I started stocking flax twine just before Christmas and it flew out of our online shop! But it’s not just for present wrapping. It’s perfect for use in the garden. Use it for tying and supporting plants, such as tomatoes, making straight lines for planting rows or to separate areas of your garden or for hanging onions or herbs to dry. And because it’s made from flax, a totally natural material, it can be composted after use.
I thought I’d better learn more about flax and it turns out it’s a bit of a super product (how am I just learning this now)?!
So here’s some flax facts for you:
- It’s one of the oldest and strongest fibres known to man and is two to three times as strong as cotton fibres.
- It’s pretty resilient and can grow in poor soil, using far less water in its consumption than cotton.
- It’s used to make linen which, if left un-dyed and un-bleached, is an awesome biodegradable fabric for everything from bedding to blouses.
- A common by-product of flax is linseed oil, which is great for wood preservation and flaxseed oil which is also rich in omega 3.
- You can even use flaxseed as an egg substitute in vegan dishes.
According to an article by the V&A , ‘when grown in its ideal geographical zone, the cultivation of flax produces no waste. All parts of the flax plant are used: the long and short fibres and seeds are made into textiles, paper, varnish, oil, animal fodder and bio-materials. After the plants have been pulled (harvested), the root remnants fertilise and clean the soil, thereby improving the productivity of soil for 6 to 7 years. Growing flax requires no irrigation, no fertilisers and no herbicides and pesticides, and therefore does not pollute rivers or groundwater. Flax even retains 3.7 tons of CO2 per hectare per year’.
Apologies, I think I’ve just become a bit of flax fanatic, I’m off to go and tend to my garden dressed in linen robes.
If you need some twine for whatever reason then this is a fab alternative to synthetic or even cotton strings. We sell it boxed in a nifty holder with a cutting blade or naked if you prefer.
Available to buy now on our online zero-waste shop. Order before midnight on Thursday for doorstep or collection point delivery on Sunday.