Featured is the best of my indigo plants, you can already see the blue in some of the withered leaves. I can’t wait for it to flower so I can get more seeds.

Next is woad(left) and murasaki(right.) Of all my woad plants only two survived. They were very finicky in their first months. I have lots of murasaki, though. Almost all my seeds sprouted and took easily. Woad makes blue and murasaki makes purple.

Now we have madder, a traditional orange dye is made from the roots (which are very orange,) but it takes two years to mature enough to harvest.

Next is marigold. You can make a vibrant orange dye from the dried flowerheads, and I have. The marigold paint in my kit is among my favorites.

Lastly, a bonus deer. He got into my garden bed and pulled up a tomato because he’s a dick.

  • nocturne@slrpnk.netEnglish
    3·
    22 days ago

    I have been looking into making dyes for my Renaissance Faire garb.

    I guess I need to start growing my madder. I would love to do woad for blue, not big on the idea of the fermented urine for it.

    • Wren@lemmy.todayOPMEnglish
      2·
      22 days ago

      You can just use ammonia from a store, no need to pee on your clothes unless you want to.

  • schmorp@slrpnk.netEnglish
    2·
    22 days ago

    Thanks for sharing! This is next on my list for when the food garden grows and I have some spare time …

    Tell Mr. Deer he gets dyed blue next time he steals from your garden!

    Do you buy wool or do you keep your own sheep as well?

    • Wren@lemmy.todayOPMEnglish
      1·
      22 days ago

      I wish I had the space for sheep. I buy my own wool, but I have gotten raw fleece from local hobby shepherds.