Artists Sharon Kallis and Caitlin ffrench are
animating the old tennis courts behind Aberthau House by turning them into
garden beds with combined textile plant and food focus. Specifically flax
for linen production alongside annual natural dye plants- many of which are also
food crops such as Carrots ( tops are a natural fiber dye) and
Amaranth- an ancient grain. We will also be developing a plant rotation plan for
future years of flax, food and dye plants.
There is much awareness now regarding food
security, and creating food oriented gardens in the city, but little or no awareness regarding “cloth
security.” Most people do not know where their clothing comes from- some might
read labels, and see “China” but if it is a linen shirt, there is a high
probability that the fibre was actually grown in Canada- in Saskatchewan, then
shipped to China for processing and even shipped again for cutting and sewing
before its final trip to the store where it is purchased.
The environmental footprint of what we wear on
our backs is huge.
The next step in greening our city is to think in
a broader range what our garden beds may grow; and how companion plantings of
cloth crops can be possible for increasing awareness of where our clothing comes
from while increasing the skill base for self-sufficiency and creative
expression in the process.
Early settlers in the province of British
Columbia as far north as Bella Coola routinely grew a small patch of flax for
their linen bed sheets and underclothes.
Garden plots needed to serve more than just the purpose of food
production, but would also grow cloth crops and fibre dyes.
Community Partnerships:
As well as working with Vancouver Board of Parks
and Recreation, our partners in this project include the Greater Vancouver
Weavers and Spinners Guild, the Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts and the Discovery Café at the Jericho Hostel run by
North Shore Culinary school.
Events:
We are inviting various artists
from different disciplines and backgrounds to work with us on the site
including:
Squamish Nation artist/weaver Tracy Williams
contemporary dancer Mirae Rosner
executive chef Karen Barnaby
Welsh wheat weaver Brian Jones
All of these relationships are brought
together through Aberthau: flax=fibre=+food; placing this
multi-purpose garden at the centre of a creative and community hub for
investigating and animating the crops that we grow at Aberthau and open doors to
new creative possibilities in urban agricultural thinking.
Our process will include various workshops throughout 2013 in the
growth and processing of fibre plants for use with the intention of using
as much as possible that is produced, leaving as little as possible for
composting. Follow us for regular updates on workshops as events get
planned.
A huge thank you to Vancouver Park Board Jericho works yard and plant
nursery green house gardeners for assisting us with beginning this initiative,
as well as to the Vancouver Park Board Neighbourhood Matching Fund and Aberthau
Community Association and eARThand gleaners
society.
