Cultures of Use: Invasive Plant Fibers
Lauren Bacchus
Plants deemed weeds and/or invasives often carry secret legacies of use with them. By studying ancient and contemporary applications of plants where they are native, we can learn how to bring them into ecological harmony where they are currently vilified. In this talk, we will hear a variety of intriguing stories about two different plants that are both feared and loved: kudzu and paper mulberry. These dynamic plants have complex stories to tell, after experiencing millennia of human use for food, medicine, ritual, and fiber.
