Our story starts with flax.
PA Flax Project is organizing farmers, creating infrastructure for processing, and making American linen possible again.
We’re preparing to plant ~30 acres of fiber flax this Spring and have the first mechanized fiber flax harvest in Pennsylvania history this Summer.
Unfortunately the federal funding freeze has cut off our main funding source, our USDA Organic Market Development Grant.
This has a devastating effect on our work
Want to Help?
For a window of time we have a fiscal sponsor accepting tax deductible donations on our behalf. This will allow us to bridge the gap created by the federal funding freeze and be a benefit to our donors.
We’re proud to be members of
In our vision of the future, work is meaningful. Economic opportunities heal the earth. And an American linen industry thrives based on healthy soil and profitable farms.
Flax is a climate-positive plant that requires little to no chemical inputs or irrigation, fits well into grain rotations, remediates soil, and has a proven history of growing well in Pennsylvania.
Flax’s most valuable use is for linen production. Demand for linen grows as consumers turn away from synthetics and demand natural fibers. Flax can also be used in dozens of other products, making it a versatile and high-value crop.
Flax has the potential to provide new revenue streams for hundreds of farmers in Pennsylvania alone.
But in order to become linen and other products, flax must be processed. There used to be a significant textile industry in PA, but the equipment and infrastructure are long gone. The United States has ample space for growing flax, but we lack the infrastructure for processing.
PA Flax is well on the way to achieving our goal of putting 4,000 acres annually of fiber flax into production in Pennsylvania and establishing
the first cooperatively owned scutching mill in North America by 2028.
The People Behind the Project
-
”The land, textiles and design have always been central in my life.”
For over a decade Heidi owned and operated Kitchen Garden Textiles, a Philadelphia based lifestyle brand working at the intersection of food and fabric. This work led to a deep understanding of the connection between textiles and farming. In 2020, with farmer Emma de Long, Heidi took this understanding to the next level and the PA Flax Project began. Heidi is a founding board member of the North American Linen Association, a trade organization advancing bast fiber production and processing in North America. Her love for textiles and lifelong attention to environmental issues combine into her passion for bringing linen production back to Pennsylvania.
-
Emma de Long (she/her) has lived and farmed in Pennsylvania since 2012. She owns and operates Kneehigh Farm, a 4-acre diversified vegetable farm located outside of Pottstown. She also co-owns Red Dog Market, a hyper-local grocery store, with her husband Aaron de Long, as of 2020. Emma is committed to climate mitigation and is passionate about changing the food and textile industry for the better. She has been growing flax for linen at Kneehigh Farm since 2020.
-
Emily is the executive assistant for PA Flax Project’s co-founders, Heidi and Emma. She has Excel spreadsheets for everything and never met something she didn’t want to organize. Her previous careers included: TV writer, social media manager, journalist, and food writer. She’s an avid gardener and is obsessed with all things flax.
-
Bill went to West Virginia University to focus on plant and soil science. He enjoys experimenting with different things to help plants grow and loves to "talk shop" with farmers. Bill has been involved with non-profit food bank farming for the past 13 years, and enjoys cooking, food preservation, wildlife, native plants/trees and live music. Bill looks forward to continuing agricultural work that is heavily engaged with both producers and consumers through the PA Flax Project.
-
Janell is a textile artist and designer who has a deep love for natural fibers. She feels that creating by hand gives the maker space to consider slowing down, to articulate what their life holds, and a pathway to tap into their wellbeing. She has joyfully taught students of all ages for the last 20 years. She loves to walk dogs and host dinners to connect with friends and build community.
-
Jackie is passionate about storytelling and spreading information. She feels that the world is a better place when we are all connected, and loves to take advantage of algorithms to do so.
She has been a freelance social media manager since 2019, and is very excited to get outside more with the PA Flax Project and support their amazing work.
At the heart of everything we do…
Growth -
We’re creating business opportunities for farmers and manufacturers in Pennsylvania. This is economic growth that’s good for people and the planet.
Healing - In everything we do, we aim to repair and restore. Nature shouldn’t be an afterthought and neither should human dignity.
Inclusion - We want everyone at our table, especially those historically harmed by the textile industry. Inclusion is the path to something more fair and just.