Retting Flax: The Process in Rural Ireland

What a year. Most days it feels like I’m just figuring things out as I go — but when I stop and really look, I realize I’m doing the work. This year I: • brought home a tractor • planted flax (and I’m about to process it!) • scattered seed bombs across the native meadow • fell in love with pawpaw • planted hazelnut, aronia, garlic, and 100 elderberry cuttings • made fire cider, elderberry syrup, and goldenrod salve • saved and stratified seeds for what comes next • collected a few irresistible a