Below are some latest photos (Aug 25) of the resprouting of this great tree, which we fully cut in mid June (also pictured above).
Willow releases airborne seeds in the millions each June and they travel through the air all around these mountain valleys.
Willow grows wild alongside the mountain streams, and people plant multiple varieties throughout these valleys and cut them in a particular way so that they produce long, straight poles.
These poles, called talu, are a manageable size for humans to cut and handle. They peel very nicely from April to June, and when talu are cut in this season the trees resprout very well with dozens of new leaders.
Here Caitlin is processing poles. People in Tar use the thin branches, twigs, and leaves (katik) as “tree hay” or fodder for the cows, goats, and sheep.
This video will show you some of the talu we have been cutting and preparing for a ceiling and furniture for a new small house we are building this year.
Below, you will see the cut and uncut willow trees, the katik (branches) on the slope, the upright bundled talu to the left, and Caitlin peeling talu in the center. This is at our home in the gongma.
Here is a closer view of Jason peeling a talu.
Jason standing willow poles in the stream, to keep the bark wet and slippery until we can find time to peel them.
A New Bridge
There is no easy way across the stream in spring and summer when the sun melts snow in the mountains above, and the water increases and rushes through these valleys.
Willow provides beautiful, light, incredibly flexible material, used by humans for a longer than we know.
Here, Sasha, Caitlin, and Chiranjeev work on weaving a bridge.
Marc and Joe are peeling talu. The strips of bark we will bundle. The bundles will dry and turn red and brown. Then we will carry the bundles on our backs down to Meymey Angchuk (a grandfather) to feed to his cows.
Jonna and Zoe joined us on these days as well. We are so grateful.
This tree was planted by Meymey Angchuk, who is in his eighties. He has offered these trees for the building of a house nearby. The wonderful thing is that — because they were cut in spring — these willows will resprout. They can be cut every three to five years and they live for hundreds of years.
I have been cutting willow for Meymey Angchuk this year, every week since plowing. Here he is preparing some talu this spring.
This time lapse shows the different activities involved: trimming poles, gleaning weavers (thin wands of willow), peeling poles, and weaving the bridge.
We are using stones to weight and bend the bridge into the shape we want. We will install it soon!
Here are visitors from Australia, South Africa, Spain, and the United States, all living with host families, learning through experience about Ladakhi culture, and helping grandparents with their daily work in the village. They also made time to come help us out. Thank you!