Our story starts with flax.
Flax is a climate-positive plant that’s easy to grow. It requires little to no chemical inputs or irrigation. It protects waterways, remediates soil, and provides pollinator habitat.
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 turned into 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 Project is organizing farmers, creating infrastructure for processing, and making American linen possible again.
We are proud to be founding members of the North American Linen Association and Pennsylvania Fibershed.
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.
The Latest News
PAFP is a recipient of the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG)!
We will be proud owners of fiber flax harvesting equipment by Summer 2024. We’re organizing a cooperative of farmers to plant significant acreage in flax by 2024. To pull it off, we’re conducting seed trials to choose a variety of flax that’s best suited to our region.
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.
The People Behind the Project
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”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.
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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.
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Jordan is a slow fashion champion as co-owner and CEO of Philadelphia-based zero waste design house, Lobo Mau, and an educator at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. While his passions are now centered around textiles, ethical production, and sustainability, a lifelong love of small business was learned from an early age through his parents, Brazilian Jazz musicians who emigrated to Philadelphia to cultivate a vibrant community of their own. As Director of Value Chain Coordination, Jordan brings 12+ years of business development experience to PAFP.
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Evan has spent the majority of his career in the construction and development industry, with some forays into farming & food systems. He currently owns and operates Common Craft: a value-based, small scale development firm focused on adaptive reuse and community oriented building projects. Evan's role with PA Flax Project includes capital planning and pre-development as we turn our vision of a cooperatively owned fiber flax scutching mill into a reality.
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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.
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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 well being. 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.
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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.
PA Flax Project is opening the doors to a high-value market for Pennsylvania farmers. We're organizing growers, creating infrastructure for processing, and making American linen possible again. It all starts with flax.
To support our work on a higher level, please reach out.
