July 20, 07
Gave my life Energies to River Cane.
River Cane was a primary teacher this morning.
For about ten days, we have been cutting down
a large stand of it on the East side of the property.
What am I learning form this invasive plant?
The elimination of its overgrowth this morning
took my precious morning hours.
I got into it.
The Black Cans, the ones we fill each Friday
were already filled with the River Cane.
There were still about five barrels of it
in the Green Materials Cans.
My goal was to get it off the property
by the time The Black Can Collection Trucks came.
The Black Cans: Oh my God!
This is the stuff that we call trash!
This is the stuff that end up in the Landfill.
I am a major contributor to the Land Fill,
and the Cane is a major contributor to my time
be filled this morning.
What am I to learn from this relationship
with the River Cane?
What is the Use of it?
In Mexico, I have seen lovely walls made from it.
Here, it helps create a sense of privacy from our neighbors.
It creates a boundary that gives us our own sense of living
in our own world. It is a Sound barrier as well.
It is also highly invasive.
It spreads rapidly when given moisture.
We had a fire here in 2001, a few days after my
first Hip Revision Surgeries.
The River Cane caught fire and it burned dramatically.
It exposed the whole East side of the Property to the Canyon
and our neighbors across the Canyon.
It brought a lot of undesired attention to us.
____
River Cane Flutes:
http://www.hawkhurstflutes.com/rivercaneflutes.html
Legends,
use by Cherokee Indians:
http://www.hawkhurstflutes.com/rivercaneflutes.html#1
as Love Flutes.
Links for River Cane:
Arundinaria gigantea ssp. gigantea
Common Name: River Cane or Canebreak bamboo
http://www.bamboogarden.com/Arundinaria%20gigantea%20ssp.%20gigantea.htm
$15.00 for a one gallon size can...
____
http://www.chattoogariver.org/index.php?req=rivercane&quart=W2006
River Cane
Eric Orr River Cane Basket
River cane basket made by Emma Garrett. Archaeologists believe that the art of river cane basketry has existed for 6000 years. It is one of the hardest indigenous skills to learn.
Bloodroot and black walnut hulls were used to dye splits of the river cane basket that is displayed at the Chattooga Conservancy office. The basket was made by Emma Garrett, a well known Cherokee basket maker. It represents an ancient art that seems to be disappearing. And for those who still practice the art, material for splits is getting harder and harder to come by. River cane is also disappearing.
River cane and its smaller relative switch cane are the only bamboos native to the United States. They are the largest of our grass family. Both thrive in bottomlands near rivers and streams, but river cane grows much taller than switch cane, reaching upwards of 20 feet. Early American naturalist William Bartram reported stands of river cane, or canebrakes, that spanned as far as he could see. Now cane only exists in the fringes of fields and sparsely scattered along creeks and rivers.
River cane ecosystems are critical to several species of birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The Bachman’s warbler depended on large canebrakes for nesting (see “Butterflies of Xanadu,” Chattooga Quarterly, Summer 1996), and ornithologists believe the flowering of cane, which usually occurs every 40 or 50 years, was responsible for inciting the Carolina parakeet to breed (see “Passenger Pigeon & Carolina Parakeet - Vanished Birds,” Chattooga Quarterly, Spring 2000). The Carolina parakeet is now extinct, and the Bachman’s warbler is believed to be extinct. The demise of large canebrakes is a significant factor in their disappearance. Other rare birds and animals also rely on river cane and may be lost if their habitat is not restored.
Since Europeans began settling North America, river cane has been on the decline. It didn’t take long for the settlers to notice that cane grows in the richest of bottomland, ideal terrain for growing crops. Large canebrakes were also cleared for grazing cattle, which feast on the young shoots, whittling away remnant stands of cane. Dam construction further destroyed habitat, and commercial and residential development continues to encroach on native cane. Fire suppression is also a factor. River cane ecosystems depend on fire. Without it canebrakes are susceptible to displacement by native hardwoods. Invasive species like privet and autumn olive are a threat, as well. A large stand of cane near the Chattooga Old Town archaeological dig along the Chattooga River is now slowly being choked out by autumn olives that were planted by the Forest Service to enhance “wildlife habitat.” As a result of these combined threats, river cane now occupies 2% of its original range.
Historical Uses of River Cane
At one time river cane was an essential resource for the Cherokee and other southeastern tribes. One of the most valued native artifacts is the river cane basket. They occasionally command prices in the thousands. The double weave river cane basket is among the hardest indigenous skills to learn. These baskets are so tightly woven that they were sometimes used to protect tools from rain. Some archaeologists believe that the art of river cane basketry has existed for 6000 years.
The splits were also used to make mats for floors, walls, sleeping and for burials and cremations. They were used to build wattle and daub houses, as well. The river cane “wattles” were woven horizontally among wall posts to form the initial structure. The “daub,” or chinking, consisted of mud and grass pressed into the cane.
Weapons were critical for food and protection in tribal life, and river cane was critical for constructing weapons. The best arrow shafts were made of river cane, because it’s strong and light. Before the bow and arrow, cane was used to make atlatl darts. The atlatl is one of the most primitive projectile weapons, consisting of a spear thrower and a six foot spear, or dart, topped with a heavy stone or bone point. Though other materials such as wood were used, the flex and strength of cane made it perfectly suited for the task. Besides the crossbow, atlatl darts were the only thing that would penetrate plate mail armor. Spanish conquistadors were alarmed to find that their breast plates were useless against them.
The blow gun is another weapon made from river cane. It requires relatively old and thick stalks for its construction. The guns are generally four to eight feet long and ½ to 1 inch thick. Nowadays the nodes of the cane are usually drilled out or burned with steel bits specially made for the purpose, but traditionally they were drilled with a stone bit affixed to a spindle of narrow river cane. Blow guns are very effective for hunting small game such as rabbits and squirrels, and they are still in use today.
Native tribes sometimes caught fish with river cane fish traps and fish spears. The traps were similar to the wire minnow traps we are familiar with. River cane warps and wefts were woven into conically shaped baskets with a small entrance which allowed fish to enter but not escape. The spears were crafted of cane shafts. The ends were either tipped with pronged points or the cane was split to form three or four sharpened spikes. They were usually used to spear fish in shallow water or fish that had been corralled in weirs.
Some tribes even made knives from river cane. The cane was split, shaped and heat treated to make it exceptionally hard. River cane contains silica, the main component in glass, which helped to make the knives effective for shaving. River cane also made good drills for boring holes in rocks. Spindles of wood tipped with river cane bits were spun back and forth by a bow while pressure was applied to the top of the spindle. The cane bits were used with sand to abrade holes. The silica in the cane also contributes to the sanding process, leaving a smooth, clean hole.
Flutes and pipe stems were made from river cane, and river cane flutes are still common today. The holes were traditionally drilled with stone bits.
River cane was also a source of food for indigenous peoples. The tender shoots were gathered and prepared much like bamboo shoots. They were eaten in stews and salads. When river cane flowered, the seeds were collected to be cooked later.
Since prehistoric times river cane has been used for torches. The torches were made by bundling several lengths of cane together, and then beating the ends into feathery tinder so they would catch fire easily. Remnants of burnt river cane torches have been discovered in ancient caves along with char marks, made when the burnt ends were tapped against cave ceilings to knock off the ash.
Restoring Native River Cane
River cane is an easy plant to propagate. It’s usually just a matter of letting it spread. Like other bamboos, it spreads by rhizome, or rootstock, though it’s not invasive like non-native bamboos. The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) is successfully managing a river cane restoration project along the Little Tennessee River near Franklin, NC. They are currently experimenting with different planting techniques to determine what works best. Dennis Desmond, Land Stewardship Coordinator for LTLT, says transplanting cane by digging it in clumps, keeping the entire root ball (as opposed to bare-root) seems to work the best. It should be planted in moist, rich soil. Transplanting usually works best in late winter-early spring.
Planting River Cane
Planting native river cane at Chattooga River Farm.
We have just begun a river cane restoration project on Chattooga River Farm, the Chattooga Conservancy’s new sustainable agriculture project. Our plan is to eradicate kudzu along a creek and replace it with native cane, which will serve as a stream buffer and eventually as a source of planting stock for other restoration projects and for use in native crafts. The project will take place in several stages with the help of volunteers. Check our website at
http://www.chattoogafarm.org
for updates on our progress.
Please consider starting your own restoration project if you have land suitable for it. You can also help by encouraging the Forest Service to eradicate non-native invasive autumn olives and to let river cane take its place. Send postal mail to:
Robert Jacobs, Regional Forester
USDA Forest Service
Southern Region (R-8)
1720 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30367
Phone: 404-347-4177