Registration Opens September 14th at 9am (PT)
$85 USD*
Enjoy full access to the course as soon as you register.
Students have access to course content for 3 years.
Step inside The Maiwa Natural Dye Garden and explore living sources of colour alongside Maiwa’s resident dye-gardener, Nicola Hodges, and the Maiwa research team.
Filmed over five years on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada, this unique online offering gives a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a working research dye garden in the Pacific Northwest. You’ll witness plants in their full life cycles—from seed to harvest—while gaining insight into the ways we care for our soil, our observations, and the experimentation that guides Maiwa’s dye research.
In Maiwa’s natural dye garden, ongoing trials and tests help us understand how to coax the fullest colour potential from each plant—what variables matter most, and how some subtle changes can affect results. In this course, you'll get a glimpse into some of the questions we are asking and variables we test.
Witness dye plants in various stages of their growth, and follow along as we share and demonstrate some of our favourite dye recipes from the garden, featuring; weld, coreopsis, marigold, murasaki, madder, and Japanese indigo (Persicaria tinctoria).
*COURSES ARE PRICED IN US DOLLARS TO PERMIT E-PAYMENTS THROUGH TEACHABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
A glimpse into the workshop...
Topics covered:
MEET THE DYE PLANTS
We introduce you to some of our favourite plants in the dye garden; Weld, Coreopsis, Marigold, Murasaki, Madder, and Japanese Indigo.
SPRING IN THE GARDEN
Preparing for the season ahead; germination tests, seed starting, thinning seedlings, and transplanting into the garden.
HARVESTING COLOUR
Explore the ways we harvest each plant for optimum colour. Learn tips for drying and storing plant material for future use.
DYE GARDEN RECIPES
We share our favourite recipes for dyeing with both fresh & dried harvested materials: weld, coreopsis, marigold, murasaki and madder.
AQUEOUS EXTRACTION
Working with fresh Persicaria tinctoria (Japanese indigo), learn how to do an aqueous extraction, large or small. The end result is a hydrated pigment that can be kept for future use or dried and stored as chips.
SALT RUB & LEAF POUNDING
Explore the magic of fresh leaf Japanese indigo. Coax colour directly onto cloth with the salt rub method, or pound individual leaves to create detailed impressions.
SOIL & MULCH
Explore ways to care for your soil and build soil that is rich in organic matter. An introduction to mulch and cover cropping in the off-season to nourish the soil for the subsequent growing year.
WATER & ADAPTATIONS
Adapting and responding to weather surprises can make or break your season and inform your approach to future cultivation. Listen in on discussions and decisions made during a summer of intense heat and water shortage in the PNW.
SEED SAVING
A visual guide that shows when seeds are ready for harvest. Tips for successful drying, winnowing, and storing for future seasons.
At the heart of this course
is growing colour...
Whether you’re growing colour on a windowsill or in a backyard garden, this workshop offers inspiration, practical insight, guidance and an intimate look at Maiwa’s ongoing research—rooted in observation, experimentation, and a deep love of natural colour.
Meet Maiwa's Dye Garden and Research Team:
The Maiwa Natural Dye Garden is a research project nurtured and grown by a team of dyers and gardeners. Under the direction of Nicola Hodges, the garden serves as a site for systematic exploration—testing variables in soil composition, climate, plant variety, and cultivation methods, with the goal of harvesting the richest and most consistent colour from plant dyes. This work unfolds through ongoing trials, careful record-keeping, and comparative analysis, contributing to a growing body of knowledge in plant-based colour.
Nicola is assisted by Yukiko Blackwell, whose work bridges cultivation and studio practice, helping to translate findings from the garden into the dye pot.
Included in this team is Linda Spence, who brings a keen understanding of natural dyes and colour testing. With many years of experience, she supports the research through structured sampling, repeat testing, and the close observation required to understand subtle shifts in colour and process.
Tim McLaughlin began filming this course in its early stages, recognizing the importance of documenting a project rooted in both tradition and inquiry. He was always thrilled to capture the growth and development of the dye garden on the Sunshine Coast, BC.
Charllotte Kwon, owner and founder of Maiwa, has been growing dye plants since the early days of Maiwa’s beginnings (since 1986). She advises the research team and helps shape its direction, guided by a lifelong commitment to natural dyes, textiles, and the communities that sustain them.
When can I access the course?
This workshop offers instant access to all content at the time of purchase (different from some of our other workshops).
How long do I have access?
Students have access to course material for 3 years.
Is there a Q&A element?
There is no Q&A for this course.
Do I need supplies?
There is no supply list for this course. As you take the course, you will most likely see tools and systems used in our garden that you may wish to consider for your own.
What is the cancellation policy?
Please see our terms of use for our cancellation policy.
See also our Frequently Asked Questions.
More Maiwa Workshops
Registration opens on September 14th for the following workshops:
Free Lessons from Maiwa
As part of our commitment to the textile arts we offer these lessons free of charge.
