What an appropriate date to start my blog. (Earth Day) This blog is about a summer long adventure and project that hopefully will "grow" into a prosperous suburban garden of indigenous dye plants, a colorful harvest of natural dye and an assortment of documentations that I can share.
I have thought about all aspects of this project for quite some time- planning, where to do it, how to do it, what I hope to accomplish, the research, workshops and ...the cost.
So, I want to first thank Pratt Institute (where I teach) for awarding me a grant that will help immensely launch the endeavor. This grant is from the Faculty Development Fund for 2010-2011. So a big- thank you!
I made my first purchase today- a rain barrel- and what timing! It's suppose to rain for 4 days. So tomorrow I start researching and digging! As you might have guessed- I live in the suburbs- (quite a different scene from the countryside where I grew up) So my plan is to first attempt to construct a natural garden in a mondain, suburban setting- starting from scratch- no topsoil, no trees, etc- a pretty pathetic spot! (In other words, my back yard!)
I am sure 50 years ago this was a rich, rolling country side with wild indigenous plants and a landscape that provided a beautiful natural setting- but now all the original soil is gone, as are the trees, and plants, all replaced with cement, houses, sod and ornamental stone.
I wonder if all of the indigenous plants will find the suburbs a great place to thrive again- to be continued.
