The state of Maryland has announced a multi-partner agreement to establish a pilot urban farming initiative in Baltimore City.
The project aims to transform a portion of a vacant lot in West Baltimore into a garden which will produce crops such as indigo, beets, onions, marigolds, and Black-eyed Susans to make natural dyes for artistic, educational, and commercial use. The natural dyeing process has attracted recent attention and popularity in textiles and art for its ability to produce richer colors, softer fabrics with antiperspirant and antimicrobial qualities, and greater safety for the environment.
The agreement between the state, Baltimore City, and academic institutions has been signed by six parties. The funding partners in the initiative are the Maryland Department of Commerce through the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corp. (MARBIDCO), and the Baltimore Development Corp., providing a combined $300,000 to support the pilot project.
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