A Mini Flax Farm in the City

Prior to the formation of the CIC, In spring summer 2022 a field of flax was grown in a Plymouth residential area tended by a multi-generational group of volunteers who have been involved in spinning, dyeing and weaving the material to make linen. In April 2022 Vicky Putler was awarded a Green Minds Commission to deliver this project.

Over the months of April to Aug 2022 volunteers from Keyham in Plymouth, ranging in age from 8–86 years old, experienced hands-on farming in nature using regenerative techniques to produce a range of heritage crafts. They were taken through the whole process of producing linen from planting the seed to, processing the flax straw, spinning , dyeing and weaving it. They also learned made traditional corn dollies out of flax straw. In August they harvested the flax that they planted right at the beginning bringing them full circle. The project aimed to give people hands on experince of farming in a regenerative way and also demonstarte the huge amount of processes that go into producing a textile and how that can be done locally, keeping contrl of the supply chain, reducing pollution from textiles and reducing carbn emissions.

The project took place at Keyham Green Places, in Keyham, Plymouth. It is hoped that it helped bring the therapeutic benefits of contact with nature to local people who have been through so much in recent years.

The Mini Flax Farm in the City was celebrated in an exhibition held at the Plymouth University's Sustainability Hub,ran from 6–16 October 2022, showcasing the flax plant at every stage, the low-tech tools and machinery, woven items and documentary photographs of the land and people.

The exhibition was supported by Low Carbon Devon and was hosted by the Sustainability Hub, an innovative building renovated to high sustainability standards. . The project was led by Vicky Putler of the Flax Project to share with others her experience of linen production from field to fabric