Fibersheds: Connecting Farmers, Artisans, and Consumers to Grow Regional Economies
Saturday, June 19 – 3:45 PM Eastern Time

Part of the 2021 WARP Annual Meeting – June 18-20 – Unraveling Borders, Weaving Networks. The event will be free and open to all. Please mark your calendars, and click here to view our program of speakers.

Almost a decade ago, weaver and natural dyer Rebecca Burgess developed a project focused on wearing clothing made from fiber grown, woven, and sewn within her bioregion of North Central California. About the same time, WARP member Judi Jetson developed a similar project connecting farmers and fiber artists in Western North Carolina in order to grow a new regional textile economy. Dozens of regional “fibershed” groups have sprung up around the US and in several other countries, all sharing this vision of helping independent local producers and artisans connect with manufacturers and consumers who want more sustainable clothing. Panelists will tell the stories of how their projects got started, what they’re currently doing, and where they hope to go from here.

Three Rivers Fibershed – Maddy Bartsch is an artist, plant-based dye grower, educator and organizer of decentralized textile economies based in Minneapolis, MN. She is a co-founder and Co-President of the Three Rivers Fibershed. Maddy was project manager for the Minnesota Hemp Wool Project and the Three Rivers Fibershed Regional Fiber Sourcebook. She will speak about her communities One Year One Outfit project and the use of the Regional Fiber Sourcebook to aid in community education.

Montana Fibershed – LaVonne Stucky is a farmer and mill owner who helped found the Montana Fibershed. She and her husband Chris live and work on 40 acres of family land they purchased in 1985 from his parents in the Gallatin Valley near Bozeman and also operate Serenity Sheep Farm Stay, renting out antique sheep wagons to guests who come from all over the world. One of the newest Fibersheds, the Montana group started by creating an online directory and is planning a fashion show for October of 2021.

Local Cloth – Judi Jetson is a fiber activist with a community economic development focus. She worked for the Council of State Governments, Southern Legislative Conference, the US Small Business Administration and HandMade in America organizing asset-based community economic development projects. She is one of the founders and current chairman of Local Cloth, a membership organization which started by holding exhibits and fashion shows, connecting farmers with artisans, offering workshops and classes, and most recently launched an online marketplace ShopLocalCloth.org