Updated 9th September 2023
Seeds
We collect seed as flowering and weather conditions permit. To be notified as soon as fresh 2023 seed is on sale please sign up for our newsletters. Read more here
Madder
We are regularly digging madder and sell a limited number of root cuttings online in Spring. If you would like to pre-order some please get in touch.
Garden visits and plant sales
We host garden visits for small groups. Each visit is typically two hours long although we can tailor a visit to suit you. If you subscribe to our newsletter you will get advance notice of dates. Please contact us if your group would like a bespoke visit. A selection of plants are usually available to purchase on the day.
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Bespoke Garden Design Package
A package of 1-1 support including zooms, phone/email and posted seeds and plants for anyone wanting advice and guidance on setting up or extending a dye garden. Further details here
Workshops and Courses
We teach ‘in person’ workshops to small groups using the outdoor classroom at the Hitchin Triangle Community Garden. See our shop for details.
Here are details of the workshops we provide in Hitchin:
How to plan and plant a dye garden. An introductory day where you can explore an established working dye garden on a compact allotment site. Each person gets some 1-1 design support and goes home with seeds, seedlings and young plants to put the ideas into practice as soon as possible.
Natures Rainbow Dye Garden in June
One day dye workshops where you start by picking the dye plants, then extract the dyes and use them to colour a useful quantity of material appropriate to your chosen craft. We aim to be flexible and accommodate people who are confident to mordant their own materials in advance, as well as cater for those new to plant dyeing.
Japanese Indigo leaves steeping in water to extract the indigo
Botanical Print workshops
Following successful workshops led by Louise Drosdzol in 2021 and 2022, we are planning more workshops in Autumn 2023. A beginners introduction to botanical print on Sunday 15th October will be open for booking shortly.
Botanically printed silk scarves on a washing line
Two day workshops where you can go deeper into a subject. Some things need more than a single day for best results. We have developed a Two Day Mordanting workshop and a Dyecraft Retreat Weekend where you can explore a single dyeplant in depth.
Madder dyed yarns with various mordants and modifiers
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Our dye garden in Hitchin is only 5 minutes walk from a mainline station well served by trains between London, Peterborough and Cambridge. We are next door to a fabulous community garden project, The Triangle Community Garden, which has a well-equipped indoor space for small workshops and a brand new outdoor classroom for Covid-safe tuition.
We are thoroughly enjoying sharing our skills and knowledge with people who, like us, are enchanted by deriving colour from their home grown dyeplants. Please do get in touch if you would like to work with us.
All courses can be booked here
With all good wishes
Susan
+44 1462 422814