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[Cob] Anyone know what kind of Rye is suitable for thatch roofing?Monica Proulx mon.pro at gmail.comWed Sep 29 18:06:23 CDT 2010
Cat, The Landis Valley Farm Museum "Heirloom Seed Project" (Lancaster County, Pa) sells heirloom winter rye (suitable for thatching) for $2.00/5 lbs. Phone number for the seed project is: 717-569-0401 (ext. 204). Maybe they give bulk discounts if people tell them they need it for thatching. This is a living history museum, they're into promoting these kinds of skills, so who knows? Description of heirloom seed varieties (winter rye is near the bottom, this is where they say it's good for thatching): http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/seeddescriptions.pdf Seed brochure with prices, including rye (ordering info included): http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/2010seeds.pdf This is the same heirloom rye seed they grow for their own thatching projects, which I know because my son harvested the rye crop two summers ago by hand and bundled some of it for their next project (I helped bundle, so can vouch for the length). They had a small hay derrick to thatch this past spring/summer. Good luck! Monica Proulx P.S. If anyone wants to double check the rye info or bulk pricing, the name of the fellow that runs that program escapes me, but ask to talk to the guy in charge of the draft animals and growing the rye for thatching. Tell him you bring greetings from Ben the volunteer from two summers ago if you call him, don't know if that will help you out any but it can't hurt). They may know who sells other suitable thatching grasses, or you could contact Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa (another heirloom seed source), they don't sell the rye but might be a good resource. Landis Valley Farm main page (Harvest Days are coming up in October, its fantastic, if anyone lives near Pa.): http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org
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