A project that focuses on the organization and development of a network of local growers and plots growing a selection of dye plants for use by the dye program.
Many of the highest quality dye sources for textiles are not native to this land and are often not commonly cultivated. This makes cultivating key plants, such as indigo, madder, and weld difficult for individuals who are not able to put in the time and resources to selecting and tracking down which dye plants would be best to cultivate. If the dye program is to have access to a steady supply of high-quality, relatively fade resistant dyes for fibre and textiles then it needs to establish a network of other local growers who they can collaborate with.
Additionally, unlike the food market, the competition in the local supply of dye stock is low which makes the process an empty niche that recomposers can more easily fill while still developing the same key powers-to {skills} needed to cultivate food plants and other key flora. This is intended to help provide an opportunity to provide positive feedback loops to new growers to incentivize more people to learn how to grow.
Backyard Harvest
While not focused towards the cultivation of dye plants, the model of backyard harvest provided significant inspiration for the establishment of the Dye Growers Network.