE FEWER GNARLS IN THEM. THEY ALSO LET SOME OF THEIR BEDS REST FOR TWO TO THREE YEARS SO THE RHIZOMES REPLENISH THEMSELVES.

THE TENDED SEDGES LOOK SIMILAR TO UNTENDED PLANT ABOVE GROUYND, BUT THE RHIZOMES WHICH THEY USE FOR BASKETMAKING ARE LESS GNARLED AND EASIER TO REMOVE. ELSIE ALLEN NOTED THAT BY PRUNING THE WHITE ROOT IN THE GROUND IT PREVENTS THE ROOTS FROM BEING SO TANGLED AND IT IS EASIER TO DIG THE ROOTS THE NEXT YEAR. SHE SAYS THAT SEDGE ROOT IS A VITAL PART OF THE HARMONY OF NATURE AND PRESERVING OF THE SOIL. WHEN THEY DIG THE ROOTS THEY LEAVE ABOUT HALF OF THEM IN THE SOIL FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ROOT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MILLENIA.
IT IS NOT A CULTIVATED PLANT BUT IS A VERY SCIENTIFIC WAY OF TENDING THE NATIVE ROOT.

KAT ANDERSON