It takes brains to tan a hide, says Suzan Purdy.
As the owner of Vernon’s Blue Mountain Tannery, she is not kidding.
“Brain matter is what I use – it’s free, it’s already measured out, makes the softest leather and it is eco-friendly,” said Purdy.
She transforms the hides into natural rawhide (de-haired, untanned hide), traditionally tanned leather and soft, supple pelts. These she can then turn into quality handmade custom leather products such as rattles, drums, purses, pouches, bracelets and arm bands.
“Just about any creative idea I can come up with, including a six-foot long bull snake I turned into a staff,” said Purdy, who also works with feather to make hair pieces. She also does artistic work in bone.
“I see usefulness in all of nature’s bounty. Fur and feathers, greenwood and bones are some of the natural ingredients of my creations,” she added.
Purdy jumpstarted her business by entering the North Okanagan Employment Enhancement Society’s (NOEES) self-employment program (now operated by Community Futures North Okanagan).
She shares her knowledge by hosting rawhide drum and rattle workshops.
Purdy says there are many methods of tanning hides naturally, which makes a lot of sense considering it is a skill that has been practised by different civilizations for millennia.
However, according to Wikipedia, approximately 85 per cent of the world’s leather is tanned using chromium salts, whose potentially hazardous chemical properties (and associated disposal concerns), have become a source of controversy.
“There are many formulas for tanning – tree barks, eggs, alum, other oils, and some tanners even use a combination of battery acids and salt,” said Purdy, who has experimented with neatsfoot oil (rendered and purified oil from the shin bones and feet of cattle) and eggs.
“It’s the fatty acids in the brain matter that penetrate the hide and produce the soft suppleness.”
To create her tanning mixture, Purdy mashes brain matter and blends it with a bit of water. She then spreads it on a hide and leaves it for 24 hours. The hide is then rinsed and painstakingly worked so it remains soft as it dries.
“Sometimes the process is repeated if good penetration is not achieved the first time,” explained Purdy. “The softening process is very labour intensive.”
Much like the tanning process itself, Purdy’s interest comes naturally.
“My grandfather was a game guide, my great grandmother made baskets and I have always been interested in feathers and hides, collecting them and wondering how to preserve for future use,” said Purdy.
“I tried my hand at tanning when my son, David, shot his first deer and it turned out great. Friends started to ask if I would do a hide for them.”
Purdy is at the Cherryville Farmers’ Market, which operates Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
She graciously accepts donated hides from hunters interested in recycling.
