Cattails Against The Cold

Image Gallery A fete autumn stand of nature's fuzzy insulators backlit by the setting sun. PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR

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In the September/October 1979 issue, Armand Lione explained how to put foraged milkweed fluff to work as a substitute for costly goose down. 

Despite the fact that plenty of warm summer days are still ahead, it's never too early to prepare for the icy winter blasts to come . . . and one of the best "cold resist ers" available is goose down, when packed
into jackets, vests, comforters, and sleep in bags.

Yet anyone who's shopped for such articles lately will be well aware of the high prices that feather insulation brings. In fact, even synthetic fibers-such as Da- cron- aren't much less expensive . . . and

are heavier, bulkier, and less compress able than is prime goose or duck down, as well! There is, however, a near-perfect solution to the soaring cost of clothing fillers: cattail "cotton", a proven insulation that's free, widely distributed, and light in weight.

A CATTAIL "CATALOG"

The idea of putting mature cattail spikes to use is nothing new. Members of several native American tribes once used the soft fluff to line such items as moccasins and papoose boards. Later on, pioneers employed the down when stuffing quilts and dolls . . . dressing wounds . . . and providing tinder for fires sparked by flint and steel.

You may be surprised to know, though, that almost every part of the Typha lati- folia plant has been found to be useful at one time or another. The stems once served as candlewick holders, the leaves will make fine woven chair seats, and (as any wild plant forager can tell you) the stems, pollen, spikes, shoots, and roots can-at different times of the year-be prepared as tasty and nutritious food. (See MOTHER NO. 51 for some delicious ways to add cattails to your diet.)

However, the potential of cattail down as an inexpensive-but quality-alternative to waterfowl feathers was recognized (briefly) only during World War II, when shortages and embargoes forced the wartional materials. Since the compacted fluff was found to have excellent heat- and sound-insulating properties, for example, the Germans used boards made of compressed cattail fibers in construction. Prior to the war, the United States had
imported 90% of its kapok supply from the Dutch East Indies (in the days before the introduction of man-made fillers, the tropical plant fiber was an important padding in such items as life jackets and mattresses). When the islands fell to the Japanese, our kapok supply was cut off . . . and some form of replacement had to be found
immediately.

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