Unveiling Rainbows: Exploring the Northern California Fungal Fibershed

In this 3-day course, you will experience the breadth of the art and science behind working with fungal dyes. We will meet from 9am-4pm each day.

Day 1: Foraging & Testing

We’ll start by exploring the local landscape, practicing techniques for spotting, documenting, and identifying mushrooms and lichens with ethical harvest practices at the forefront of our minds. We’ll then go through the process of testing our findings for dye potential. This will leave us with a solid approach to one of the most important aspects of the craft: acquiring dye materials.

Day 2: Regional Rainbow

On our second day, we’ll work with a curated selection of Northern California's finest wild dye specimens, exploring the specific route to optimal color required by each fungal group. We’ll coax vibrant hues from the entire spectrum of color.

Day 3: Dye Your Own Fiber Day

Our third day together is dedicated to dyeing your own selection of protein fibers: wool, silk, alpaca, etc. Bring 6 oz of protein fibers to dye, plus additional fiber - in case there’s extra dye to utilize, there almost always is! This workshop aspect shows how fiber selection plays a role in showcasing the color. Observing everyone's variable results will enable you to take note and move forward confidently in fiber selection.

In this workshop, you'll connect with other fungi and fiber enthusiasts while you enhance your skills at spotting mushroom habitats, testing for color, and ultimately creating stunning, naturally dyed fibers from local fungal dye species. In addition to your own dyed fiber, you'll take home an instructional guide, a field testing kit, an elegantly designed silk scarf, and a rainbow record of recipes and samples from the best local species.

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Fibershed Scholarship Program for Tuition Scholarships & Transportation/Childcare Stipends

Fibershed is offering one scholarship per workshop. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship recipient, please answer a few brief questions on our Scholarship Application. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

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Please keep your pets at home as we have livestock onsite. Service dogs are permitted.

Alissa Allen is an amateur mycologist and the founder of Mycopigments. Widely in demand as a dye instructor, she specializes in presenting regional mushroom and lichen dye palettes to communities all over North America. For the past three years, she has expanded her reach to include traditional foraging and textile artisan villages in Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2022, She was honored to host the International Fungi and Fiber Symposium in Port Townsend, WA. Her teaching style reaches out to novices, while her knowledge keeps experienced mushroom hunters and fiber artists engaged. She publishes regularly on her website mycopigments.com, has mentored countless dye enthusiasts, from beginners to professionals, and is regarded as a master of her craft (True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments - K. Recker - 2019). In addition to teaching workshops, Alissa created and moderates Mushroom and Lichen Dyers United, a vibrant international fungi dye community with over 35,000 members. She is dedicated to encouraging both the art and the science of dyeing with fungi as a way to connect people more intimately to the places they love.

Photos by Paige green (1, 3, and 4) and Elissa Callen (2 ).