Local Color: Extracting Pigment From Plants

According to the organizers:

Learn how to make natural dyes in this new offering from Genspace. Unlike synthetic dyes, which are often toxic and polluting, natural dyes are renewable and biodegradable. In many cases, the waste in the dyeing process becomes an ideal fertilizer for use in fields and gardens. In this hands-on class, we will create natural dyes from food waste and locally foraged plants.

Learn to analyze local color—how to grow it, find it, and extract it. Participants will begin to master how to bind plant-based pigments to fabric and yarn using mordants, change colors by shifting PH, reuse food waste to create a wide spectrum of color, and create prints with flowers.