permaculture

["Kate Halstead" <rockyprairie@earthlink.net>]

Recently, I looked into the history of pumpkin usage in North American
native cultures in the New England area (pre-euro invasion.) I ran across
mention of dried pumpkin strips being woven into mats, but these mats were a
food storage strategy (cooked into stew/soup later) as well as an item of
monetary exchange. I didn't run across any mentions of separating the skin
from the meat or non-food usage.

Kate

-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Sharon Gordon
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 5:15 AM
To: permaculture
Subject: [permaculture] Weaving with pumpkin skins

On another list I'm on a person asked about weaving with pumpkin skins.
Anyone know about this or a list to ask on?  Also would this sort of weaving
be used for mats or baskets or ???  With all the pumpkins grown this could
make good use of a part that would otherwise be composted..  Here's her
question:

"I came across the info that the North American native people dried the skin
of pumpkins and used the strips for weaving. As I am not short of pumpkins,
I would like to try this out. However, I am not sure how to dry the pumpkin
skins. Has anybody tried this?"

Sharon
gordonse@one.net
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