Sunday, March 22, 2026 • 10am-3pm
At Birdsong Ranch, between Ventura and Ojai (exact location provided by email)
Vegetarian lunch and refreshments included

What Gifts the Rain Brings: A Seasonal Natural Dye Workshop
The river is flowing full and clear, and mushrooms and herbs spring from the damp woodland floor. Rain falls, sun follows, and in the mountains and valleys, life in its entire array of color blooms. The rain starts a new season in Southern California, and in the warm days which follow, verdant growth unfurls all around—offering us so many sources of vibrant natural color.

Join Erin of Berbo Studio along the Ventura River on the first Sunday of spring for a workshop exploring the natural dyes available to us on this seasonal cusp, between the rainy season and the botanical bounty which it brings.

In the morning, we’ll brew our dyes—from locally harvested mushrooms, flowers, herbs, minerals, and more—and learn to mordant (prepare) textiles for the dye colors which will be ready by the afternoon. Midday, we’ll pause to enjoy a seasonal vegetarian lunch prepared by culinary artist Chef Kylie, who makes food infused with local flavor and love for the earth.

You’ll leave with up to two completed dye projects, with silk and cotton options provided (note that some dye colors will be suitable only on silk), a handout with recipes and techniques learned in class, and knowledge and inspiration to continue working with this season’s natural dyes on your own.

About Birdsong Ranch
Located on the Ventura River just south of Ojai, Birdsong Ranch is a living landscape restored with native plants, dedicated to creating habitat, supporting local ecology and wildlife, and inviting the human community closer to our environment. The ranch serves as a resource for native bird study and conservation in particular, and as an example of the beauty and ecological benefits of native plant landscaping.