Expert: Renee Aun - 12/17/2006

Question
i want to know if it is possible to use a wild vine that is  proliferating madly  in our farm to weave baskets or make any kind of ornament?  

Answer
Eva,

Don't touch that vine! The fact that you don't mention what type of vine it is makes me think you may have poison ivy!!!

First thing you have to do is figure out what it is. I have made baskets from wisteria, honeysuckle and wild grape. I can't imagine what would happen if I worked poison ivy into a basket! I had to take steroids and two days off work after I accidently pulled it in the flower bed. Don't risk it!

Does the vine have flowers in the summer? Fruit in the fall? Does the vine have little "hairs" - roots - all along the vine?  "If it's hairy, it's scary."

Once you've identified the vine and know it isn't poisonous, then you can harvest it and either create your basket immediately with it raw or cook it in water four hours, rinse it, dry it, then soak it again in water before making your basket.

If you are cooking honeysuckle, you should know that it will turn your pot black. That's the only vine I've cooked.

Something else I like to do with wild vines is to create thins in the wild. Did you ever think about weaving the vine while it's rooted outside to create wildlife art? I do that alot with my raspberries.

I also have an old house and weave natural vines to create covers for old plumbing & heating pipes. Lots of things you can use vines that are too thin for baskets.
I hope you can use them!
8-)