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Sustainable Tea Dyeing
Actually, there really IS no such thing if you live here in Northern California… at least not until my two Camellia sinensis plants reach maturity, I learn to properly cure their leaves, and then use...
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Rhubarb Season
Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is one of the harbingers of spring in most parts of the US, and grows well in many temperate regions. It is a long-lived perennial that sends up bright red stalks and...
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The Madder Saga
Friends who have been following my CSA start-up’s progress will recall that Jan offered to give me all her madder roots, if I would only come and dig them up. She had decided that working with natural...
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August Dye Adventures
My friend Mossy looks on as I spin at Ridgestock, 8/20/11 It has been a busy month! I am happy to report that first CSA shipment was sent out last week, featuring Rebecca Burgess’ book, Harvesting...
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Down in the Pokeberry Patch
What are pokeberries? Not a surprising question for a Northern California grrl… this is a native plant in the South and considered mildly invasive here. In fact, when I first read about Rebecca...
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The Magic of Blue
When I started this CSA Farm adventure, I planned to grow enough Japanese Indigo (Polygonum tintorium) to dye yarns for my subscribers; after all, the plant grew well in other parts of California and...
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Fun with Fungi
Back in the fall, our local mycological expert Daniel Nicholson asked for some help in preparing for the first-ever Nevada City Wild Mushroom Exposition. This new event would mark the 14th anniversary...
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The Gift of Aspen
Aspen trees are one of the highlights of fall in my part of the world, and I was overjoyed to find that the leaves produce a true, brilliant gold dye.Aspen grove at Sierra crest Last week, I promised...
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A Summer of Dye Plants
My dyework is mostly done on this 1940s-vintage Wedgewood stove. I feel very fortunate to have this workhorse of a propane stove, capable of a low simmer, as well as that big iron cauldron.The summer...
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My Fibershed Wardrobe
I have been getting ready to head off to Stitches West at the end of this week and wondering why my excitement level isn’t any higher. My bestest Fiber Trash Girls have been begging me to join them for...
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