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Brooms from broom corn
solarnoon.aspen
Posts: 210 ✭✭✭
I grew broom corn as an exciting experiment this year and boy did it take off! I planted 15 seeds and the plants surpassed 10 feet tall giving me numerous heads that I hope I can use to make whisks and brooms. It hasn't been easy to find information about how and when to harvest, dry and prepare the heads and then how to make the brooms as they were made in the past. But I did find enough to get me going.
Anyone done this? Or have you stumbled on Youtube videos about preparing the heads?
Comments
I've never made brooms but I own a couple that were made by the North Woven Broom Company in Crawford Bay. This is a link to their website where they have videos of them making brooms. Their brooms were part of the Harry Potter book promotions and they made the broom for the movie, "Bewitched". They have quite a variety of styles. https://www.northwovenbroom.com/index.php Maybe they are close enough to you for a day trip?
@solarnoon.aspen Sounds like a great project!
You might find something here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXZ0Vcf22As
https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/tools/how-to-make-a-broom
https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to-2/making-brooms-the-old-fashioned-way/
Would love to see some pictures of your finished project!
I have never heard of broom corn before. Thank you for adding links and all of the fun information.
Wow, that is amazing! Great job. I have seen people make brooms before, at Shaker Village in Kentucky. I don't know if they could answer questions or not, but it would be worth asking. They grow only seeds that were grown by the Shakers (seed saving over 100 years!), and they do all the craftsman things like broom making according to the way people did it in the 1800s. Anyway, this is their website, in case you're interested: https://shakervillageky.org/
What a super fun project and what a wonderful harvest!!!
water2world
Thanks, Sherry. Yes, I've been researching as well and have not found info on preparing the corn for use. Anyway, I've just been experimenting and am getting to know the material a little more each day.
dipat2005
It's easy to grow, once it reaches a certain height when the elk don't want to eat it!!
I grew broom corn one year and plan to again.
This was a few years ago and information was not as available so I guessed, lol.
I waited until ther seed heads developed and looked like they were drying then cut the stalks and dried. I am not sure if I did it correctly but I made brooms and they worked. It was fun and I enjoyed it
Its also a great crop to grow for fun and interest in your garden and yard