WorldWild Podcast
Episode 29 29th November 2019
Full Nettle Jacket with Gillian Edom
Stinging nettles. They may not jump to mind when thinking about what to wear. However, nettle fibres have a storied history of use in the textiles industry. We are speaking with Gillian Edom, oral historian, nettle historian and author who has worked with the plant for many years and delved deep into the practices, stories, folklore, and future of this ubiquitous plant.
In this conversation, Gillian and Miles talk about our relationships to value; of culture, biodiversity, and truth, the stories of historical nettle use (including its use in World Wars), the processes which you can undertake to prepare nettles for weaving and the importance of free, accessible and reliable information. Don't get stung, listen in!
‘A lot of people have no sense of the natural environment, that is where are today...’
- Gillian Edom, episode 29
About Gillian Edom
Gillian Edom has worked for many years on oral history projects with a focus on local history and heritage. Initially qualified as a teacher, her interest in nettles; their biology, botany, folklore, uses, and history grew. She completed her M.Phil on nettle fibre extraction at De Montfort University in 2006 and published the book From Sting to Spin: A History of Nettle Fibre in 2010. She is a frequent contributor to the website Nettles for Textiles and continues to spread the love of all things nettles.
Further reading
> Visit Nettles for Textiles here
> More information on Gillian's book 'From Sting to Spin: A History of Nettle Fibre'
> Mentioned in episode: Insects on Nettles by B.N.K. Davis
About the show
We offer a series of conversations to tap into the wildness within ourselves and to uncover what is possible when we do. It is our hope that through the WorldWild Podcast we can contribute to the revitalisation of wild food culture and conversation around the world.
Through people who know their landscapes intimately, we gather the threads to weave a rich tapestry. Piece by piece the vision of a wilder world comes into view. The wild embrace of nature welcomes us back and offers us a seat at the table. A feast, no less!