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The original was posted on /r/permaculture by /u/OkoraJ on 2025-09-12 20:05:20+00:00.

I started growing paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) 3 years ago after getting introduced to traditional Pacific Island tapa cloth making. What began as a curiosity project has turned into one of the most rewarding parts of my permaculture setup.

The trees are absolutely incredible for fast biomass production. I’ve been harvesting bark strips twice a year without any harm to the trees - they just keep regenerating. The first year I was nervous about taking too much, but these things are practically indestructible once established, almost like a weed.

What I didn’t expect was how useful they’d become beyond just the tapa cloth experiment. The leaves make excellent compost material, the roots help with erosion control on my slope, and the trees themselves have become great wind barriers for my more delicate crops.

The actual bark processing is pretty labor-intensive but I find it therapeutic. You strip the outer bark, soak the inner bark, then pound it with wooden mallets until it becomes this flexible, paper-like material. I made my first successful piece of tapa cloth last month and it felt like I’d discovered some ancient secret.

My friend thinks I’m nuts for going through all that trouble but she changed her tune when I showed her the finished cloth. I checked prices on Amazon and Alibaba and handmade tapa pieces easily sell for $50-80 each. There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating something beautiful and functional from a tree I planted myself, using techniques that have been around for centuries. I’m thinking of expanding my grove next year, maybe add some plants that are natural dyes next.