Dye Garden
Project Overview:
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in partnership with the Mississippi Mills Public Library proposes a dye garden/bed featuring plants typically grown for use as textile dyes. The project connects with the history of the area as the Rosamond Woolen company in Almonte once had a dye house, and also addresses contemporary interest in natural dyeing processes.
The garden will contain many of the plants that are typically used to make dyes. It will be a great opportunity for education, interpretation, and workshops, beginning in spring, throughout summer and finishing in the fall (possibly at Fibrefest).
Supported by museum, gardening and other volunteers, the small dye garden bed will be located on site at the library to the right of the front doors (behind the Pillar Oak tree).
Bed details:
A raised bed is suggested as there is no soil in that location. The bed would mirror in size, shape and possibly materials, the existing raised bed located to the right of the bread oven. Materials can include cedar ties, boards or galvanized steel.
Next Steps:
Fundraising and/or sponsorship needed to obtain materials.
Materials needed: Soil (½ cubic yard?), wood, seeds and/or seedlings (Thea Haines has provided a preliminary list of plants. See list below).
Solicit more interest and volunteers (Men’s Shed for building?)
Proposed Calendar of Activities
Date Activity Description Resources/Notes
Spring Plant/seed selection and uses: botany and history, First Nations cultivation, and medieval European to industrial period.
Local seed/gardening expert (or possibly guest from Richter’s Herbs, Guildwood ON) See: Seeds/propagation/gardening, botany, first nations/european/colonial horticultural histories, arts/crafts collections at library. Dye bath recipes and artefacts at MVTM.
Late spring Seed sowing and soil fertility Potential for seed sowing and composting workshops
Summer Plant care and interpretation Interpretive signs identifying the plants and uses/colours achieved
Late summer Cultivation and preparation of plant material for dyeing. Possible guests: Textile artist Tania Love,
Thea Haines (head of textile department at Sheridan College and natural dye consultant) Zoom presentation. Using plants to make dyes or direct printing
Eco-Printmaking/textile/art making collections at library
Fall Natural fibre dyeing – wool fleece and cotton See Late summer
Late fall Seed harvesting for next year How to collect and store seeds
Fall/winter What to do with your dyed material. Contemporary and historical uses Historical uses lecture. Spinning, knitting, felting, sewing workshops tie-dye
homemade face masks
cotton scrunchies
yarn for knitting, felting or macrame
VOLUNTEERS
NAME INFO CONTACT JOB INTEREST
Jo Harris Weaver/West Carleton Fibres Guild joharris8@gmail.com
Kathryn James spinner/natural dyer klj323@gmail.com Foraged materials?
Jane Low West Carleton Fibres Guild jane.ben.low@gmail.com
SPEAKERS/WORKSHOP HOSTS
Tania Love Fibre artist/natural dyes Guest speaker
Thea Haines Head of Textiles, Sheridan College, textile artist and natural dye consultant thea.e.f.haines@gmail.com
Plant information and donation, guest speaker
Plant suggestions (source: Thea Haines)
If you're working primarily with wool, you have a wealth of choice in plants. Here's a list of plants I'd recommend:
Annuals
dyer's coreopsis
marigold
scabiosa (pin cushion flower)
Biennials
weld
woad
Perennials
black eyed susan
dyer's chamomile/golden marguerite
lady's bedstraw
madder
tansy
rhubarb (leaves can be used as a mordant)
Japanese maple & Elderberry (both can be used for eco printing)
Most of these plants are really easy to care for. A resource I would recommend is the book A Dyer's Garden by Rita Buchanan. A good source for plants and seeds is Richter's Herbs in Goodwood, Ontario.
Explore the Almonte Fibrefest virtually
Once again Covid has changed the look of Almonte's Fibrefest.
From Sept 7- 30,2021 guest Artists will vitually demonstrate their craft such as spinning, weaving,felting,rughooking, quilting and more.
Familiarize yourself with virtual workshops and participating Artists.
http://almontefibrefest.ca
Our Fibre Guild has a You tube channel
We would like to express our appreciation for all those involved in the creation of this video, and those that shared examples of their exquisite work. Many of the guild members were generous in showcasing their talents.
Did you wonder what is happening in your neck of the woods
follow this link to view what is happening in Ontario Hand Spinners and Weavers guild.
CLICK on the poster to enlarge and view
Note the OHS conference 2021. Please visit the website for further information
Please click on the image to enlarge the poster for better viewing
Please note if you are interested in participating or volunteering
2021 Ontario Handspinning Seminar
CA$50.00
Register here for access to the 2021 Handspinning Seminar. June 11 - 13 we will be releasing articles, videos, and slideshows. As well as having live question and answer periods and social events over Zoom and on Facebook! You will also be able to watch and read all the content until August 31.
As we are a small team during the weekend of The Seminar we could use some volunteers to help keep an eye on things in the Facebook group and during the Live Q&As. If you would be willing to help out please consider signing up to volunteer.
Copy this link below in to your browser to register
https://www.ontariohandspinningseminar.ca/store/p30/2021_Registration.html
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