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 MoreBlog
Brookfarm Alpacas — “It’s about the fiber!”
For anyone who has felt the incredible softness of alpaca fiber, it’s easy to understand why an avid knitter like Debbie Emery was instantly attracted to these peaceful camelids. She describes alpacas as “so gentle, and almost zen-like.” And points out that they are also very eco-friendly due to their soft, hoof-less feet. “But it’s the […]
Read MoreKentucky Veterans Cultivate a Hemp Resurgence
Story by Ongeleigh Underwood of Fibershed Southeast, photos by Megan Hollenbeck. Activists, farmers, and lawmakers gather at a rural farm in Rockcastle county in Eastern Kentucky, some of whom have been working towards the right to plant industrial hemp for decades. All sub-species of the Cannabis plant were made illegal in 1938, and progress to […]
Read MoreThe Capella Grazing Project
Written by Caroline Spurgin, Producer Program Intern. Photos by Alycia Lang. Capella Grazing Project was conceived and realized by the stunning Ms. Marie Hoff, one of Fibershed’s youngest producers. Marie is confident and grounded as I interview her on a fresh and warm Wednesday afternoon in March. Her cheeks are rosy after having had the […]
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 MoreBlending Local Wool & Community in Valley Ford
photos by Paige Green For Ariana Strozzi and Casey Mazzucchi, partners in both business and life, ranching has been a lifelong pursuit. Ariana grew up on the Marin coast, and has been working on ranches since she was seven. Casey was born and raised on a sheep ranch in Valley Ford, property that has been […]
Read MoreA Very Heartfelt Fiber Farm
Written by Caroline Spurgin, Producer Program Intern, this blog post is the second in our 2014 series of producer interviews. Photos by Alycia Lang. If you look up the word “Heartfelt” in the dictionary, you will find it teased and picked into a broad array of elements. To be “heartfelt” is to be passionate, earnest, […]
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 MoreRegional Palettes: A Closer Look at Northern California Dye Mushrooms
Dyeing with mushrooms is a relatively new practice that gained popularity in the 1970s, thanks to the experimentation and publications of Miriam C. Rice and Dorothy Beebee. Their work laid a strong platform for continuing research and advancement. There is no better time than now to pay closer attention to the resources available to us […]
Read MoreFibershed Fashion Gala 2013
Fibershed is a project that is very close to my heart. I have been documenting Fibershed since Rebecca Burgess first started her personal challenge in 2010. I clearly remember the conversation Rebecca and I had in 2009 while we were sitting in the airport waiting to board a plane to one of our Harvesting Color […]
Read More