what is a Steward directory?

We envision a locally rooted fiber system of Stewards who tend animals, plants, the land, and textiles. A Steward Directory is a membership-based network of shepherds, plant-based fiber and dye farmers, foragers, natural dyers, artists, makers, designers, fiber millers, shearers, and retailers living and working within a 175 mile radius of Minneapolis, MN. The purpose of a Steward Directory is to enable all members of our local fiber community to have equal access to resources and opportunities to connect with other members of our decentralized textile community. As part of our mission to connect our community to local fiber, labor, and dyes, the folks listed below embrace and embody the ethos of a ‘soil-to-soil’ textile system through their products and work.

Our Steward program reflects the beliefs and core mission of Fibershed: local fiber, local labor, local dyes. Agricultural stewardship is at the core of how we view creating healthy soil which serves as the basis for our local textile economy. As climate change continues to destabilize our communities, we feel it is important that TRF members practice or are transitioning to an ethos of agricultural stewardship. Practices of agricultural stewardship will be unique to each Steward, as we believe agricultural stewardship is rooted in Indigenous wisdom and decolonizes our relationship to the land.

how do you join the Three rivers fibershed directory?

This application is for Stewards who wish to become new members of the Three Rivers Fibershed (TRF). By Stewards, we mean shepherds, plant-based fiber and dye farmers, foragers, natural dyers, artists, makers, designers, fiber millers, shearers, retailers, and others who produce goods following earth nurturing, socially just practices.

Apply for the directory

Stewards (except for Retailers, Mills, and Shearers) will receive a TRF reusable stamp with opportunities to vend at TRF events throughout the year. Please note: there will be a small fee for your table area at events to cover room rental costs and associated expenses. All Stewards will be listed on the website in the Steward Directory, highlighted in TRF programs and grant opportunities, and through the Three Rivers Fibershed social media channels.

The membership fee is a pay-what-you-wish sliding scale from $25 to $65. The TRF Board recognizes that we need our decentralized fiber systems to address systemic and structural inequities while working to build equity, power and agency in our systems, communities and neighborhoods. As such, we are committed to working with members experiencing financial insecurity. If this describes you, please contact Maddy Bartsch at threeriversfibershed@gmail.com to see how we can support you.