DialogPunkt Xanten: Land of unlimited colours

Extracting colours from nature and creating entire colour palettes with household remedies – there is hardly a more sustainable way to get creative. At DialogPunkt Xanten in June, participants immersed themselves in the world of plant-based colours with the Kneipp Verein Xanten e.V..

Once upon a time there was an artist who developed health problems after many years of working with conventional industrially produced paints, but did not want to give up painting. Peter Reichenbach therefore researched and experimented with colour production from plants. This gave rise to the Sevengardens network: Joint production of colours from plants and the cultivation of plants for colour extraction in so-called dye gardens. The plants are not exotic, but can often be found on roadsides: These include lady’s mantle, cornflower and mallow, as well as pelargonium, rose, hollyhock and marigold.

Dörte Dreher-Peiß and Helga Krauskopf are trained Sevengardens dialogue facilitators, i.e. they have taken part in a training course with Peter Reichenbach. They both dream of establishing one or even several dye gardens with a workshop in Xanten. They were therefore delighted to have the opportunity to present themselves as part of the DialogPunkt Xanten in the Weberturm and to make Sevengardens and their plans better known locally.

Red cabbage is not just for cooking

After a short introduction with a plant quiz on the smell, feel, flavour and use of herbs and flowers, the history and aim of the globally active Sevensgarden network initiative were presented. Then it was time to get down to business: the base colour was extracted from red cabbage on the evening of the DialogPunkt Xanten. To do this, the participants first had to grind small pieces of red cabbage with a little water. With a little alum added – for more colour strength and durability – the mass was pressed through a nettle cloth. The colour juice was extracted.

Now, the change in the acid-base balance has been literally conjured up. By adding baking soda, soda ash, slaked lime, citric acid and lemon juice, a colour spectrum from red and pink to blue and green could be created. The colours became more pastel with chalk, calcium or corn starch. The individual colours were recorded by the participants individually on worksheets. ‘It reminds me a little of the chemistry protocols from class,’ laughed a young visitor. ‘But it’s more colourful here.’

Source of creativity

‘This coordinated colour palette encourages you to paint,’ said one participant enthusiastically. “The colours obtained, the colour ink, only has a limited shelf life. However, colour pigment can be obtained from the colour ink or a watercolour can be created by adding gum arabic and a little honey. Watercolour paint can be used again and again after drying out if it is moistened,” explained the course instructors.

The cloths used for pressing can be used for book covers, patchwork projects or bunting. The pressed red cabbage leftovers in the nettle bags are suitable for stamping.

Colours can be obtained not only from fresh material, but also from dried flowers. ‘Use the summer and the flowers, leaves and fruit like the squirrels to stock up on dyes for the winter,’ advised Dörte Dreher-Peiß.