Global Roots, Local Colour

I’m setting up a low key community project based at the ELL dye garden to explore sources of natural colour in the landscape and gardens around Finsbury Park and to use them to make a piece of textile art that celebrates local plant and human diversity and creativity.

I will be at ELL regularly every month on a Sunday, either focusing on a particular dye plant, or going out foraging; looking at the origins of the plants, how they grow and how to use them for dyeing.

The growing will lead to dyeing and as the seasons progress there will be sewing and quilting, either in the garden or somewhere warm nearby.

You’re welcome to come along and join in, I’ll post dates on Substack and on our What’s App group for volunteers. There’s no cost other than your time and energy.

This Sunday (April 19th, 10 - 12) I’ll be focusing on blues, sowing Japanese Indigo in a semi-hydroponic system and mulching the woad. In May, mostly likely on the 24th, I’ll be planting out some annuals for yellow dye. There might be some foraging in June, depending on the weather and what grows, or possibly setting up some solar dye jars.