Hows About Retting Some Yucca?

[bowtarist]

Anybody ever retted anything?

I been making some cordage outta the yucca in the yard and an old boy told me I needed to ret it to get all the "strings" outta it.

Cut, tie an overhand knot in the pointy end, put in a baby pool full of water in the sun for two days, strir a couple times a day, third day, change water and everyday after change water til the green ferments and you grab the knot and pull the fibers right out of the green stuff.  I did all that to the pool, but there was no fermetation, then he tells me that he forgot to tell me that I need to bruise the cells first with a mallet and a piece of wood.  I did that today.  Seems to be slickin up a bit, hope its done by the weekend, I'm leavin for a week.

Anybody got any experiance with retting anything?  It became a joke on the boat the other day with me and my Pops.

Thanks, dpg

[mullet]

Yep! And it stinks bad after it gets gooey.

[PrimitiveTim]

yucca is a pain in the butt! Seems like too much work.  I assume you're talking about yucca filamentosa?

[bowtarist]

Eddie, the bees like it. ?

PT, not sure, white flower this time a year here in Indiana, leaves maybe 30 inches long.

I've got it started now, we'll see if it's done by Saturday night. dp

[Thesquirrelslinger]

You know you can just scrape the leaves with a spoon after bruising them with a mallet? Its quicker.

[bowtarist]

tss, it'd have to be quicker then whats goin on now.  I've been strippin it down green and using it now or the next day is even better. had some dry up and took it for a walk, put it in the creek and made finger loops for my atlatl.  seems to have held up pretty good for a couple of days now. As much as I hate to say it, I may try the spoon sometime.  I got lots of this stuff around the property. dpg

[comebackshane]

I dont hit mine with a mallet or ret it. I just scrape it with a dull knife. Its always worked well for me without retting and I dont need another messy project laying around.  Hadnt thought of a spoon, I might have to try that.

[Pat B]

Does your water have chlorine in it. If so it will retard the bacterial growth. Try rain water or creek water.
...or leave it in until you get back from vacation. It should be retted(or rotted) by then. 

[bowtarist]

No chlorine here Brother. Straight out the well. Thanks for the posts.

[Newindian]

Through some dirt in with it

[bowtarist]

Through some dirt in with it

  explain? I change the water everyday to keep it from going rancid.  Now I may end up burying the whole deal ifin it don't work, but dirt in the pool? dp