Peachy brown - Beech husk ink foraged on Dartmoor

A lovely, light warm brown. This ink is made from empty beech husks decocted in soda.

This product is part of our Acorn & Mire give-back line. A portion from each sale is donated back to environmental charities supporting hedgerow regeneration and peatland restoration.

Details

• Colour: peaches into light brown.
  
• Source: beech husks harvested from Dartmoor's high moor.
• Size: one 15mL vial of gorse ink
  
• Use with: Small paint brushes; you can also use a dip pen, but it's very light when wet and difficult to see
  
• Suitable for fountain pens? No.
• Light fast rating? 1-2. The ink should not be left exposed to direct sunshine.
• Ingredients: Beech husks, Dartmoor rainwater, gum Arabic, preservative
  

The Perfect Gift For

• Artists and calligraphers. 
• Eco-conscious individuals.
• Nature Lovers and Foragers.
• Writers and Journal Keepers.
• Historians and Vintage Enthusiasts.
• Minimalists.
• Botanists and Gardeners.

Usage Tips

This is a natural product with a limited shelf life. Best used within a few months of making. We make our ink with a goodly amount of gum Arabic. If you find it's too thick, you can add a little water. Shake well before use.

How it's made

Beech husks are harvested after the mast has fallen away. This ensures the foodstuff remains on the moor for our critter friends. We gather only enough for what we need during the autumn harvest; however, the trees were planted in abundance throughout the moor. After collection, the husks are simmered in water and washing soda for 30 minutes, then left to soak overnight. The liquid is strained to remove the husks, and then further reduced to half the volume.

About the colour

Your vial of ink will include the year it was made, and a sample on the label. The ink usually changes colour a little bit as it dries and is exposed to air. It may be darker, or it may lighten. Use the label as your guide for the colour.