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Please support our efforts to develop sustainable approaches to textile and fashion design! Every year up to 200,000 tons of synthetic dyes are discharged into waterways, making textile dye plants the second largest polluter of water (next to agriculture). In many developing nations where textiles are are produced, workers are not properly protected from the toxic chemicals used to dye fibers and fabrics, making synthetic dyes hazardous to both environmental and human health. The Cornell Natural Dye Garden is an opportunity to cultivate a variety of colors for textiles that come from the natural world and have a much lower environmental impact. We believe natural dyes are an opportunity to make a sustainable intervention in the apparel supply chain. In May 2015 we planted a successful test garden of natural dye plants and we now have a permanent location in the courtyard between Martha Van Rensselaer Hall and the Human Ecology Building. With your help we look forward to relocating our garden and growing a wider array of dye plants to be used in teaching and research!
A gift of $20 helps students dig into our sustainable natural dye garden
A gift of $35 will put flats of flowers, seeds, and bulbs in the ground
A gift of $50 will provide pavers for walk ways, stone work, and access to water
A gift of $75 will put custom plant ID sign in the ground. (A total of 15 are needed)
A gift of $250 will put rakes, hoes, shovels, hoses, gloves and more in the hands of our students
A gift of $500 will provide important quality informational signage for the garden located in a high foot-traffic area
A gift of $1,000 will help put our natural dye garden in its new location and ready it for use: clear out existing plants, prepare the bed, build its infrastructure, implement design, and fill it with all the topsoil and compost it needs