Alang-alang is also a perennial plant, but with leafy stems, and it can grow up to 2.5 meters tall. It is used as a covering for umbrellas or roofs. It grows in wetlands and along the banks of lakes, rivers, and canals throughout the country. Its leaves are sword-shaped—upright and slender—while its flower heads closely resemble a sea anemone. It is used

like reed, the thatch (alang-alang) we use at Omprela for our constructions is harvested from the wider area of Lake Kerkini and from the many canals and ditches created by the land-reclamation works in the Strymon River basin. As a result, its collection is a key source of income for the local economy—especially for lower-income groups—thus supporting both the local and our national economy.

After it is harvested—during the summer months (June through August)—the thatch is sun-dried. Special care is needed at this stage so that it does not lose all of its moisture, allowing it to retain the necessary flexibility and be used later for weaving umbrella covers and other constructions in general (mats, woven straw chairs, hats, and other thatch products).