Traditional Digging Stick (Processing & Harvest)

The digging stick—often called a pishk in some plains dialects—is the foundational tool of indigenous ethnobotany. While historically crafted from fire-hardened wood (such as Ash, Chokecherry, or Oak), the principles of its design remain relevant for modern ethno-botanical research and sample collection.

Design and Use

A proper digging stick is not a shovel. It is a lever. By inserting the pointed end at a slight angle near the base of a plant (like the Prairie Turnip), the harvester can pop the root out of the ground with minimal disturbance to the surrounding soil and the plant’s delicate taproot.

Modern Alternatives

For modern researchers, a high-quality Steel Planting Bar or a Japanese Hori-Hori Knife serves as an excellent functional equivalent. These tools offer the durability of modern materials while maintaining the precision and technique required for traditional root harvesting.

Recommended Equipment

For those looking to engage in respectful and efficient harvesting, we recommend the following professional-grade tools:

• Solid Ash Digging Bar: Ideal for deep roots in hard prairie soil.
• Stainless Steel Hori-Hori: Best for precision work and cleaning roots in the field.