Fascinated by the idea of natural colour, and also keenly aware of the environmental benefits of natural dyes, we started thinking about cut flowers on our farm as a way to grow and experiment with plant-based colour. For centuries before the advent of synthetic dyes, plants, bark, lichens and mushrooms were used to dye textiles. Many, if not most, of the flowers and herbs we grow can be used as a natural dye.
Although we hope to offer these dyes to the community, currently all of our dyes go directly to Wave Fibre Mill in Seguin Ontario. The amount of plant material needed to make dye is substantial – it’s about a 1:1 weight ratio.
Seasonally and Regionally Unique
Every dye plant or mushroom has a season and preferred climate. This means that natural colour is not only seasonal, it also differs geographically. The colour we can produce in Callander is different from other places, meaning each distinct ecological region has a different natural colour palette.
Growing Plant-Based Colour
We’re also part of a much larger and growing movement of people sourcing dyes and natural fibres from producers in Ontario, creating a bioregional fashion community that values a soil-to-soil system of connection between what we wear and where it comes from. We’re proud Members of the Upper Canada Fibreshed and encourage you to dive into this movement too!
