Date/Time
Date(s) - 24/11/2021
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Categories
As a full circle to our Fibreshed series the month of November, we thought it time to come back to the research Kathy Dunster has been doing the last few years- growing test plots of different flax seed varieties for linen. Back in 2018, Kathy and Sharon selected nearly 20 varieties of seeds from the Canadian Seed Bank. Kathy began growing and charting the growth and vigour with various climatic challenges while Sharon processed the straw to stricks.
Now narrowed down to about 6 types to keep growing, they are honing in on what seed varieties are best for the west coast to help diversify the seeds for growing linen that are currently available.
Join us for this informal presentation and conversation about all things flax to linen!
Kathy Dunster, PhD Instructor of Urban Ecosystems, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kathy is a registered landscape architect (MBCSLA) and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. Since 1987 her professional practice has focused on numerous projects that address the inventory, planning, conservation, and management of natural and cultural landscapes, ecosystem repair and restoration, and integrated ecological landscape design at many different scales. She has extensive experience working with grassroots groups using community mapping as a technique for participatory action research in exploration of local community distinctiveness (what makes a place special) and local planning. She has a long history of involvement with community-based social and environmental justice organizations in various parts of Canada.
Her current research interests are localism, the integration of food, health, and ecosystem wellbeing in urban everyday landscapes which includes: decolonization, social landscape design, living roof designs for all (but especially invertebrate habitat, species at risk, and food production); learning landscapes; bioregional ethnobotany; community mapping and green mapping; and exploring the wicked problem of how post-disaster landscapes can be better designed to meet human needs when temporary settlement becomes permanent. Her other research interests include feminist cartography, islands, conceptual art in the landscape, and good practices.
Her many other interests include letterpress printing, bicycling, graffiti & stencilling, appropriate technology and natural building construction, conservation of late-Victorian fruit and vegetable varieties, growing just about anything from seed but especially food, and collecting useful things from dumpsters and back lanes.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.