The Dye Garden is an integral part of Flying Pig Farm, where we cultivate pigments for our outdoor art classes and workshops. We grow black hollyhock, indigo, madder root, marigold, coreopsis, dyers chamomile, sulfur cosmos, cota and black pincushion, as well as food plants that can be used for dyes. These plants are used for natural dyes and printing processes at the farm and nearby studios. We offer classes throughout the warm months, including tataki-zomé, bundle-dyeing, lake pigment watercolor mixing, and dye vat workshops.
We extend thanks to the Bee Vradenburg Foundation for funds allowing us to expand workshop offerings and add perennial plants to the Dye Garden in 2021, and for providing funding for our new Dye Garden Interns program for 2023.
See below for our workshop descriptions. Join our mailing list and follow us on Instagram for announcements on workshop dates for summer 2023.
Dye Garden Workshops
Tools and materials are included. All workshops sliding scale. Thanks to the Bee Vradenburg Foundation for helping us offer these workshops to everyone regardless of ability to pay.
Select Workshop titles for registration, cost options, and accommodations.
Join us in creating inks from food plants to dried flowers, and complete a color guide with your own non-commercial inks. We’ll make a range of inks together and learn how to use these based on their different properties.
We will begin by collecting specimens with interesting shapes and textures, then learn the basics of using block printing techniques to create monoprints using the leaves we found across the farm. The results are beautiful!
Create beautiful, locally sourced indigo in sky-blue hues using fresh indigo dye, a process that uses leaves direct from the indigo plant. – This workshop is co-taught with Melanie Audet.
An early form of photographic species cataloging popularized by Anna Atkins, this process uses direct sunlight to develop images. Using cyanotype fluid on fabric or paper, arrange your harvest and other small objects into patterns and collaged images and watch your prints develop in the sun.
Watercolor Pigments | June 30 (Session 1) Watercolor Pigments | August 10 (Session 2)
Make your own watercolors! Join us in the dye garden to collect pigments and inspiration before grinding the pigments, then add watercolor binder to create your own unique watercolor paint.
This traditional Japanese craft uses hammers to pound the pigments of leaves and flowers directly onto fabric and paper. Harvest natural materials from our garden to develop beautiful designs on fabric and paper.
Gather flowers and leaves directly from the garden and have fun experimenting with bundle-dyeing, a direct press method for creating beautiful patterns and subtle shades. Go home with a beautiful scarf in one workshop. – This workshop is co-taught with Melanie Audet.
This traditional Mediterranean dye is harvested and used dry or fresh. Learn the techniques for madder root dye bath to create deep reds and lighter hues of coral and orange. – This workshop is co-taught with Melanie Audet.
Dyers Chamomile Shibori | September 23
Natural dyeing with chamomile is easy and yields great results! We’ll use our dyers chamomile harvest to dye wool and other fibers, making a beautiful range of yellow colors using a dye bath process. – This workshop is co-taught with Melanie Audet.