Horseweed question

[ricktrojanowski]

I just started the abo firemaking and have had pretty good luck with the bow drill using an Ailanthus drill and board combo. I really want to give the hand drill a try after seeing the pics by Jamie and Hillbilly.  I found a bunch of horseweed but none of it has gone woody.  Can I cut some and dry it, or do I have to wait until winter til it goes woody naturally.

[Pat B]

I'm no expert but I think cut it now and season it. That shouldn't take but a few days. If you wait until winter it may have started to decay.   Pat

[Hillbilly]

You can cut it green and let it season, or cut it after it browns but before it starts to decay, as Pat said. I usually cut it green, and as it dries you can hand straighten it easily.

[Hhop]

When you refer to horseweed, what plant are you referring to? What I usually think of here as horsweed, is in fact giant ragweed, gets about 5 to 7 feet tall with thick stalk. As kids, we pulled it up in fall, the root is long and pointed, and used them as spears. I am assuming your "horseweed" may be a smaller plant.

And the Ailanthus you refer to....that is what is commonly called Tree of Heaven....is that correct?

Thanks,
Harold

[Hillbilly]

Horseweed is Conyza canadensis, common in disturbed areas.



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[ricktrojanowski]

I've found a bunch of it by train tracks and construction sights.  And the ailanthus is "tree of heaven' ,by us it's a non native trashy species thats everywhere also in disturbed and areas in early stages of succesion.  I'm a total beginner at this and got a fire pretty quick using it as a board and spindle only a couple days after drying the pieces.