Sustainable Dye Garden at Myrtle Edwards Park
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ANTICIPATING INVESTIGATING DYEING LISTENING PAINTING DRYING DREAMING HARVESTING LEARNING PLAYING VIEWING Summer Autumn Winter Spring Inspiration/artist areas It’s important to give the people who use the park inspiration and beauty in every aspect of the site. The structures that support the art and craft of dying such as easels, benches, rain barrels, compost bins, drying racks should be permanent art installations that contribute to users understanding of the local citizens and history, and that inspire them as artists. Dream/contemplation area Inspiration also comes from rest, contemplation and dreams. A park designed to support, nurture and create artists should have a healing space where park users can relax and enhance their creativity. People would be able to lay on a bench and see the sky and trees, breathe salt air, view the water and mountains, and be stimulated by the ships and trains. Play areas/lawn A place to play and move freely is essential for true creativity, and would invite all park users into the space to share it with those specifically attracted to the gardens and the art. I found the mound very beautiful, spiritual and functional, and would like it to stay as a formal, but organic element of the space. Water & drainage source A water source is essential for dyeing, but an artfully designed rain collection system would reduce the need for fresh potable water when dyeing. Although natural dyes may not be harmful in small quantities, dye waste should not be dumped in storm drains. The garden should provide natural mordants, and have a strict ban on potentially toxic metal mordants. Community collaboration areas A public garden should have spaces for groups to collaborate, and the dye garden should have a specific area that would facilitate classes about art, color, the craft of dying, associated arts and gardening. An area that would allow instructors to do demonstrations within the dye garden would be ideal, as it would be another way to inspire people. Native dye gardens The native plants of the Pacific Northwest forests contribute to a serene, natural landscape, and can prevent invasive species from taking hold. The plants yield beautiful dyes to be used for fabric, yarn, paper, baskets and art, so the beauty continues and extends beyond the garden. Banners would display the dye colors and information needed for artists to use the gardens. Cultivated dye gardens Common dye plants that have been safely naturalized in this area would be planted in beds for harvest. To be sustainable, no potentially invasive species (like woad) would be allowed to be planted. Many dye plants attract pollinating birds, butterflies and insects with their flowers and berries, and are beneficial to the garden. Sustainability A well-designed dye garden would provide key Sustainable Sites Initiatives ecosystem services and be environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially equitable. Pollination Habitat functions Erosion and sediment control Waste decomposition and treatment Human health and well-being benefits Food and renewable non-food products Cultural benefits Thoughtfulness Sustainability and beauty both require thoughtfulness—for those who design and build the site, the participants who visit the site, for the impact on the earth and the water at the site. A dye garden is full of thoughtfulness— the thoughtfulness of ancient cultures that learned to use plants to create tools, vessels, clothing and dyes, and have passed the knowledge to today’s craftsmen and artists. The thoughtfulness of working with our hands promotes a connection with our world and can create a community that works together. Community There are many ways to make a dye garden in a city park economically feasible. Promoting participation with gardners, academics, artists and craftsmen in the thriving, “green” city of Seattle would ensure that the city would not be the only stakeholder responsible for the upkeep of the gardens, and would ensure that those who use the garden would treat it with respect and continue to replenish it. @ Myrtle Edwards Park
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Transcript of Sustainable Dye Garden at Myrtle Edwards Park
ANTICIPATING
INVESTIGATING
DYEING
LISTENING
PAINTING
DRYING
DREAMING
HARVESTING
LEARNING
PLAYINGVIEWING
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Inspiration/artist areasIt’s important to give the people who use the park inspiration and beauty in every aspect of the site. The structures that support the art and craft of dying such as easels, benches, rain barrels, compost bins, drying racks should be permanent art installations that contribute to users understanding of the local citizens and history, and that inspire them as artists.
Dream/contemplation areaInspiration also comes from rest, contemplation and dreams. A park designed to support, nurture and create artists should have a healing space where park users can relax and enhance their creativity. People would be able to lay on a bench and see the sky and trees, breathe salt air, view the water and mountains, and be stimulated by the ships and trains.
Play areas/lawnA place to play and move freely is essential for true creativity, and would invite all park users into the space to share it with those specifically attracted to the gardens and the art. I found the mound very beautiful, spiritual and functional, and would like it to stay as a formal, but organic element of the space.
Water & drainage sourceA water source is essential for dyeing, but an artfully designed rain collection system would reduce the need for fresh potable water when dyeing. Although natural dyes may not be harmful in small quantities, dye waste should not be dumped in storm drains. The garden should provide natural mordants, and have a strict ban on potentially toxic metal mordants.
Community collaboration areasA public garden should have spaces for groups to collaborate, and the dye garden should have a specific area that would facilitate classes about art, color, the craft of dying, associated arts and gardening. An area that would allow instructors to do demonstrations within the dye garden would be ideal, as it would be another way to inspire people.
Native dye gardensThe native plants of the Pacific Northwest forests contribute to a serene, natural landscape, and can prevent invasive species from taking hold. The plants yield beautiful dyes to be used for fabric, yarn, paper, baskets and art, so the beauty continues and extends beyond the garden. Banners would display the dye colors and information needed for artists to use the gardens.
Cultivated dye gardensCommon dye plants that have been safely naturalized in this area would be planted in beds for harvest. To be sustainable, no potentially invasive species (like woad) would be allowed to be planted. Many dye plants attract pollinating birds, butterflies and insects with their flowers and berries, and are beneficial to the garden.
SustainabilityA well-designed dye garden would provide key Sustainable Sites Initiatives ecosystem services and be environ mentally sound, economically feasible and socially equitable.
Pollination
Habitat functions
Erosion and sediment control
Waste decomposition and treatment
Human health and well-being benefits
Food and renewable non-food products
Cultural benefits
ThoughtfulnessSustainability and beauty both require thoughtfulness—for those who design and build the site, the participants who visit the site, for the impact on the earth and the water at the site.
A dye garden is full of thoughtfulness—the thoughtfulness of ancient cultures that learned to use plants to create tools, vessels, clothing and dyes, and have passed the knowledge to today’s craftsmen and artists. The thoughtfulness of working with our hands promotes a connection with our world and can create a community that works together.
CommunityThere are many ways to make a dye garden in a city park economically feasible. Promoting participation with gardners, academics, artists and craftsmen in the thriving, “green” city of Seattle would ensure that the city would not be the only stakeholder responsible for the upkeep of the gardens, and would ensure that those who use the garden would treat it with respect and continue to replenish it.
@ Myrtle Edwards Park
