After a big storm is best.

We go to the vineyard and collect the branches that have blown off of the oak trees, still roped with lichen. Sitting at the table under two of those oaks, we carefully separate the lichen beards from the bark of the tree, tucking each tangled, silvery-green cloud away until our bags are dense with matter, if not actually heavy. The alchemy happens with the assistance of heat, water and time – those same silvery-green threads turn the water a cloudy brackish color; steeped in the same liquid, cream-colored silk is transformed into gold.

Everything that’s fallen gets lifted up again.