Contract Grazing in the Time of Fire
2021-01-21 11:45 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
In this time of unprecedented wildfires across the West, it’s clear that wild and cultivated lands haven’t been managed to mitigate the risk of fire and we are all suffering for it. Join a panel of expert graziers to learn more about targeted grazing in the time of fire. Targeted grazing benefits land, ranchers, and the public good. It restores pasture, builds fire resilience into the landscape, and presents a promising business opportunity for ranchers. If you are interested in land management and fire prevention or are a rancher thinking of branching out into contract grazing- this workshop is for you. Join UC Cooperative Extension advisor Dan Macon from Flying Mule Farm and targeted grazing practitioners Marie Hoff from Full Circle Wool, and Andree Soares from Star Creek Land Stewards, for a conversation about establishing and operating a successful targeted grazing business. Presenters will cover topics from business management to logistics and fuels reduction to weed management.

Session D, January 21, 11:45 am – 1:00 pm

Building a United Nations of flax: Perspectives on Creating Small Scale Flax Growing and Processing Industries
2021-01-28 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
This webinar hosted by Chico Flax of California includes a panel of experts from the United States, Canada, and Europe who are working to build viable regional flax-to-linen industries. Speakers include small farmers who are undertaking flax production in collaboration with local universities, yarn manufacturers, and designers. The webinar will address overcoming growing /production challenges, changing from hand processing to mechanical small scale mini mills to provide locally sourced fibers, seed production to meet the demands of a growing flax industry, and innovative partnerships working toward reestablishing a regionally based linen industry.
Webinar Host: Sandy Fisher, Chico Flax, Chico, California
Speakers:

Sarah Pottle and Jess Boeke, Rust Belt Fibershed and Cleveland Flax Project
Jeffrey Silberman, Fashion Institute of Technology (retired), Maple Shade Farm and New England Flax and Linen Study Group
Michelle Parrish, Western Massachusetts Fibershed and the New England Flax and Linen Study Group
Rosie Bristow, Essex, England.
Durl Van Alstyne, Chico Flax LLC, California
Patricia Bishop, Tap Root Fibre Lab, Nova Scotia, Canada
Pascale Gatzen, The Linen Project, Netherlands
Shannon Welsh and Angela Wartes-Kahl, Fibrevolution LLC and Pacific Northwest Fibershed, Oregon

Additional information here
Register here
Photos courtesy of: Chico Flax

Northern CA Fibershed Coop @ Temescal Farmers’ Market
2021-02-07 09:00 - 13:00 | Temescal Farmers’ Market, 5300 Claremont Ave. (DMV), Oakland, CA, 94618, United States
SUMMER SOLACE TALLOW X NORTHERN CA FIBERSHED COOP MARKETPLACE
Visit the Summer Solace Tallow x Northern CA Fibershed Cooperative booth every other Sunday at the Temescal Farmers Market in Oakland. There you can peruse our curated selection of Fibershed products including locally spun yarn, Climate Beneficial™ felted home goods, handwoven shawls, blankets, luxurious sheepskins, as well as Summer Solace tallow-based body care, soaps, and candles.
Find us every other Sunday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Temescal Farmers Market
5300 Claremont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

Wild Inks from Natural Pigments with Judi Pettite
2021-02-13 10:00 - 13:30
Whether you forage or cultivate your palette, this course is designed to help you create artist inks for your practice. In this 3-hour class we’ll discuss seasonal and regional colors, ease of use and longevity.
Our focus will be on water-based inks and the ingredients (vehicle) that help the color flow and retain their vibrancy. We’ll be using paper as our substrate, though cloth can also be used. (There will be a separate in depth class on hand painting with natural pigments on fibers in this series.)
Participants will be invited to submit questions. There will be 30-minute break midway through the webinar, and the webinar ends at 1:30 pm. A video of the webinar will be made available to webinar registrants within approximately one week of the event.
To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GmHtwLfxSrG5NraBOeX-bA

This webinar is part of a series that will be streaming live via Zoom from the Fibershed Learning Center, a multi-use space to demonstrate and provide hands-on connections to natural fiber and dye systems. The Learning Center will open later this year in Point Reyes Station, California, on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok and within the historic Black Mountain Ranch property.
Proceeds from each event support the class instructor and contribute to Fibershed for educational programming. A portion of the proceeds from each virtual event will also be shared with a local and mission-aligned non-profit organization, selected by the instructor. The recipient of the donation from this class is Acres of Ancestry Initiative/Black Agrarian Fund, a multidisciplinary, cooperative nonprofit ecosystem rooted in Black eco-cultural traditions and textile arts to regenerate custodial landownership, ecological stewardship, and food and fiber economies in the South.
Currently scheduled online events are listed on our Learning Center page.

Seed to Linen (Virtual)
2021-03-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Due to its durability, beauty, and versatility, flax has been cultivated to produce linen for more than 10,000 years. Honoring this deep history, we will discuss the growing needs of this fiber plant as well as processing steps and equipment required to get started growing and making your own linen fiber.
This workshop will take place online. Registrants will receive an email with a link to the Zoom event.
Instructor: Melanie Wilder
Melanie Wilder is a weaver, spinner, and natural dyer. She has spent the past 20 years dedicated to learning and teaching, living in the Asheville, NC area where she runs the fiber program at Warren Wilson College. She is interested in exploring how process crosses into our daily living and how intentional choices can help shape our footprint on the future. This involves the yearly rhythm of growing fibers and dyes and how the textiles made from these plants create ritual and meaning. Fascinated by historical uses and fiber techniques from across the globe and the context in which we use this information as we move forward as contemporary weavers and makers, she hopes to inspire those she works with to find their voice within the world of fiber.
https://wildearthtextiles.com

The Beauty & Strength of Native Plant Fibers with Redbird
2021-03-13 10:00 - 11:15
Native plants provide fibers for many uses and are rooted in Indigenous cultural practices spanning many generations. Please join us (via Zoom) for a presentation on native plant fibers by Redbird, a native Pomo, Wailaki, Wintu, and Paiute teacher. Redbird will show examples of his work, including traditional items crafted with dogbane grown and harvested in a patch in Sonoma County that has been tended continuously by indigenous people for thousands of years.
Participants will be invited to submit questions during the event. A video of the webinar will be made available to registrants within approximately one week of the event.
To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zjbCmT0NSFuDe8SfY1g5vQ
Edward (Redbird) Willie is a native ecologist with many years’ experience teaching Traditional Ecological Knowledge, fire ecology, herbalism, permaculture, and ancestral skills to people of all ages. Also an artist (drawing, painting, and sculpture), he has in recent years been a core organizer of the annual Buckeye Gathering, a gathering in support of ancestral arts. (buckeyegathering.net). He also has been an adjunct instructor for Weaving Earth (weavingearth.org) and land steward for the Cultural Conservancy (nativeland.org). He is the illustrator of a recently published children’s book, Adventures of Two Coast Miwok Children (marinindian.com/single-post/new-book-on-coast-miwok-life-for-young-readers).
This webinar will be streaming live via Zoom from the Fibershed Learning Center, a multi-use space to demonstrate and provide hands-on connections to natural fiber and dye systems. The Learning Center will open later this year in Point Reyes Station, California, on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok and within the historic Black Mountain Ranch property.
Proceeds from each event support the class instructor and contribute to Fibershed for educational programming. A portion of the proceeds from each virtual event will also be shared with a local and mission-aligned non-profit organization, selected by the instructor. The recipient of the donation from this class is the Buckeye Gathering Native Youth Scholarship Fund; the Buckeye Gathering is an annual event that offers a week of practical classes on time-honored living skills.
Currently scheduled online events are listed on our Learning Center page.
(Photos by Paige Green)

Badass Brioche Level 2! - Virtual Class
2021-03-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Date: March 19, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM PST
This is a virtual class.
Welcome to Badass Brioche Level 2! If you’ve knit basic brioche and fell in love like I did, this is the next level and OMG! It is so electrifying! Every row keeps you on your toes and you wind your way up the cowl creating beautiful, flowing movement. A challenge? Indeed! But it’s so worth it, I promise. 🙂
It is required that you have knit basic 2 color brioche in the round. Please be brushed up and ready to dive deep! There won’t be time for reviewing the basics.
Not ready for level 2? Set up a private with me to cover/review the basics.
MATERIALS
Get a materials kit that includes yarn + pattern (not needles).
OR here is the list of individual materials:
2 Contrasting Colors of DK weight yarn (at least 100 yards each).
Needle size US 5 (cord length varies based on size, see below)
Pattern
Stitch Markers (1 for beginning of round, 1 removeable marker, handful same to each other, different from BOR)
SIZES
Sizes 1 (2, 3, 4)
Height: 9 (9, 9, 6.75)”
Circumference: 18.5 (22, 31.25, 47.5)”
US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16″ (for size 1 or 2), 24″ (for size 3) or 32″ (for size 4) circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.

HOMEWORK
Cast on number of stitches for your size (see pattern) in your darker color, or preferred edge color. Work the first 2 set up rounds, ready to work Round 1A.

Please download and test Zoom prior to the class. It is highly recommended to use a laptop, instead of phone or ipad for this. A video link will be sent 5 minutes prior to the class.
Ages: 18+
Skill Requirements: Intermediate knitting skills. Must know how to knit basic two color brioche.
Taught by: Alisha Reyes
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Your First Sweater! - Virtual Class
2021-03-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
THIS IS A 3 SESSION, VIRTUAL CLASS.
Have you been wanting to knit a sweater, but are slightly afraid? This is the perfect first sweater project!
It’s knit with a chunkier yarn, so it goes fast, and is worked using simple techniques, resulting in the perfect first sweater.
DATE 3 Saturdays (March 6 – 20, 2021)
TIME 10 – 11:30 PST
COST $75
MATERIALS
– Purchase the Wave of Change Jacket Pattern
– Worsted or Bulky weight yarn (see pattern for sizing and yardage)
– US 9 + 10 32″ circulars
Ages: 18+
Skill Requirements: Intermediate knitting. Confident knitting in the round, basic increase and decreasing.
Taught by: Alisha Reyes
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Colorwork Hat Level 1 - Virtual Class
2021-03-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
This is a virtual class.
Date: March 27, 2021
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM PST

Learn the basics of 2 color colorwork while making this cute hat! There are some rules and tricks to colorwork for optimal tension and color illusion. This class is designed for people who can knit a hat, and perhaps have experience with stripes or joining in new yarn, but are new to working with more than one color at a time.
MATERIALS – Yarn kits AVAILABLE NOW!
Yarn: 3 colors of worsted weight yarn (2 high contrasting and 1 pop; approximately 40 grams each)
Needles: US 6 + 7 16″ circular + US 7 DPN’s
Other: Handful of stitch markers (1 color for BOR and a handful the same for repeats).
Homework:
Purchase pattern
Cast on with your pop color and work through ribbing, ready to begin colorwork.
Ages: 14+
Skill Requirements: Confident at knitting, purling, and knitting in the round. You need to be comfortable with making a basic hat. Advanced Beginner.
Taught by: Alisha Reyes
This is an online class, where we will be using the platform Zoom. Please download and test BEFORE the class so we can start promptly! Fiber Circle Studio is not responsible for any student technical issues. The class will be recorded and available for 1 week after the class. By signing up, you are consenting to audio/video recording.
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Direct Application Design: hand painting with natural pigments on fabric with Judi Pettite
2021-04-03 10:00 - 13:30
Direct application of color is a satisfying way to change the appearance of your fabric. The focus of this class will be on hand painted work and the best way to preserve your designs whether they are destined to be worn or displayed on a wall.
Participants will be invited to submit questions. There will be 30-minute break midway through the webinar, and the webinar ends at 1:30 pm. A video of the webinar will be made available to webinar registrants within approximately one week of the event.
To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vB-eDvCLTpabLTHqEGr3iw

This webinar is part of a series that will be streaming live via Zoom from the Fibershed Learning Center, a multi-use space to demonstrate and provide hands-on connections to natural fiber and dye systems. The Learning Center will open later this year in Point Reyes Station, California, on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok and within the historic Black Mountain Ranch property.
Proceeds from each event support the class instructor and contribute to Fibershed for educational programming. A portion of the proceeds from each virtual event will also be shared with a local and mission-aligned non-profit organization, selected by the instructor. The recipient of the donation from this class is Acres of Ancestry Initiative/Black Agrarian Fund, a multidisciplinary, cooperative nonprofit ecosystem rooted in Black eco-cultural traditions and textile arts to regenerate custodial landownership, ecological stewardship, and food and fiber economies in the South.
Currently scheduled online events are listed on our Learning Center page.

Grow Your Dye Garden (Virtual)
2021-04-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
This workshop is dedicated to the dye plants that can be cultivated in our region. We will talk about the historical uses of these dyes and discuss what you need to know about planting and maintaining your color garden. When do you plant, how far do you space the plants, how much to plant, what parts of the plant give dye, etc.
This workshop will take place online. Registrants will receive an email with a link to the Zoom event.
Instructor: Melanie Wilder
Melanie Wilder is a weaver, spinner, and natural dyer. She has spent the past 20 years dedicated to learning and teaching, living in the Asheville, NC area where she runs the fiber program at Warren Wilson College. She is interested in exploring how process crosses into our daily living and how intentional choices can help shape our footprint on the future. This involves the yearly rhythm of growing fibers and dyes and how the textiles made from these plants create ritual and meaning. Fascinated by historical uses and fiber techniques from across the globe and the context in which we use this information as we move forward as contemporary weavers and makers, she hopes to inspire those she works with to find their voice within the world of fiber.
https://wildearthtextiles.com

Colorwork Hat Level 2 - Virtual Class
2021-04-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
This is a virtual class.
Date: April 10, 2021
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm PST

Know the basics of 2 color colorwork and are ready to take your skills to the next level? This hat works with 4 colors throughout the hat, and often with 3 colors in one row! A really great way to push your colorwork skills to the limit!
MATERIALS – Yarn kits AVAILABLE NOW!
Yarn: 4 colors of DK weight yarn
Needles: US 3 20″ circular + US 3 DPN’s – I strongly recommend using a 20″ needle!
Other: Handful of stitch markers (1 color for BOR and a handful the same for repeats).
Homework:
Purchase pattern
Cast on with your brim color and work through ribbing, ready to begin colorwork.
Ages: 14+
Skill Requirements: Confident at knitting, purling, and knitting in the round. You need to be comfortable with making a basic hat and have experience with 2 color colorwork. Intermediate/Advanced
Taught by: Alisha Reyes
This is an online class, where we will be using the platform Zoom. Please download and test BEFORE the class so we can start promptly! Fiber Circle Studio is not responsible for any student technical issues. The class will be recorded and available for 1 week after the class. By signing up, you are consenting to audio/video recording.
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Meet Melanie Berg! All About Shawls Presentation
2021-04-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
P R E S E N T A T I O N
Date April 17, 2021
Time 10 – 11:30 am PST
Cost $12.50 ($5 is donated to Landpaths Conversation non-profit organization)

Meet Melanie Berg – a shawl goddess!!! She designs such a large range of shawls from beginner to advanced, simple to complex, round to rectangular. Watch this teaser video of what to expect!

Join her for a 1.5 hour LIVE presentation and Q+A all about shawls. Learn about the different shapes, sizes, how to wear them and how to decide what’s right for you!

Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture Panel - Virtual
2021-04-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
TUGI is an international 501(c)(3) organization that aims to inspire and empower youth to achieve urban sustainability through a garden-based program. Please join their panel discussion on April 21 featuring Rebecca Burgess.

Melanie Berg Knit-A-Long
2021-04-23 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
K N I T – A – L O N G April 23 – May 14, 2021
The KAL will meet for 4 Fridays from 4:30 – 5:30 pm on Zoom. April 23 – May 14, 2021.

Sign up for both the presentation and KAL and the presentation is free!

$5 per ticket reservation will be donated to a local non-profit. Landpaths – Sonoma County Land Conservation.

Natural Palettes: inspiration from plant-based color with Sasha Duerr
2021-04-24 11:00 - 12:15
Book Talk + Demo
From the natural color ingredients that can be found in weeds, prunings and cover crops, to the vast potential of food and floral waste, plant-based “color stories” to both poetically and practically engage us in immersive and holistic practices.
In this webinar, Sasha will share inspiration through examples from her new book “Natural Palettes” (Princeton Architectural Press 2020) and demos highlighting the important role plant-based colors can hold in widening our “color senses,” supporting biodiversity, while also offering an abundance of opportunity for creativity and collaboration in the process.
Students will be invited to submit questions during this 1.25-hour presentation. An edited video of the webinar will be made available to webinar registrants within approximately one week of the event.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9lZkdqcYQNOIhlz6DU4XWA
This webinar will be streaming live via Zoom from Sasha’s studio in Hawaii, in collaboration with the Fibershed Learning Center, a multi-use space to demonstrate and provide hands-on connections to natural fiber and dye systems. The Learning Center will open in 2021 in Point Reyes Station, California, on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok and within the historic Black Mountain Ranch property.
Proceeds from each event support the class instructor and contribute to Fibershed for educational programming. A portion of the proceeds from each virtual event will also be shared with a local and mission-aligned non-profit organization, selected by the instructor. The recipient of a donation from Sasha’s class is Urban Tilth.
Currently scheduled online events are listed on our Learning Center page at fibershed.org/learningcenter

One Acre Exchange Industrial Hemp Webinar
2021-04-29 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
The creation of a satellite regulatory environment for industrial hemp through the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill led to a cobbling of black, white, and grey procedures for the procurement and cultivation of industrial hemp seed. Hemp seed, when it is acquired, is so far an unpredictable performer across a wide variety of soil types and cultivation methods. When hemp seed is acquired, cultivated, and harvested successfully, markets are difficult to find. What do we make of this, and what can we know about the future of industrial hemp in our farms and fields? Synthesizing lessons learned from our four years of research and practice, this webinar will focus on the broader economy and recent historical context of industrial hemp production, touching on the interconnections between issues of regulatory compliance, seed acquisition, and supply chain development.

To register for the webinar on April 29, 11 am PST, click the link here.

Join Us at the Farm for a Field Day - Chico Flax
2021-05-01 09:00 - 14:00 | Chico Flax, 3239 Rodeo Ave, Chico, CA, 95926
We are excited to welcome you in-person to a day of harvesting, demonstrations, raffle, presentations, and community!
When: Saturday ,May 1st from 9am – 2pm
COME SEE THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING TO HEAL OUR SOIL AND THE EARTH THROUGH A CARBON FARM FUND WE RECEIVED THROUGH FIBERSHED.
To bring back the health of the soil we have planted cover crops and applied a certified compost BOTH practices showing transformation to the back of our farm once called THE DEAD ZONE!. Next year we could very well plant our flax in this area.
COVID regulations and guidelines will be strictly followed. Masks will be required at all times while at the farm. We welcome you to come out to the farm for a field day!
Events Include:

Tour of the farm
Learn and participate in the flax harvest
Flax processing demo
Linen spinning demo
Introduction of our new natural dye studio and process
Special presentation from CSU Chico professor Dr. Hossein Zakeri on his work with fava beans and their benefits for farmers and soils
Presentation from CSU Chico undergraduate researcher Sam Jackson on cover crops and her research at Chico Flax
Raffle
Refreshment

Indigo Dyeing + Vat Making - Virtual Class
2021-05-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
This is a 2 session virtual class.
Date: May 15 + 22, 2021
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM PST
Registration Closes: May 5, 2021, in order to receive materials on time.
Spend your morning playing with indigo in all its forms and reveling in the magic of blue. If you are curious about indigo and want to create the famed indigo vats this is the perfect workshop for you. Artist and flower farmer, Julie Beeler from Bloom & Dye, will lead students through creating two different small-scale vats, the famed fructose vat, and the workhorse iron vat, and learn the process of using these vats for dyeing fibers with indigo. Everyone will create an indigo color chart that will document the results of the vats across different fiber types. A kit will be sent in advance of the class so everyone can create their own vats.
The first class will cover general natural dye techniques, dive into the world of indigo, how it works, and walk through the process of making the vats and dipping the fiber, which the students can do in real-time with the instructor from their own home. The second class will look at the participants’ results from the previous week and walk through how to finish off their fibers with a soy milk dip. We will discuss how to maintain and feed your vat and walk through some basic shibori techniques to dye the textiles in the indigo vats. The instructional craft book will allow everyone to continue their exploration in more depth at their own pace.
Materials Kit Includes
Organic Indigo Powder
Vat Supplies Fructose, Lime + Iron
Fabric Swatches OR Wool Yarn (please select at checkout)
1 cotton bandana
Shibori supplies
¼ cup of dried soy beans
Scouring instructions
Students will receive an e-mail with a list of needed supplies to acquire prior to the first workshop.
Ages: 16+
Skill Requirements: Beginner Friendly
Taught by: Julie Beeler
—————————————————
This is an online class, where we will be using the platform Zoom. Please download and test BEFORE the class so we can start promptly! Fiber Circle Studio is not responsible for any student technical issues. The class will be recorded and available for 1 week after the class. By signing up, you are consenting to audio/video recording.
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Shoes: components, repair, and making your own from scratch with Rachel Corry
2021-05-22 10:00 - 13:30
In this 3-hour demonstration, Rachel will show you a grab-bag of tricks to initiate you into the wide world of shoe construction. This will include:

Looking at a few examples of deconstructed shoes and discussing how and why they were made in a particular way.
Talking about the various components that make up a shoe, and which items you might use for a shoe project of your own. Materials, sourcing, and tool advice.
A demo of how to reattach a sole that has opened up on an existing pair of shoes.
A demo of stitching leather to leather, adhering leather to leather, cutting leather, cutting rubber, etc.
A demo of how to drape straps over your own foot as you begin a pair of sandals, an ideal first project.

Participants will be invited to submit questions. There will be 30 minute break midway through the webinar, and the webinar ends at 1:30 pm.
A video of the webinar will be made available to webinar registrants within approximately one week of the event.
Register via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UV3z5diqQRmdVVue5TprgA
Rachel Corry is the shoemaker behind Rachel Sees Snail Shoes (rachelseessnailshoes.com) and author of the book, The Sandalmaking Workshop. She sells custom shoes, DIY kits, and how-to videos, and hosts workshops in her studio in Portland, Oregon. She occasionally travels with anvils and rolls of leather to bring her classes to spots along the West Coast. She studied Art at UCLA and is a co-founder of Pansy organic underwear. Rachel Sees Snail Shoes seeks to challenge the fast-fashion system by educating folks about making their own footwear.
— — — — —
This webinar will be streaming live via Zoom from the Fibershed Learning Center, a multi-use space to demonstrate and provide hands-on connections to natural fiber and dye systems. The Learning Center will open later this year in Point Reyes Station, California, on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Coast Miwok and within the historic Black Mountain Ranch property.
Proceeds from each event support the class instructor and contribute to Fibershed for educational programming. A portion of the proceeds from each virtual event will also be shared with a local and mission-aligned non-profit organization, selected by the instructor. Social Justice Sewing Academy will be the recipient of the donation from Rachel’s class.
Currently scheduled online events are listed on our Learning Center page.

Grazing Livestock for Soil Health, Biodiversity, and Productivity - Two Day
2021-06-05 - 2021-06-06 | Bell Valley Retreat, 12378 Boonville Road, Boonville, CA, 95415, United States
Fire season is just around the corner, and managed grazing offers an elegant system that builds soil health and resilience to wildfires.
About this Event
At this workshop, we’ll hear from two leading practitioners in the field of regenerative grazing. We’ll witness firsthand a flock of sheep grazing for fuel reduction and soil-building at this beautiful retreat center in the hills of Anderson Valley. Both days of learning will be spent outdoors.
This workshop will explore opportunities to invest in the resilience of land, using livestock as a vehicle for soil-building. We’ll learn how planned grazing and monitoring can build drought and fire resilience, biodiversity, soil carbon and increase rainfall effectiveness.
We will also be introduced to a framework for decision-making and planning processes developed by Allan Savory, which helps individuals manage the complexity of the land, human, and economic resources they manage more effectively.
Who is this for? This workshop is for anyone wanting to improve current land management and create resilience in our life support system for generations to come. This includes city dwellers who wish to be more connected to land, young agrarians, and rural landowners or ranch managers who wish to understand how to use livestock to improve the health of their land rather than degrade it.
For additional information and registration click here.

Dye Garden - Extracting Color | Virtual Class
2021-06-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
This is a 2 session virtual class.
Date: June 5 + 12, 2021
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM PST
Registration Closes: May 25, 2021 in order for receive materials on time.
Discover the alchemy of natural dyes! Learn how to unlock the plants ‘tinctoria’ to discover all the dye plants growing around you. The serendipity of making pigments from plants combined with the ancient traditions of natural dyes yields unique and colorful results. Artist and flower farmer, Julie Beeler from Bloom & Dye, will guide students through exploring ways to work with natural dyes and capture the beauty of the seasonal palette. Every student will receive a kit in advance so they can create their own flower dye color chart.
The first class will cover general natural dye techniques, types of flowers/plants and walk through the process of making dye baths and dyeing the fiber, which the students can do in real time with the instructor from their own home. The second class will look at the participants’ results from the previous week and walk through how to finish off their fibers with a soy milk dip. We will wrap up the class making a lake pigment with one of the dye baths and setting it up to strain, rinse and dry. The instructional craftbook will allow everyone to continue their exploration in more depth at their own pace.
Materials Kit Includes
Flower Power silkscreen color chart
6 different dye flowers
Fabric Swatches OR Wool Yarn (please select at checkout).
1 cotton tea towel
Mordant + Lake supplies
Coffee Filters
¼ cup of dried soy beans
Scouring and mordanting instructions
Students will receive an e-mail with a list of needed supplies to acquire prior to the first workshop.
Ages: 16+
Skill Requirements: Beginner Friendly
Taught by: Julie Beeler
————————————————
This is an online class, where we will be using the platform Zoom. Please download and test BEFORE the class so we can start promptly! Fiber Circle Studio is not responsible for any student technical issues. The class will be recorded and available for 1 week after the class. By signing up, you are consenting to audio/video recording.
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Fibersheds: Connecting Farmers, Artisans and Consumers to Grow Regional Economies – Panel Discussion
2021-06-19 12:45 - 13:45 | Virtual
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

EcoFashion Webinar - Fibershed and Carbon Cycle Institute
2021-06-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Global Shapers Cambridge Hub are happy to host Rebecca Burgess, from Fibershed for a talk and Q&A as part of our sustainable fashion project
About this event
Rebecca Burgess is the Executive Director of Fibershed, and Chair of the Board for Carbon Cycle Institute. She has over a decade of experience writing and implementing a hands-on curriculum that focuses on the intersection of restoration ecology and fiber systems. She has taught at Westminster College, Harvard University, and has created workshops for a range of NGOs and corporations. She is the author of the best-selling book Harvesting Color, a bioregional look into the natural dye traditions of North America, and Fibershed: Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy released in 2019. She has facilitated an extensive network of farmers and artisans within the region’s Northern California Fibershed to pilot the regenerative fiber systems model at the community scale. Have a look at https://fibershed.org/ !
Rebecca’s work focuses on developing the vision and funding required for operational planning and execution. She oversees the implementation of the organization’s programs and projects and executes and manages special projects for Fibershed specific to the development of strategic partnerships with sister organizations within the fields of agriculture and design.
The EcoFashion Project is a Global Shapers Cambridge Hub initiative to promote knowledge of the impact of fashion and clothing on climate change.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85955194070?pwd=[REDACTED] 859 5519 4070Kenncode: 002011Have a look at our website for previous webinars at ecofashion.earth!

Tapestry Weaving - Virtual Class
2021-06-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
This is a virtual class.
Date: June 26, 2021
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm PST
If weaving has caught your eye, but you’re not sure where to start, tapestry weaving is a great place!
In this workshop you’ll learn how to warp, weave, finish and hang your tapestry, leaving with a beautiful, finished woven wall hanging, giving you a foundation in the world of weaving!
If you are supplying your own materials, please be sure to have them all ready to go to reserve all of class time for technique and weaving.
Materials
Tapestry Loom + Tools (shed stick, stick shuttle, comb beater, tapestry needle)
Yarn – The warp should be a strong cotton. The weft can be an assortment of fibers, textures, and thicknesses.

Ages: 14 +
Skill Requirements: None
Taught by: Alisha Reyes
——————————————————-
This is an online class, where we will be using the platform Zoom. Please download and test BEFORE the class so we can start promptly! Fiber Circle Studio is not responsible for any student technical issues. The class will be recorded and available for 1 week after the class. By signing up, you are consenting to audio/video recording.
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.
This is a virtual class.
Date: June 26, 2021
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm PST
If weaving has caught your eye, but you’re not sure where to start, tapestry weaving is a great place!
In this workshop you’ll learn how to warp, weave, finish and hang your tapestry, leaving with a beautiful, finished woven wall hanging, giving you a foundation in the world of weaving!
If you are supplying your own materials, please be sure to have them all ready to go to reserve all of class time for technique and weaving.
Materials
Tapestry Loom + Tools (shed stick, stick shuttle, comb beater, tapestry needle)
Yarn – The warp should be a strong cotton. The weft can be an assortment of fibers, textures, and thicknesses.

Ages: 14 +
Skill Requirements: None
Taught by: Alisha Reyes
——————————————————-
This is an online class, where we will be using the platform Zoom. Please download and test BEFORE the class so we can start promptly! Fiber Circle Studio is not responsible for any student technical issues. The class will be recorded and available for 1 week after the class. By signing up, you are consenting to audio/video recording.
Please visit our website for class & refund policies. By signing up, you acknowledge that you are aware of and agree to our policies. Thank you.

Wine Country Yarn Hop
2021-07-22 - 2021-07-25 | Various Locations in Northern California
July 22 – 25, 10 am – 5 pm
Join us for our annual Northern California yarn lovers experience! The Wine Country Yarn Hop is a 4-day event, July 22 – 25, for you to safely explore the 6 yarn shops located in the beautiful Wine Country of Northern California.
The Wine Country Yarn Hop consists of 6 shops located in the beautiful Wine Country and is a fiber enthusiast’s dream tour. The hop spans from the Valley of the Moon in Sonoma, through Sonoma County up into Mendocino County to the redwoods in Ukiah. We encourage you to explore and indulge in each shop and their unique assortments of yarn and fiber online, in-person, or both! Please visit the “NEW INFO” page for more information about how we’re adapting to and following the current health orders due to COVID-19.
This year, we are offering the hop for in-person and/or online participation. See details here!
Yarn hoppers pay a $5 admission and receive one passport card and one Wine Country Yarn Hop custom tote bag. $1 from each hopper goes to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.
Receive a stamp on your passport when you visit each shop in-person (stamps are not available for online hoppers). Fill up your passport by the end of the event and be entered to win your choice of grand prize basket!

Wet Felting
2021-07-24 09:00 - 12:00 | McIntyre Ranch, 1 St. John Mine Road, Vallejo, CA, United States
Wool fibers have tiny scales that stick out from the hair shaft a microscopic bit. When wool is shocked by dramatic changes in temperature or by rubbing (especially with soap), those scales lift up, then lock down the nearby fibers into a dense mass. That’s felt. If you’ve accidentally put your wool sweater through the hot wash cycle and/or the dryer, you have intimate knowledge of this process.

Not all felting is destructive. You can use the same process to produce some wonderful wooly art. In this class you’ll use a white batt as a base, and embellish with a wide variety of dyed wool. You’ll leave with a finished piece and the equipment you’ll need to create more at home.

Register by completing this Google Form. Receipt of payment secures your spot. Venmo is best; PayPal if you don’t use Venmo. melanie@crockettfiberstudio.com
Limited to 15 participants
Sponsored by Crockett Fiber Arts Studio and McIntyre Ranch
Questions? Please call Melanie Perkins at 925-262-7487

Stash Sale and Swap
2021-08-14 09:00 - 12:00 | McIntyre Ranch, 1 St. John Mine Road, Vallejo, CA, United States
If you’re like us, you’ve been building and building your stash since this Covid-19 thing started. Starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the volume? We sure are!
Alternatively, are you just starting out in fiber arts and want to build your stash? We can totally help you with that!
Bring your stash of yarn and fiber, or your overwhelming desire to buy said items, to McIntyre Ranch! We’ll be setting up tables in the yurt and under patio covers so we can socially distance ourselves. We won’t insist on a mask if you’ve been fully vaccinated, but will ask you to wear one if you haven’t. We’re limiting this event to 30 participants.
Coffee, tea, water, and pastry of some sort will be provided.
Register by completing this Google Form. Receipt of payment secures your spot. Venmo is best using, PayPal if you don’t use Venmo. melanie@crockettfiberstudio.com
Sponsored by Crockett Fiber Arts Studio and McIntyre Ranch
Questions? Please call Melanie Perkins at 925-262-7487

Ice Dyeing Wool
2021-08-28 13:00 - 17:00 | McIntyre Ranch, 1 St. John Mine Road, Vallejo, CA, United States
Fiber, water, acid, and dye are the ingredients needed to dye a skein of yarn. In this class the water source will be ice. The dye is delivered to the yarn gradually as the ice melts, resulting in some remarkable color results. Way too much fun!

The class cost includes two skeins of wool yarn, plenty of ice, and lots of dye color choices. We are limiting the class to 15 participants. You might want to bring a project to work on while you wait for the ice to melt. You can also choose to go for a hike or visit with the many animals on the ranch. We’ll have some cold drinks for you, too.

Register by completing this Google Form. Receipt of payment secures your spot. Venmo is best; PayPal if you don’t use Venmo. melanie@crockettfiberstudio.com
Limited to 15 participants
Sponsored by Crockett Fiber Arts Studio and McIntyre Ranch
Questions? Please call Melanie Perkins at 925-262-7487

Fibershed Learning Center Opening Workshop
2021-09-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Fibershed Learning Center, 14000 Pt. Reyes - Petaluma Rd, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956, United States
Our Northern California Fibershed Learning Center will hold a soft grand opening, September 18, 2021, celebrated through the classes that will provide hands-on skills to the community, as well as time to gather in appreciation of local design community graduates who generated beautiful textiles within Fibershed’s Zero-Waste design challenge.
Available classes:

Make a Twined Basket of Tule with Charlie Kennard and Charlena Valencia (sold-out)
Indigo Extract Process — from leaf to pigment — with Judi Pettite
Making a Lake Pigment from Natural Dyes with Judi Pettite
Sashiko Mending with Rimiko Berreman (morning class, afternoon class)

Classes and registration links with full details for September 18 can be found on the website here. We expect these classes to fill quickly. To make the Learning Center Opening available to more people, attendees are asked to only purchase a ticket for one of the five workshops taking place that day. If additional tickets are purchased, one will be canceled.
