Photography by Paige Green (except where noted) Wisdom of the ages revealed and contrasted to modern notions of genetic progress… Enhancing nature’s time-tested processes or Engineering… the difference between this phrase and word is a clear line in the sand that divides many millennia of human efforts to breed plants and animals, and the contemporary field of genetic […]
Read MoreAuthor: Rebecca Burgess
Kentucky Hemp
Thanks to grants from Patagonia’s Environmental Grants program and the Blackie Foundation, Fibershed has been in collaboration with various organizations to support the raw plant processing and cloth creation processes for this historic project. On June 1st of 2014, the fields of Eastern Kentucky became the site of a healing return of veterans and an […]
Read MoreFibershed’s Colorado Hemp Research Project
Fiber systems are best designed to minimize detrimental impacts on the biosphere, and to enhance ecosystem function where possible. Fibershed has chosen to research the use of industrial hemp as a fiber crop because it fits both of these criteria. Background Fibershed worked during the summer and fall of 2013 to prepare for a 2014 research crop in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. […]
Read MoreDownhome Fibers: A River of Creativity, Care & Quality
Story by Rebecca Burgess, photos by Alycia Lang Clear decision making accompanied by determination and hard work has landed Kim Bethel into a life extraordinarily well suited to her. While in her presence you can observe and viscerally feel the satisfaction and contentedness that emanates from someone living a life rooted in place and grounded […]
Read MoreNoelle Gaberman — A life of alpaca artistry
On the edge of the Laguna Watershed in Sonoma County, at the end of a narrow gravel road, lies a small homestead developed by two families with a commitment to producing food and fiber in an atmosphere that weaves together aestheticism, function and fun. Noelle Gaberman is a mother of two and a caretaker of […]
Read MoreHemp Fiber Crop Research & Development
With the advent of state laws that overturn a sixty-year ban on hemp agriculture, a new and yet anciently rooted era of farming is on the horizon. The early adopters who are now backed by legislative and regulatory bodies are Kentucky, Colorado and Washington. This growing season Fibershed is pleased to be working with farmers […]
Read MoreCanvas Ranch: The Art of Living With the Land
Photos: Paige Green Taking an unexpected direction on one’s life path awakens new physical and emotional realities; for Deborah Walton and Tim Schaible that included a transition from a backyard garden and a career focused on running their own marketing and advertising firm—to a 28 acre landscape that has, over the last twelve and a […]
Read MoreFibershed Milling Update
We feel the overdue nature of this post, and it is a joy to finally see it materialize from the small crevices of free time we have to share our internal workings with you all. You probably remember hearing about our first fundraising event for a regional cotton mill? It was almost two years ago […]
Read MoreStories from Windrush
Windrush Farm in Chileno Valley, California stands as one of our communities most endearing fiber and farming hubs. Founded in 1995 by Mimi Luebbermann, the farm grew from an intention of living simply, farming fiber, and functioning as a quiet space for Luebbermann’s longstanding writing career. The farm has since become a destination for Bay […]
Read MoreMother of Invention
Born of water, wool, soap and human hands– felt is the most immediate textile that can be created from the back of a sheep. The directness of the process, and utility of the finished product has found its way deep into the heart and soul of our kindred featured artisan, Katherine Jolda, a woman whose […]
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