In 2005, the Local Energy Farm Demonstration Project, located at the University of British Columbia, experimented with the production of flax. The stalk of the flax plant can be used to create fine fibers for textile or it can be shredded and combined with recycled paper pulp or hemp to provide an alternative to wood-based paper products. Flax is also grown for its oil rich seed (linseed). The seed can be used for feeding livestock (35% crude protein) and for industrial use as a drying agent in ink, paint, and lacquer.

In brief research related to companion planting, and variety of web resources and books report that the growth of carrots, onions, and potatos are enhanced when they are planted next to stands of flax. Flax deters the potato bug, a nusicence of certain tuber crops. I am eager to test this later in the spring.

Other sources report that clover grows well with flax because it is not overly shaded by the thin flax plants. Sowing flax with clover could prove to be an effective way to grow a useful energy crop and improve the land at the same time. Once the flax is harvested you would then be able to incorporate the nitrogen rich clover into the surrounding soil and add organic matter at the same time. To get two crops out of one area, and potentially improve the land is an example of companion planting and good use of cover crops.