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Growing Color

We're so excited to show our latest project - natural dye plant ID tags! Sewing Seeds recently received support from the New York Restoration Project to create Growing Color, a project that labels existing dye plants in New York community gardens.

We've been working on the design for a couple of months, and worked with FABberz laser cutters to create this super-durable translucent neon version.

Goldenrod, Black-eyed Susan & Dyer's Chamomile
Goldenrod, Black-eyed Susan & Dyer's Chamomile

On Sunday, November 23rd, we installed the tags at Gil Hodges Community Garden.

Isa Rodrigues, Sewing Seeds director, installing one of our new tags.
Isa Rodrigues, Sewing Seeds director, installing one of our new tags.

Our Sewing Seeds Coordinator, Nicole Asselin, led about 15 participants around the garden and fed them hot cider, starting off that fall feeling ...

Nicole showing off our garden installations
Nicole showing off our garden installations

We moved through the garden observing the tags in situ, discussing the properties of different dye plants and the colors that they yield.

Mint & sage tags installed at Gil Hodges
Mint & sage tags installed at Gil Hodges
The growing color sign capturing sun at Gil Hodges.
The growing color sign capturing sun at Gil Hodges.

The walk then moved from Gil Hodges up to Prospect Park. During the 20 minute walk, we spotted and guerilla tagged natural dye plants along the way.

Guerilla tagging!
Guerilla tagging!

Many common landscaping plants also happen to be natural dyes, such as oak, ivy, birch, marigold, and rose.

Nicole explains oak tree properties
Nicole explains it all

The group made its way up to Prospect Park, enjoying the perfect fall day.

We reach Prospect Park, and venture onward
We reach Prospect Park, and venture onward

More guerilla tagging left osage orange, oaks, and a walnut tree labeled and ready for someone else to discover.

Guerilla tagging at Prospect Park
Guerilla tagging at Prospect Park

The Growing Color walk was a great success, and we're so happy to have had a chance to show and to share what we've been working on! Many thanks to the NYRP for their generous support, and to everyone who journeyed with us. Stay tuned as we install more tags at Green Acres in Brooklyn, and stop by to see them yourself!

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