Walking Stick Cabbage

Historically, the stalks of this plant were made into walking sticks, fencing and rafters. Islanders would strip its leaves, varnish the stalk, and created a handle, either by heat-treating and bending the root end or by planting at an angle to produce a naturally bent root. Like its tree collard relative, this Brassica is a delicious perennial sauté green to have in the garden. Walking sticks are still made from this cabbage in the traditional way in the Channel Islands (check it out on YouTube)!