Bast Fiber Monthly Speakers

We conduct monthly meetings in collaboration with the national Fibershed organization, fostering a collective effort to develop a robust bast fiber supply chain for the textile industry. These sessions are aimed at collectively building the bast fiber supply chain for textile production. They include a range of guest speakers who join us via Zoom, sharing their expertise and creating opportunities for engaging Q&A interactions.

Speakers/Topics Include:

2023:

January (FLAX) → Patricia from Taproot (Nova Scotia, on machinery)

February→ General Group check-ins

March (HEMP) → Emily Gordin, Veratate Materials

April (FLAX) → Nadia Bunyan, Growing A.R.C

May (MILL) → Tuscarora Mills, Pennsylvania

June (FLAX) → Alvin Ulrich

July (HEMP) →Tiger Hemp

September (HEMP) → Mark Sunderland,Hemp Black

2022 Speakers:

May → Shannon Welsch, FibreEvolution (flax)

June → Courtney Lockemer, Piedmont Fibershed (hemp in NC)

July → Tyler Jenkins (hemp in NC), + Rosie Bristow (researcher on flax in UK)

August → Chico Flax (flax growing and processing in CA)

September → David Suchoff (North Carolina State University Extension researcher) (hemp)

October → PA Flax Project (flax) (Leslie point of contact)

November → Guy Carpenter/ Hemp in NC ; Amy Williams

December → Tarit Chatterje (Processing)