Naturally Dyeing Courses 2007

Information is now available about this year's courses.

These will take place at the end of May and the beginning of September. There are still two places left for the September course.
Email for details.

Last year, the Sunday of the September course coincided with the Transhumance; driving the sheep down from the mountains to the winter pastures here in the foothills where we live. We joined the flock on the second day, in a little village called Roquefort les Cascades. The shepherds had already driven them over the 1000 m high Plantaurels and stopped for breakfast in Roquefort where the village square is easily turned into a sheep pen by a few well placed people in the literal sense.

When the baguettes had been swilled down with water from the pump and the dogs cooled off in the trough, we pressed on through the col in the next ridge of hills and into the valley of the Douctouyre. At mid-day we arrived at Le Sautel. This little village of probably 50 souls had been busy for weeks; not only was there a 3 course meal (with wine) for shepherds and about 200 herdies like ourselves but also an impressive show of vintage cars, a photographic exhibition of the local villages in times gone by and a well attended vide grenier. Baked by the sun, soothed by good food, wine and conversation (in French, Dutch, English and Finnish) we wonder home leaving the shepherds and their flock to the last leg of their journey.