you would start by going to the swamps ...most good to work with reed is in the mucky parts ,so you will get wet...
most of the reed that you will cut will be still "green" or under water.....when you are done cutting and are ready for the next step you would dry your reed (lots of ways to dry,for lots of different reeds and uses).when you want to work with the reed you would then steam or wet it to make it flexible ....also some reed is just thin strips of wood(like a apple-wood-basket)..
IMHO-->salmondine did the reeds perfect...
@Tiana could you update the to do list for this topic

-----skipy