PA Flax Project

07/17/2026

Linen is ALWAYS flax!

The PA Flax Project is a worker-owned cooperative on a mission to change the textile industry and create economic opportunity that is good for our planet.

07/15/2026

Yesterday marked another milestone for us - our first proper bales!

Flax straw needs to be 12% - 14% moisture for baling, and PA's hot and humid days have been a challenge. Thanks to our Director of Ag, SereyArg, and David Groff for getting it early this morning to catch the morning dew.

Another day of seeing it work is such a joy!

07/13/2026

Exactly one month ago, on June 13th, we hosted our annual Flax Flower Picnic at Pennsylvania Fiber & Flower Farm | Melissa with the help of our sponsors for the event, Schumacher.

It was a beautiful sunny day filled with insightful conversations, wonderful food, and the sight of acres of blooming fiber flax. We cherish these opportunities to center ourselves and reconnect with our community. You are what sustains us as we grow.

07/11/2026

NEXT SATURDAY, July 18th, we are bringing Alvin Ulrich down to our region to lead a retting workshop! Sliding scale tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992366066538?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ulrich is the President of Biolin Research Inc, which began as a research facility with the goal of producing flax fiber in Canada. It has since become a privately owned company that processes and markets all of the co-products that come from the fiber flax crop.

Retting is a vital part of the fiber flax process, since it is what separates the fiber from the woody core of the crop, and allows processing to work. It is also one of the more nuanced stages of the process, which is why it is wonderful to have the direction of an expert like Ulrich.

This event is mostly outdoors, so please wear close-toed shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. There will be a barn for shade, but there are moments where we won't be inside of it. We will provide beverages and snacks.

This workshop is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Commonwealth Specialty Crop block grant program.

07/10/2026

The PA Flax Project is so proud to have brought Joan Galle and Albert Vanhauwaert overseas to join us for our biggest harvest season yet. They bring generations of knowledge with them from Belgium, and it is truly an honor to learn from them and build this relationship. They even helped troubleshoot some issues with our harvesting equipment!

This is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Commonwealth Specialty Crop block grant program

07/07/2026

A close up of David Groff on our specialized harvesting equipment. This is our turner that we affectionately call Tina 😂

This harvesting season is a very special one for the PA Flax Project! There are 45 acres of fiber flax in production - the most we have taken on so far.

07/06/2026

Thank you for this wonderful article, WHYY!

The PA Flax Project promotes the revitalization of the industry as a climate-friendly crop that could be used to make the sustainable plant-based fiber linen.

07/03/2026

Tomorrow, on July 4th, 2026, the United States of America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which announced our independence from British rule.

But just under 100 years before then, the flax-to-linen industry was thriving! The city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania was founded in 1682, and it quickly became a textile manufacturing hub, with linen as one of its more well-known products. William Penn even once wrote about the "very good German linen" being made in the Germantown neighborhood.

Happy 250th, America. And happy ~344th to fiber flax in this region!

06/30/2026

Mechanical harvest of fiber flax, right here in Pennsylvania. This harvesting season is a very special one for the PA Flax Project. We have 45 acres of fiber flax in production - our largest undertaking yet!

Our harvests are supported in part by our friends in the Fibers Fund.

06/28/2026

57 years ago, the Stonewall Riots started in New York City and catapulted the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

We at the Pennsylvania Flax Project are intentionally building internal capacity to ensure social and racial justice in our organization. Social justice includes making sure that no one has to hide who they are. Everyone is welcome here! Happy Pride Month.