Greetings! As kudzu’s foliage goes into dormancy, we are gearing up for a vibrant cold weather root harvest season. Late fall and winter are the best times to work on both kudzu removal and root harvesting. This is because old-growth root crowns and runner vines are more visible, and easily identified without being covered with abundance of foliage. Roots are the most potent during wintertime to use for medicinal and culinary applications, because while the aerial portions of the kudzu are resting, the roots become extra juicy and starchy.
If you are interested in learning how to harvest kudzu roots, LB hosts weekly trainings in Madison County on most Wednesdays. Email kudzuculture@gmail.com to learn how you too can be a horiko-san (root digger). We’ll also host a starch processing demonstration later this winter in Marshall, NC (details coming soon!).
We have some fun ‘n free community events coming up in November and December:
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Kudzu & River Cane Workshop With RiverLink
Join RiverLink and Kudzu Culture for a hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to protect river cane, harvest kudzu, and make a kudzu vine wreath to take home! Please complete this form to RSVP (maximum of 15 participants for this workshop). Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdijd-1EUc8ALp_cwjLbjMWqw6Vo5jvdH_BWRaj6GMPypDWJA/viewform?pli=1
Details
When: 10am-1pm, Saturday Nov. 18, 2023
Where: We will meet at the RiverLink office (address is: 170 Lyman st., Asheville NC 28801).
What: A classroom presentation on kudzu and its uses will be held at the RiverLink office, followed by a hands-on portion where participants will be harvesting kudzu and learning how to make kudzu wreaths.
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Reed Creek Greenway Community Through Kudzu Series 2023
Saturday, December 9, 10am – 1pm
Kudzu Culture, Urban Forest Alliance, and Montford Neighborhood Association invite neighbors and friends to join in kudzu removal initiatives along the Reed Creek Greenway in Asheville, NC.
The final workshop of 2023 is “Root Crown Removal”
Learn to identify kudzu root crowns and vines when the leaves are dormant; remove old-growth root crowns and harvest runner vines for basketry, woven fencing, and wreath making.
Gather at the Reed Creek Greenway at corner of Cauble and Broadway St. in the Montford Neighborhood of Asheville, 10am – 1pm, Saturday, December 9. No registration required, just stop by! Wear warm clothing, gloves, and bring hand pruners and digging tools if you have them (tools also provided).
Please visit http://www.kudzuculture.net for additional information. Email kudzuculture@gmail.com with any questions. Donations of any amount are welcome to support this project!
Kudzu Culture 