Japanese-style papermaking production
I learned how to cultivate Broussonetia x kazinoki (aka, kozo), in Ikeda, Japan. Here you can see the process of turning kozo into handmade paper.
At the University of Iowa Center for the Book, kozo is grown near the former papermaking research facility in Coralville, IA. During my tenure at the UICB, I doubled fiber yield by promoting growth of new plants. I also changed the fiber garden into a resource primarily for student use and artwork.
The paper I have produced from both “Iowa kozo” and Japanese-grown kozo has been commissioned and used by the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and numerous artists around the globe.
Annual kozo harvests, whether they be in the US or Japan, are festive events. Community members come to the kozo field to cut and steam the plants — and enjoy a tasty meal. For harvests I lead, sweet potatoes are steamed with the kozo and a pot of curry is made for the crew. Email me if you’d like the recipe.
