BBUFA Field Day: Growing Herbs & Natural Dye Plants

This Field day will be hosted by two amazing artists and growers, Kenya Miles of Blue Light Junction and Sun (Bobby) English Jr. of Melanated Medicinals. Kenya and Sun will share their expertise and community centered approach to growing herbs and plants for natural dying. Attendees will tour the Dye Garden and studio while learning about the production process including harvesting, processing and creating value added products from these specialty crops.

This is an in-person workshop. Pre registration is required so we can plan accordingly. We suggest that attendees wear weather appropriate attire, and closed-toed shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Be sure to bring a water bottle! There will be a hand washing station on site, as well as extra masks, waters, hand sanitizer, sunscreen & bug spray.

• Parking Information: Street parking, please be mindful of parking restrictions
• Restrooms: Yes, onsite
• Other Notes: After we tour the garden we will hold the remainder of the workshop indoors in the studio space.
• Cancellation Policy: In the event that we need to cancel due to weather or unforeseen circumstances attendees will receive an email notification. Paying attendees will receive a refund.
• Pre readings: We encourage attendees to visit the speakers websites Blue Light Junction and Melanated Medicinals.
• Questions? Please contact [email protected]

More about the Speakers:

Kenya Miles is the artist & alchemist behind Traveling Miles Studio. A one woman textile and fine art studio utilizing sustainable materials from earth pigments to natural dyes. Kenya’s work honors ancient practices while harmoniously drawing on a distinctive contemporary voice. From the valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico to the red clay roads of Ntonso, Ghana, Kenya’s process is a ledger of years of wandering and apprenticing around the globe. Kenya has facilitated workshops at the Berkeley Art Museum, Headlands Center for the Arts, and the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. She was a guest artist at BMA’s “The Possible” and recently had a solo exhibition “The Central Sun” in San Francisco. In January 2020, Kenya founded Blue Light Junction, a natural dye studio, processing center, alternative color lab, retail space, dye garden & educational facility in central Baltimore. Blue Light Junction focuses on growing, processing, and preserving the history of natural dyes and their artistic, practical, and commercial applications. Kenya is an avid traveler, gardener, and above all else Indigo’s mother (her son).

Sun (Bobby) English Jr. (they/them/she/her) is a QTPOC herbalist, farmer, educator, and ritual performance artist of African and Accohannock descent from Baltimore. They spend their days creating with Earth, Wood, Voice, and Metal; whether that be in the family farm, wood shop, metal shop, or the apothecary. Sun comes from a rich lineage of farmers, resistance fighters, and community gatherers.

They are working towards a vision for the future that exists beyond the systems of oppression via many different land based projects. Currently the Liberation Seed Farm in VA, and the Baltimore Natural Colors Initiative in MD. Sun believes that the practice of land stewardship is synonymous with practicing freedom, and they are feeling wonderful to be part of the great turning.”