dewretting means the process of decomposing or loosening the gummy bast fibre from the stem of flax and hemp, by outdoor exposure, to dew, rain, and sunshine.
Why “dewretting” is a great word
The process of decomposing the gummy bast fibre from the stems of flax or hemp by outdoor exposure to dew, rain, and sunshine. From dew + retting (the process of rotting plant stems to separate fibres). Unlike water-retting, which submerges stalks in foul, stagnant pools, or scutching, which mechanically beats the retted fibres, dewretting is a patient negotiation with the open sky. It is the pale stems silvering with morning mist, the slow surrender of pectin to moisture and warmth, and the earthy musk of the ground remembering how to breathe—a quiet alchemy that feels less like manufacture than a gentle unraveling of the world's own seams.
Etymology
From dew + retting.
noun
- The process of decomposing or loosening the gummy bast fibre from the stem of flax and hemp, by outdoor exposure, to dew, rain, and sunshine.
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