Lacombe Historical Society continues to find ways to make our heritage sites more interactive to visitors and the school groups that come through each year.
 
Last year some staff members at the Michener House Museum were introduced to fibre work and spinning, learning how to deliver demonstrations to their guests.
 
Thanks to some funding from the City of Lacombe through their Culture Grant Program, a heritage gardening project is now getting underway at the Michener House.
 
Archives and Program Co-ordinator Becca Stone says they'll be building some new planters behind the museum and growing plants traditionally used to dye garments.

“Onion skins were used to create I think kind of an orangey, yellowish kind of dye. There is a multitude of different plants that can be used for dyes; again not all of them are native to this area. We’re looking at sheep sorrel, pretty much native to this area, if not in Canada, that was used for dye, avocado, although not native to this area, is another one”.

In terms of how to create these natural dyes, Stone says it’s pretty simple.

“We use the roots, dandelion roots can be used for that, some plants I think chamomile uses the leaves. So it’s basically just put it in a big pot with some water, boil it up and let the fibres soak basically”.

Stone says they hope to host open house days this summer where they will invite the community and guests to join them in the garden, washing fibres, carding and dyeing.