Explore the practical and creative world of dye gardening. This presentation covers the key plants for a dye garden and their growing requirements, how to build a surprisingly wide color palette from your own backyard, and the natural dyeing process — with a touch of historical context and a look at some of the creative possibilities these plants offer.
Eileen Flanagan is a fiber farmer, fiber artist, and natural dye grower based in Vassalboro, Maine, where she and her husband John have farmed 70 acres since 2018, raising sheep, chickens, and ducks alongside vegetables and natural dye plants. She sells at local farmers markets, offering vegetables, seedlings, dye stuffs, and naturally dyed and upcycled goods. Her fiber art practice draws on the full arc of her farm work — from raising animals and growing dye plants to spinning, dyeing, and creating finished pieces. Before turning her full attention to the farm, she enjoyed a 30-year career in community and economic development. Her work brings together a deep love of the land, sustainable practice, and the centuries-old art of growing and using natural dyes.
This will take place on April 28 at 6:00 PM to 7:30PM virtually on zoom(you will receive the zoom link in a follow up email after you register).