The Dye Garden

In 2020, a small raised-bed garden was planted with Indigo, Rudbeckia, Marigold, Madder, and Weld. Led by Sara Goodman, the staff harvested and experimented with live plants to create pigments. By the next year, demand had increased for dye materials and the garden was expanded to two 50x20ft plots beside the teaching garden. In 2023 the dye garden became a mixed use garden as we grew cut flowers for our CSA there. We have moved the dye garden closer to the Dye Studio to give it a permanent and productive place on the farm.

Plants Grown in our Dye Garden

Indigo, Persicaria tinctoria

Weld, Reseda luteola

Madder, Rubia tinctorum

Sulfur Cosmos, Cosmos sulphureus

Pink Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus

Giant Orange Marigold, Tagetes erecta

Lemon Gem Marigold, Tagetes tenuifolia

Dyers Coreopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria

Tall Coreopsis, Coreopsis tripteris

Black Hopi Sunflower, Helianthus annuus

Calendula, Calendula officinalis

Black Walnut, Juglans nigra

Dahlias, Dahlia sp

Zinnias, Zinnia sp