Color Grows in the Garden

Let’s create color at home! In this 4-credit course, we’ll learn via Zoom how to safely create and use plant dyes in our kitchen with locally accessible plants. We’ll also learn to create eco-prints (printing directly with leaves and flowers). Those who are able will pick up supplies at The Longhouse Ethnobotanical Garden. If you are not able to come to the garden, you can receive your supplies by delivery or mail. Regulations allowing, we will also periodically meet in small numbers to experience harvesting plants and explore garden care –– all with safe social distancing and masks. If this is not possible, “being in the garden” will take place via Zoom. In addition to dye projects, we will have light reading each night, write daily “color comments,” maintain a “color journal,” and choose a simple dye or research project that can be carried out in one day and shared the next. Sunday is available to complete a Summary of Learning and Dye Sample Book. 

Students may also expand upon this class through more personalized and/or in-depth work in an Independent Learning Contract (ILC) or Internship (INT), speak to the faculty for more information.