A use for Privet
Privet is phenomenally invasive here in Austin, Texas. It is in front yards, back yards, and in most of the beltways and walking trails. It is so bad, the city parks have volunteer crews who go out and girdle the larger Privet trees and pull up the new trees. But it is a losing proposition.
I’ve always liked privet wood, as it is the only tree in Central Texas that grows strait rods. I’ve used it to make bows, arrows, hiking sticks. atlatls, and darts for atlatls. I even used it to make a chair. It is a great wood, high energy density for firewood, dense, renewable. It also coppices well, which is a real problem if you want to eradicate it.
Basket weaving
But I wanted to figure out if it was any good for basket making. So I tried to use it like willow for wickerwork, but not go, it doesn’t pass the 90 bend test, it breaks. I think because of the large brittle pith center.
But if you treat it like hazel it will make weavers! Just cut a thumb diameter sized strait rod and then cut a v-notch about a hand width from the edge of the butt end. Then bend it over your knee and the weaver will begin to pop off the rod. It will look wrinkly at first, and you may need to use your knife point to help lift it (not cut) up and then you keep bending the rod about 2 inches in front of the weaver crack and it will keep propagating.
I tested this out and used it to finish the rim of a medieval pack basket I made from trumpet vine for Gulf Wars SCA event.
I will definitely be using privet more for basket making!
Note to self- Need to test if a 3 way or 4 way Cleave will work with Privet.