Create vibrant, wildcrafted art with dyes made from native plants in this hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop.

From the purples of chokeberry to the unexpected yellow of Oregon grape bark, nature offers stunning and sustainable palettes for expression.

In this 3-hour workshop, you’ll explore the joy of working with natural color from native flowers, bark, and berries. With step-by-step guidance and room to experiment, you’ll learn two techniques for transferring plant-based color to fabric—traditional dyeing and flower pounding. Leave with custom-dyed tea towels or dinner napkins, along with a meaningful connection to the land that made it possible.

Whether you’re new to plant dyes or ready to expand your creative toolkit, this workshop invites you to slow down, get hands-on, and deepen your relationship with plants through art.

We recommend this workshop for ages 14 and up, but we know every kid is different. You know your child best. If you feel they’ll be engaged and able to participate meaningfully, they’re welcome to join!

You’ll Experience:

• Natural Dyeing Techniques: Practice the basic steps of extracting color from native flowers, berries, and bark, and apply them to fabric.
• Hands-On Creative Expression: Experiment with flower pounding and plant dyes to craft one-of-a-kind pieces.
• Take-Home Textile Art: Design and bring home custom-dyed tea towels or napkins as lasting, handmade keepsakes.
• Connection to Place & Practice: Grow you appreciation for local plants, seasonal rhythms, and sustainable craft.

About Your Facilitator:

Dani Ekstrand (they/them) is an Environmental Educator at Oxbow, where they guide youth to explore the interconnecting relationships between land, food, native plants, and the wider natural world. With a background in sustainable development, farming, and education, they are passionate about connecting people to the land through hands-on experiences. Dani also enjoys experimenting with natural dyes, and is excited to share this creative, nature-based craft in this workshop.

Tiered Pricing

This workshop is valued at $75, but we invite you to choose the ticket price that best fits your circumstances. Our tiered pricing model makes the experience more accessible while fostering a spirit of community care.

• $65 Community Supported Ticket: Choose this rate if you’re navigating financial challenges, such as medical or immigration expenses, public assistance, or other systemic barriers.
• $75 Standard Ticket: Covers the cost of the workshop.
• $85 Community Supporter Ticket: Choose this rate if you have financial security or access to wealth and want to help make this offering more accessible for others.

We trust you to select the rate that feels right, no questions asked. Your choice supports a more equitable and inclusive community.

Need additional support? If the $65 rate is a barrier, please email us at education@oxbow.org.

All participants must register in advance—spaces are limited!

Oxbow is open rain or shine, except in cases of extreme weather (lightning, high winds, wildfire smoke, or flooding conditions that make it unsafe for visitors).

*Note to registrants: If we cancel an event you will be notified via email when the decision to close is made.