Making paper with LEEKS

Summer is a season of profuse plant material! This year, like many past years, I have a CSA share (Community Shared Agriculture) from the local urban farm, Greensgrow, in Philadelphia. Not only is the food amazing, but it also provides bounty for PAPERMAKING. For instance, I had two weeks worth of leeks in July. Eight large leek tops, which are of course too fibrous to ingest, BUT, turn that into paper. Well, now you’re talking…

Cooking the leeks
Cooking the leeks
Cooked leeks into the blender
Cooked leeks into the blender
Leeks in the blender to make paper pulp
Leeks in the blender to make paper pulp
Delicious GREEN!
Delicious GREEN!
Forming the Leek Sheet
Forming the Leek Sheet
Couching the leek
Couching the leek
Pressing the sheets of leek paper
Pressing the sheets of leek paper
Transferring the sheets from pellon to the restraint dryer
Transferring the sheets from pellon to the restraint dryer
So translucent!
So translucent!
A short stack of leek paper
A short stack of leek paper