Visit AppleOak

From seed to plant, from leaf to pigment, from pigment to colour. Come and experience the journey.

Tucked away in the countryside of County Clare, our dye garden brings together two things we love: growing plants and creating colour.

We invite you to explore the fascinating world of natural dyes, discover how traditional colours are grown and extracted, and experience some of these processes for yourself.

Our garden is a working space, where dye plants are cultivated, pigments extracted, fermentation vats tended and new methods continuously explored. No two visits are quite alike, and there is always something happening.

Garden Tours & Demonstrations

Garden & Dye Vat Tour €250 per group | 1–25 visitors | Approx. 40-60 minutes

Join us for a guided tour of our dye garden, where we explore traditional dye plants such as woad, Japanese indigo, madder and weld. Discover how these plants are grown, harvested and processed, and learn about the fascinating journey from seed to natural colour.

Along the way, we'll visit our indigo and woad fermentation vats and introduce you to the traditional processes behind creating those beautiful shades of blue.

You'll discover some of the great classics of natural colour, including madder, cochineal, weld and indigo. You'll see the actual dye materials, learn where they come from, how their colours are extracted and how combining them with indigo opens up a whole new palette of greens, purples and other beautiful shades.

Throughout the visit, we'll share our experience of growing and working with natural dyes, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

A relaxed and informative journey into the world of natural colour, from the plants in our garden to the dyes that have coloured textiles for centuries.

Garden Tour & Dye Demonstration €350 per group | 1–25 visitors | Approx. 60-90 minutes

Experience the journey from growing natural colour to seeing it come to life.

This visit includes our guided dye garden tour, a look at the indigo and woad vats and an introduction to the classic natural dyes at our display table.

We'll then take things a step further with a live dyeing demonstration, showing how natural colour is transferred onto textiles and how the dyeing process unfolds.

Discover how preparation, dyeing techniques and the interaction between dye and fibre influence the finished result.

An opportunity to see natural dyeing in action, ask questions and gain a deeper appreciation of the time, knowledge and skill involved.

Hands-On Indigo & Woad Dyeing

There is nothing quite like watching a textile emerge from an indigo vat and turn blue before your eyes.

For those who would like to take part rather than simply watch, we also offer hands-on dyeing experiences using our indigo and woad vats.

Under Jennifer's guidance, you'll discover how to dip and oxidise your textile, watching the beautiful shades of blue develop as the dye meets the air.

Depending on your interests, you can choose to dye:

Irish yarn – a skein of natural yarn to take home for your own knitting, weaving or textile project.
Silk or wool scarves and shawls – create your own naturally dyed accessory.
T-shirts – suitable natural-fibre T-shirts can also be considered.
Your own textiles – small garments or textile pieces made from suitable natural materials are welcome by prior agreement.

Items brought from home must be made from suitable natural fibres, well soaked through and be small enough to work comfortably within our vats. Please discuss your choice with us beforehand.

Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours, depending on group size and the activities arranged.

Pricing: Calculated individually according to the materials used, group size and chosen experience.

Hands-on dyeing can be combined with a garden tour or arranged as a private group workshop.

Our Summer Pop-Up Shop

During the summer months, we also have a little pop-up shop for booked tours in the garden, offering a selection of naturally dyed textiles and accessories.

It's a lovely opportunity to see and feel the materials, explore the colours up close and perhaps take a little piece of AppleOak home with you.

Groups & Educational Visits

We welcome individuals, private groups, textile enthusiasts, garden clubs, schools, colleges and organisations interested in natural dyeing and traditional colour-making.

Our garden tours are offered at a flat group rate, generally accommodating up to 25 visitors. For larger groups, please get in touch so we can discuss what can be arranged.

We're happy to discuss particular interests and adapt the focus of a visit where possible.

Whether you're arranging a group outing, an educational visit or a special afternoon exploring natural colour, we'd be delighted to hear your ideas.

Planning Your Visit

Our tours, demonstrations and workshops take place in our larger working dye garden in County Clare, Ireland. The garden is separate from our home studio and is accessed via neighbouring private property.

All visits are by advance booking only, and we will provide directions and arrival information once your booking has been confirmed.

A Working Garden — What to Expect

Our dye garden is very much a working space, where plants are grown, harvested and transformed into colour.

Visits take place largely outdoors, among garden beds, polytunnel, fermentation vats and dyeing areas. The ground is uneven and unpaved, and can become wet, muddy or slippery after rain. We recommend sturdy, weather-appropriate footwear and clothing.

We have a large covered area for talks, demonstrations and workshops, offering shelter when the Irish weather is less cooperative. However, visitors should still come prepared for an outdoor experience.

Accessibility

Please be aware that our garden is not wheelchair accessible and is unsuitable for visitors who require even, stable walking surfaces.

Access to the garden and movement around the site involve uneven, grassy ground, and we are currently unable to provide an alternative accessible route.

We understand that this will unfortunately prevent some people from visiting. As our garden and facilities continue to develop, we hope to improve accessibility wherever possible.

Interested in Visiting?

Whether you're planning a garden tour, a hands-on dyeing experience or something a little more specialised, we'd love to hear from you.

We look forward to welcoming you into our world of natural colour.