Untitled Document

FLAXCAM - Chapter 1 - PLANTING

DIARY OF A FLAX FIELD - 2001-

1. Clearing the Plot

Yes, we're growing flax this year. Seed (2 pounds) is from Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA - they import commercial fiber flax seed from Holland. This year's plot will be 15 by 30 feet - pristine pasture land, not used for a while - it just needs to have the sod removed.

Begin date - April 29, 2001 - doing the work by hand - power tilling would simply break apart the grass and weed roots without removing enough to prevent excessive weed growth later on.

Photo from May 2, 2001

2. Still Clearing the Grass and Weeds

"Clearing the plot" - using a turning fork, we loosen the sod and then shake out as much topsoil as possible. The dirt is loosened so well that when cleared we'll just have to rake and smooth prior to seeding.

The dirt looks to be excellent - not recently fertilized, rich in organic matter - also nite crawlers of legendary size, June bugs and all manner of living things.

We spend our evenings here - what a lovely way to work until dark.

Photo from May 2, 2001

3. Leveling the Soil

The hard hand work loosening and shaking out the sod cover paid off.

Now the soil was loosened so well that only leveling the plot with a rake was necessary.

NOTE: Those wooden hay rakes are NOT just for museums, they make a very valuable addition to anyone's collection of useful garden tools.

Photo from May 5, 2001

4. Planting the Flax

The seed is first "broadcast" by hand. The wooden squares are to prevent putting deep shoe marks into the loosened soil. It takes some practice to get an even hand. My Hans is the expert in this area. After putting the seed on the ground, the "wooden shoes" are rubbed with oil (my cheap cooking oil) to keep the dirt from sticking and used to tamp the surface. This smooths the surface and assures that the small seeds are pressed gently into the damp surface to keep them from blowing or washing away.

Photos from May 5, 2001 - "Cinco de Mayo" Wisconsin style

5. The plot is ready. Two view of the freshly seeded flax plot - before and after "varmint fencing" a necessity in rural Wisconsin. The field is on a farm in open countryside where raccoon, possum, rabbit, skunk, porcupines and other wildlife roam. We also hope to use the fencing in conjunction with strings tied across the plot as the crop grows to prevent lodging in strong wind.

Photos from May 5, 2001

Chapter 1 is complete. Until the crop germinates in a week or so, we'll have to be patient and wait. So far the weather has been perfect - cool and damp, today was bone chilling for humans - but very much like the cool, damp spring weather along the North and Baltic Seas where the plant loves to grow well. The next real work will be to weed the plot when the seedlings are about 4" tall.