permaculture

[georg parlow <g.parlow@gmx.at>]

> > almost an entire groceries store.  The roots produce an  eatable  
> > excellent
> > starch.  The new shoots are some what chewie but taste  like  
> > asparagus .  The
> > seed head as it just starts can be steamed and  tastes like corn.   
> > the
> > pollen can be harvested and used in baking  about one half to one  
> > quarter in
> > flour to get a nuttie buttery taste to  baked goods,  The long  
> > leaves can be
> > used to weave mats and soft  baskets.

Let me add to this their use in garden medicin: if you have a fungus  
or mildew problem on plants, boil a tea out of cattails and water the  
soil around those plants with it (dont pour on the plants) - this  
'draws the fungi back into the soil, where they belong' according to  
Rudolf Steiner, and seems to work quite well.
+ their use for scrubbing pots etc. - make a small, tight package from  
a few stems and leaves, and use like a sponge.


> eat it in salads if it is safe to do so. Any suggestions about that?

yea, post a link, sounds good.

Best,
georg