Flax to Linen - Community Grow 2025! Join for growing flax & hand processing it with beautiful new equipment handmade by talented folks in our Michigan Fibershed. Three Growers Meetings: #1 Planning, Prepping, Planting (April), #2 Harvesting (June), and #3 Processing / Closing (August). Preliminary sessions listed below: Seed provided at every session (enough for 1 square yard, 3’ x 3’ per participant). Information Session - two session dates / same information Discuss the project / opportunities to get involved. Sign up and receive seed for planting. Have flax from last year? Bring it to this session. Growing is not required to participate. Come to learn as you wish! Session 1: Sunday, March 23rd: 12:30 - 2:00 PM Session 2: Sunday, March 30th: 3:00 - 5:00 PM Two format options to participate: 1. Zoom Meeting: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93211510610 Passcode: flax Meeting ID: 932 1151 0610 2. In-Person Ann Arbor Area Node: Ann Arbor District Library Downtown - Freespace Room We will have a room set-up with Zoom connection and flax seeds to distribute, as well as some retted flax from last season and processing equipment to see. ** If you are interested in organizing a local node of flax growers in your region of the state, please let us know! Growers Meeting #1: Planning, Prepping, and Planting & Seed Handout - two session dates / same information Join in person or on zoom to receive planting instructions / your own flax seeds to start growing. We’ll guide you through the initial steps of this rewarding journey. Growing not required to participate. Come & learn as you wish! Session 1: Saturday, April 5th: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Session 2: Saturday, April 12th: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1. Zoom Meeting: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93211510610 Passcode: flax Meeting ID: 932 1151 0610 2. In-Person Ann Arbor Area Node: Ann Arbor District Library Downtown - Freespace Room Info / seed will be available for pick-up @ Ann Arbor Fiber Expo on March 29th and 30th. Look out for the “Michigan Fibershed” table there. Ready to sign up? Check out the Flax to Linen page on our website www.michiganfibershed.org/flax.

Michigan Fibershed has been gathering momentum and is happy to share our past achievements. Keep an ear out in the near future to hear more about upcoming projects. Updates coming shortly! Our current and past work: * Map Michigan Fibershed Contributors 
 * Flax Fiber Processing Demonstrations 
 * Flax-to-Linen Community Grow Project Across State (2022-2024) 
 * Flax Feasibility study in Washtenaw (2021) 
 * Build Flax Processing Tools For Michigan 
Fibershed Community Library 
 * Partnership with University of Michigan SEAS Students to Develop the “Story of Michigan Natural Fiber” Through Interviews with Fiber Producers and Fibershed Contributors #fibershed #michiganfibershed #localfashion #sustainability

A wonderful Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Expo! Thank you to all of the patrons, vendors, and speakers who helped make it happen. Photos by Lia Giannotti If you’re interested in staying in touch via our monthly newsletters, project updates, and events, like our Flax-to-Linen Community Grow Project, sign up here: https://www.michiganfibershed.org/email-sign-up“ If you’re interested in contributing your time and talents to build our organization and activities, let us know here: https://www.michiganfibershed.org/get-involved

Come See Us at the Ann Arbor District Library - Fiber Arts Expo! We will be in the vendor area with Michigan Fibershed info and conversation! About the event: Sunday, February 9 10am to 5pm @ the Downtown Ann Arbor Library!  This fiber-filled day will have a full slate of demos and presentations, with a lobby full of local vendors. This year we’re focusing on the history and origin of a variety of fiber arts. Drop-in for a sampling of fiber arts projects and hands-on quilting, spinning, and weaving activities. Vendors will be on hand selling accessories, patterns, books, dyes, and all things fiber related!

What?: The Rustbelt Fibershed Symposium 2025 - Digital and in-person expert speakers, in-person vendors, a Fashion Show, local textile development updates, clothing swap, seed swap, invaluable network contacts and folks to share in celebrating the return to locally produced textiles. Who?: The Rustbelt Fibershed, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, is working to make strides in many projects including coordinating a network for local linen, alpaca wool, and other locally produced garment materials. Learn more: https://rustbeltfibershed.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rustbeltfibershed?igsh=am14MXp3ZGdtajRm Where?: Online and Cleveland, Ohio When: Jan 16th, 7:00pm-8:30pm Digital Webinar (and link to rewatch talk) Jan 25th, 8:15am-1:00pm Online and In person in Cleveland, Ohio Why?: Join to reimagine our textile relationships. Learn what strides towards local textile production are already being made today. Read more here: https://rustbeltfibershed.com/2025-symposium PURCHASE TICKETS HERE https://tr.ee/roDMAQrJ6E Online - $20 In person - $58

Your act of kindness can make a huge difference, Fibershed friend. By donating to the Michigan Fibershed you will be contributing to our 2025 launch goals: -Supporting Community Fiber Arts Education Across the State -Establishing the Michigan Fibershed Network to Connect Producers, Processors, Makers, and Consumers Statewide -Engaging Michigan Fibershed Contributors to Understand Needs and How To Support Long Term Natural Fiber Economies in our State -Offsetting Administrative Fees for our 501(c)(3) Designation and Communication Platforms Support our mission with a one-time or monthly donation. Please share with anyone you know that has a passion for local fiber and supporting local economies. Photos by the Michigan Fibershed and Paige Green are a collection of images documenting the work of both our local Michigan Fibershed and the international Fibershed organization. The international Fibershed organization “nurtures a network of regional producers to incorporate carbon farming while strengthening sustainable regional economics and textile communities. Integral to Fibershed's mission is to educate and enable other grassroots networks” The Michigan Fibershed is advancing a movement towards a more interconnected, resilient, and self-sufficient world. We are making connections and removing barriers within Michigan’s local Soil to Soil fiber, textile, and garment economy. Donate and join us! https://www.michiganfibershed.org/giving

The first year of Woven MI Fiber Collective’s Flax-to-Linen grow project is off to a “flaxtastic” start! A group of folks headed up to @mitchellwoolco this weekend to help them set up their first flax plot. Such an inspiring project and family business—definitely check them out. Thanks for your generosity Sherry! It was hard work breaking up some solid sod, but the plot looked beautiful when we were done 🙌 thanks Angeline, Hailey, Lizy, Kathryn, Melissa… 2 fiber lambs may have found a new home as well, thanks Jan and April, for your contribution to our Fibershed. Stay tuned for more flax updates and possible ways to get involved!

Hi Instagram! We are seeking the people and organizations interested in building the Soil-to-Soil collective— farmers to natural dyers, spinners and weavers and knitters, to designers and garment makers. Using the @fibershed_ vision, Woven MI can sustain the connections needed to build our regional fiber supply chain. Check out the link in our bio for how to get involved at the organizing level