Textile Center’s A Garden To Dye For is a living educational and creative resource, which proudly cultivates, harvests, and generates understanding surrounding natural dye plants.

Combining beauty and function, this perennial garden nurtures plants to be used as natural dyes for textiles; a living, breathing element in the process of creating fiber art!

The garden is located on Textile Center’s surrounding plant beds, which around from the south-west and the west sides of the building.

The dye garden is volunteer-run from late May until mid-September, with opportunities for group-gardening and independent drop-in volunteer upkeep.

Textile Center offers our volunteers select opportunities to harvest natural dye plants for their own use, as well as opportunities to engage in dye garden related educational programming at discounted rates.

If you would like to be contacted to receive more information about volunteer opportunities, please fill out our interest form here.

Questions can be directed to Chloe Russell Chang – crussell@textilecentermn.org.

We’re seeking volunteers to help maintain our perennial garden for the 2025 season!

No experience required — just bring your enthusiasm! Volunteers will receive hands-on guidance from Hennepin County Master Gardener Deb Reierson.

Volunteer shifts include tasks like weeding, watering, identifying and removing invasive plant species, applying mulch, and harvesting dye plants throughout the season. Shifts will be available all summer long — sign up and join us for as many as you’d like!

This year, Textile Center welcomes youth volunteers ages 12–16, as well as adults. Youth must be accompanied by an on-site adult.

Sign up here to volunteer in the Dye Garden!

Check back for Summer 2025 natural dye classes!