Looks like he did that in a previous video. Lol. But I can't find it. But the table looks nice. 😉

The following week: how to weave fingers out of sausages

Love the. comments. I would have wrapped the branches, weavers whatever.. around the next person who walked into the garden.

Never a dull moment with this lad.

The good thing with this is that the vines are usually so abundant, it doesn't matter if you make a few mistakes - there is plenty of material for another try - don't forget the gloves!

Thanks for your kind comments. Much appreciated. You can probably adapt this method to other materials you have locally available - anything long, strong and sort of whippy should work.

Thanks. Crumble - apple, pear and blackberry crumble is my preference, with thick custard

I was thinking today. Suppose you did a video on nettle cordage? Then you could build a hanging basket lined with maybe grass cuttings - Could be awesome!

Dear Cathy, you may be interested to know that Stinging Nettles can help with arthritis. I have an arthritic wrist which if I do not treat it is painful enough to keep me awake at night. I treat it by thoroughly stinging the wrist & some of the hand & arm either side of the wrist all over quite intensely. I go to the nettle patch to do this, so I do not have to cut the nettles. I use a scarf to press the nettles against the wrist. It really does not hurt much as after a few stings it goes a bit numb. The surface of the wrist looks a bit puffy & discoloured & is a bit numb & sensitive for a day or two after treating it. This treatment is so effective that it only needs to be done about once every two years. Most of the time I have no pain due to this free & natural treatment. If you plan to treat both hands I would do one at a time & avoid the finger-tip area & very centre of the palm, as they are so much more sensitive.

@@sarahstrong7174 Thank you! I know this can work for rheumatoid arthritis, but unfortunately mine is osteoarthritis - all the nettle stings in the world won’t help stop the bone grating against the bone. Thanks anyway, and I’m so glad that you found a way to manage your condition.

All the best.

I haven't, but I intend to!

I don't know - I suspect they may only be usable green

I know you can dry split bramble stems that you into quarters and remove the pith while they’re fresh. Alex Langlands (Shedcrafter here on KZfaq) has a video series all about making a basket from bramble and straw, including preparing all the materials. He recommends cutting the bramble in the spring and preparing it for later use.

@@ragnkja Thanks!

Sounds maybe more like dogwood than willow, but either way, coppicing is the way to get long, thin pieces for basket work - the plant is cut back to ground level, which causes it to produce a mass of straight shoots that are allowed to grow for a year or perhaps two, then cut down to restart the cycle

Certainly I think they're good for mental health - the basket-making course I went on to learn these skills was a very clear turning point for me

With a framework of willow or hazel it might perhaps be possible to use some of these techniques to create a smallish round hut which it might perhaps be possible to waterproof to a certain extent by the application of clay or thatch or canvas. (But I think if it were canvas it might be best if treated with boiled linseed oil.) I wonder if it might be possible to raise the roof on a framework high enough to make a shelter that could be sat in, on chairs. So it would be possible for example to sit in & write on rainy days whilst enjoying being outside. I am envisaging just a roof, only partly walled around so there is plenty of fresh air & light & views of plants.

I've been thinking about that actually - a garden building made in the style of a small iron-age roundhouse, instead of the usual (and boring) wooden shed or summerhouse

@@AtomicShrimp I am suffering from PTSD relating to being severely abused as a child & suffering bullying & medical trauma as an adult. I am trying to develop a course for people in a similar situation to myself, designed to put us back in control. A course of empowerment. I am imagining skills such as nutrition for the brain, self acupressure for balance, breathing for calmness, problem solving & other skills to try to develop the parts of the brain which one needs to be calm, in control & functioning effectively & enjoyably. Trauma alters the brain but we also can alter our own brains by following the right practises. Any ideas or pointers to books or information would be so much appreciated. Thankyou. Perhaps you could make some videos on this subject? I am sure they would be much watched & help many.

@@AtomicShrimp That process would make a super interesting set of videos.

That's a good idea - I didn't think of it

@@AtomicShrimp maybe to get rid of thorns use a 15 inch piece PVC electrical tube with some bolts, drilled in kris cross from side to side.. to narrow the tube Ø pull the twigs through the tube and the bolts will scrape the thorns off, but not sure if that will remove the bark also.

@@gitmoholliday5764 the main problem is the stems are tapered along their length, so what works for the thin end might be too tight for the thick end