Broom Making - Using Field Corn Tassels
Drying in an Upright Position
It started out that I wanted some corn leaves to make tamales. As I located the corn stalks, it occurred to me that I should collect some lengths of corn tassel for use making a broom later.
Field corn tassels are the tops of the corn stalk. The pollen is in the top tassel and it drifts down onto the silks and causes the corn to form an ear full of corn kernels. These kernels are picked with a large piece of machinery called a corn head combine and are separated from their cob by the inner workings of the combine and moved into a wagon for transport to the rest of the story.
My only concern today was to remove the tassels with some leaves for my own use. I will leave the ears alone.
Tassels cut from field corn
leaves cut off
tassels separated
in bucket to keep from getting broken
small trees cut
tying into bundles
keeping together pieces of same length
tying to a stick
the bristles will need to be combed to remove pollen seeds, eventually
Eventually, the tassels will lose their moisture and will be crispy enough to brush. At that point, I will brush across the pollen parts and remove them, leaving the familiar flat end for my broom.
At that point, I will formally attach the tassels to my handle with some heavy duty cotton thread.
