FAQ

  • What is a CSA?

    A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share is a seasonal subscription to a farm’s products whether vegetables, eggs, meat, flowers, or in this case, naturally dyed fiber. The CSA model benefits both farmers and members, matching supply to demand and preventing waste. For farmers, it provides an income stream when it is needed most to purchase supplies for the season. CSAs provide members with a direct connection to the farm and build important community-farmer relationships.

  • What's in a Color Share?

    A full share includes 20 mini skeins of hand-dyed fiber showcasing the full range of dye plants grown on our farm. A half share includes 10 mini skeins, with an option to choose to receive either blues and greens or yellows and oranges.

  • What types of fiber do you offer?

    The 2024 Color CSA includes options for shares of fingering weight or worsted weight 100% organic merino wool yarn. For more information about each yarn option, please check out the listings in our online farm store.

How do I get my Color Share?

You will receive your entire share at once in December 2024. For the 2024 Color CSA, you have the option of picking up your share at one of three pickup events or having it shipped directly to you. Pick-up is free and you have the option of three locations throughout central Pennsylvania.

Pickup Details

Sunday, December 1 - Dickinson College Farm | Boiling Springs, PA | 1:00-3:00pm

Saturday, December 7 - Humble Stitch | Newport, PA | 1:00-3:00pm

Sunday, December 8 - Elementary Coffee Co. | Harrisburg, PA | 1:00-3:00pm

Shipped shares will be mailed out by December 15 and there is a $26 additional charge for shipping.

  • What colors can I expect to receive?

    At this time, the colors I produce span four color families: blues, oranges, greens, and yellows. You will not receive any true reds or purples this year, but stick with me and in a couple of years we will have beautiful reds and purples as the madder roots mature.

  • Where do you source your fiber?

    I currently buy my undyed fiber through internet-based suppliers who offer 100% organic merino wool yarn for dyeing. Longer term, I hope to source my wool locally.

  • What is your approach to farming?

    I employ no-till approaches to farming rooted in permaculture principles and regenerative agricultural practices.

  • How colorfast are your dyes?

    All of the fibers are carefully scoured and mordanted before dyeing to ensure evenness of color and improve colorfastness. However, all natural dyes will fade and age with time, wear, sun exposure, and repeated washes. This is part of the beauty of working with naturally dyed fiber—it is dynamic, ever-changing. Each skein is unique and each finished garment or art piece will continue to develop its own unique character with time.

  • What mordants do you use?

    I mordant the fingering weight wool yarn with potassium aluminum sulfate and the cotton embroidery thread with aluminum acetate. This helps the color bind to the fiber and helps preserve lightfastness and colorfastness.

  • How do I sign up for a share?

    Please visit the online farm store to sign up for a share for yourself or to gift a share to someone else.