Meeting 9: Kudzu Culture Fair

“Horiko-San (堀り子さん) is what kudzu root diggers are called in Japan.”

— LB

Often these diggers are farmers who wild-harvest kudzu roots during the cold season as a supplement to their farming. Here in Western North Carolina we have a legacy of herbal root digging and we have an opportunity to aggregate high-quality kudzu roots for cooperate processing. We gathered on December 1 at the NC State Extension Auditorium to learn and share all things kudzu, including how to be a Horiko-San! Together we discussed the need for cooperative kudzu harvesting, aggregation and processing in order to strengthen a regional kudzu supply chain. There was also a separate room focusing on the vine and fiber possibilities.

The invasive fiber study group had a display along with Alyssa from the Patchwork Underground with her kudzu and invasive paper samples and paper art, Angela Eastman of Flag Mountain Studio brought her kudzu baskets from the Piedmont area, and Museum of Infinite Outcomes shared their kudzu crafts. There was kudzu root tea to sip and a turn out of 75+ soon-to-be kudzu collaborators!

 See you in the weeds,

x Nica