Natures Bounty | Bast is Best
Commonly known as ‘soft’ fibres, bast fibres are the fine, flexible fibres obtained from the stems of dicotyledonous plants.
Bast fibres have been used to manufacture ropes, sacks, sails, and other industrial fabrics for hundreds of years. Commonly known as ‘soft’ fibres, bast fibres are the fine, flexible fibres obtained from the stems of dicotyledonous plants. A sustainable choice, bast fibres support regenerative agricultural practices that can help the soil sequester carbon and as a natural resource, are entirely biodegradable. In this article we will investigate four of the most utilised bast fibres: flax, hemp, ramie, and jute.
Between the epidermis (the outermost layer of cells) and the core of the plant’s stems are soft, woody fibre bundles or strands which can be over one metre long. The strands are composed of individual filaments made up of cellulose and hemicellulose cells bonded together by pectin or lignin, a cohesive gum which strengthens the stem of the plant.
During harvest the stems are cut close to the ground and the fibres are separated either through a natural decomposition process called retting (engaging moisture and bacteria to rot away the gummy cellular tissues) or by decortication (peeling the stems manually or mechanically). After retting, the fibres can be mechanically extracted through a process known as scutching.
In contrast to bast fibres, leaf fibres are obtained from the leaves of monocotyledonous plants with parallel-veined leaves, such as grasses, lilies, orchids, and palms. The long, stiff fibres of plants including abaca, cantala, Mauritius hemp, and sisal are generally used to create cordage or ropes, however, due to labour-intensive harvesting processes they are used less frequently than synthetic options.
Flax (Linen): Famously grown across northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Ireland, flax is the most popular and strongest of the bast fibres. Wild flax fibres found in the Upper Palaeolithic layers of a Georgian cave indicate that humans have been crafting cords and weaving flax baskets for over 30,000 years.
Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...
✈ Understanding the DMAPS Changes ✈
We received this interesting question from a resident who has received the Wellington Airport consultation documents. To answer this question, here's what you should look out for:
🔎*Compare the old vs. new flight paths*:
*Page 7*: Old flight path
*Page 4*: New flight path (however, see more in the comments 👇)
🔎*Check page 2*: It mentions that pilots can request to deviate from the path, but 'occasionally deviating' is very different from being directly under the new path. Previously, lighter turboprop planes flew over, but now DMAPS concentrates jet engine aircraft over suburbs, causing a significant noise increase.
📊*Noise impact*:
*Old*: 54dB (prop planes) - this is what an Airways Report tells us.
*New*: Up to 80dB (jet engines) - actual noise captured by sound monitors in the suburbs (this isn't included in the consultation documentation). And remember, decibels increase exponentially like the Richter scale!
🚨Plus, unlike on the previous flight path, DMAPS means more frequent flights, with smaller gaps between them, and an increase in jet departures means higher noise levels for longer periods over the new path. That's why we're pushing for the DMAPS decision to be *reversed*, reverting to the old flight path - which isn't the same as sending all the jets over another suburb.
🤖Learn more about the bias in the consultation process, independently analysed by AI: 👉www.planesensewellington.com...
Can you crack Today’s neighbourhood conundrum?
Without a bridle or a saddle, across a thing, I ride a-straddle. And those I ride, by help of me, though almost blind, are made to see. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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This one was sent in by your fellow neighbour, can you figure it out?
What is first white then red and the plumper it gets the more the old lady likes it?
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