My Dad says that I am the environmentalist in the family and he's not sure how that happened....
It's not a term that I would have used to describe myself; I tend to think in terms of sustainability and resiliency.
Like this:
This summer I'll be experimenting with natural dyeing more than usual. I am taking a class from Ulrike and it is fabulous! The focus is on plant based fibers, such as cotton and linen. This is important to me as these are the fabrics that are most easily found used; whether in the closet, attic, or thrift store.
I think often of what I want my garden to be: a food source for myself, the bees, birds, butterflies; a source for medicines such as salves made of calendula or tinctures with hops, a sanctuary. Coloring cloth may not be necessary, but it adds more joy to life. That has value and so is another resource to be tapped into.
It's an amazing time in the garden. Everything is growing so quickly.
For the first time fruit set on my Orcas Pear.
The Highbush cranberry is covered in blossoms.
The lovage needs to be cut back and dehydrated.
There is volunteer Swiss Chard growing, also forget-me-nots and poppies. I let the Swiss Chard go to seed last year hoping this would happen.
On Saturday I went to one of the local garden sales. I bought goldenrod to add to the dye plant collection and a native honeysuckle (lonicera ciliosa). There are a variety of uses for the honeysuckle. Mostly I am hoping that it will someday be so prolific that I will be able to use it to make baskets.
I've been knitting on the bus during the morning. Eight inches = 20 miles traveled or 2 1/2 hours of travel time. Plus another 30 minutes of waiting time for an appointment. I'm making a headband with this. It's a cotton yarn made by Habu textiles.
I am thinking it would be nice to knit a white strip of fabric that could be plant dyed.
I also was able to visit the baby chicks at my parents. One of them is for me and will be added to my flock when she is full grown. She's a Welsummer and will lay dark brown eggs.
For some reason this all strikes me as practical. Sustainability and resiliency as the practical thing to do. And if that's the case, well...I learned that from my family.