I’m not a particularly motivated plant identifier if the plant in question isn’t edible. But I’m always curious about natural dying techniques, especially if the plant dye in question comes from a plant that grows here.
Even though I’m not at the point where I’ll eat Brooklyn-foraged lambs’ quarters, I’m absolutely willing to use something found on a walk to dye fabric. The Textile Arts Center’s Growing Color Plant ID Walk, which is free to attend and includes a tour through the purple basil, goldenrod, and ironweed of Park Slope, is the ideal low stakes foray into the world of natural fabric dying. The tour, which includes a cup of hot apple cider and a pleasant morning walk through Gil Hodges Community Garden and Prospect Park, takes place on Sunday, November 16 at 4:00 p.m.
The Textile Arts Center also offers in-depth plant-dying courses if you’re interested.
CORRECTION: As of Saturday, November 15, the walk has been rescheduled to Sunday, November 23 from 2—4:00 p.m.
