In the News
In the News
Embedded Files
Winter-Spring 2025; Wisconsin People & Ideas Magazine
"Smitten With Linen- Wisconsin's Flax Fiber Revival"
Jessica Becker
That title is the truth!
A really well written and thorough essay, check it out!
https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/winter-spring-2025/essay/smitten-linen
Volume:
71
Issue Number:
1&2
November-December 2024; Wisconsin Farmers Union newsletter Member Spotlight
August 6th 2024; WPC Spotlight: Flax to Linen, Unlocking Fiber from Straw
The Low Tech Institute in Cooksville Wisconsin, which is hosting the 2024 Permaculture Convergence, assembled a line-up of short pieces highlighting some of the upcoming workshop leaders.
Click below for link to article.
July 7th 2024; Flax at Parisi Family Farm field day with 350 Wisconsin on Channel 27 news
Huge thanks to Terry at Parisi Family Farm and 350 Wisconsin for organizing the field day last weekend at Terry's farm which is hosting the largest of the WLR flax plots this season. Throughout the tour Terry shared the inspiring story of her farm and how her understanding of regenerative farming evolved and deepened over time. Also, there is something super satisfying and validating about crossing the threshold into making the television news. Click below for video and article.
March 14th 2024; Recent UW-SOHE lecture slides
It was wildly fun to get to offer this presentation 3/14/24 at the UW Textile and Fashion Department hosted by Professor Marianne Faribanks and the Hemp Lab. The presentation wasn't recorded so we had requests to share the slide deck, see below.
Flax is officially an "emerging crop" in Wisconsin
We now have a link to share accompanying the news that flax is the most recent crop to be added to the UW-Extension Emerging Crop Accelerator program.
Flax is now in league with eleven other really exciting and promising crops in Wisconsin. Check them all out!
https://cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu/emergingcrops/
Many thanks to Steffen Mirsky, Emerging Crops Outreach Specialist at UW-Extension for his support and help making this happen. I've already enjoyed connecting further with others working on our shared agenda of diversifying our state's agricultural offerings, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the connections being fostered by these projects all around the state.
Flax to Linen in Wisconsin; lecture March 14th 3-4pm @ UW School of Human Ecology
I am excited to be hosted by The Hemp Lab and UW Associate Professor Marianne Fairbanks to offer this upcoming lecture
Flax to Linen in Wisconsin
From Folklore to the Future
Thursday, March 14, 2024
3-4pm Elizabeth Halloway Shar Hall
5th Floor School of Human Ecology (elevator on the east side of the building goes to the 5th floor)
This talk will expand on the mission of Wisconsin Linen Revival to provide access to locally and sustainably grown flax and processed linen to benefit local farmers and economies, build community, and shorten the journey from seed to shirt.
Open to the public so feel free to share with folx you think may be interested!
The Survey - A Retrospective
January 8, 2024
Karen and I did an exercise as the year changed over to 2024, creating a narrative of our accomplishments and excursions over the prior year. So many avenues we are exploring are rich with potential, a few of the side trips we took came to dead ends. We have accumulated so much information and understanding, and there is so much more for us to know. If I had one take away from reviewing our work it was - wow, we have done a lot.
Looking back brought us to reminisce- in July of 2022, funded by a grant from the Willy Street Co-op Community Reinvestment Fund, I launched a survey to gauge interest in local linen - if there was any. Karen responded to the survey (possibly you dear reader, did as well, along with over 250 other people !)
With gratitude to the spark from this question I asked- what do you think about local flax to linen... ?
WORT 8 O'Clock Buzz Interview December 12th, 2024
Leslie and Karen were delighted to be interviewed by the fun and thoughtful Monday morning WORT host Brian Standing.
Wisconsin Linen Revival Presenting at Nerd Nite October 4th
Join Leslie and Karen presenting our talk "The F**klore of Flax To Linen And More" at Madison's Nerd Nite Oct 4, 8 pm. at High Noon Saloon
We will be the first of three 20 minute presenters, attendance is free. Additional info about the event here
We have an exciting announcement to share at the event!
WLR Infographic Updates Fall 2023
2023 Eagle River Test Plot
Debbie, our test grower for this plot is primarily interested in flax for paper making. She is also a founding member of the Northern Pines Fibershed, a newly established affiliate in northern Wisconsin. If you are interested in the Fibershed movement and live in northern Wisconsin, check them out.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/197849049805311
https://www.instagram.com/northernpinesfibershed/
(UPDATE! We will be giving a talk at their November 14th meeting!)
Map of 2023 Trial Growers Locations
Wisconsin Linen Revival coordinated five growers across the state with informal test plots raising the seed varities: Ariane, Avian, Cascade, Linore, and Nathalie.
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