Welcome
Ecology of Color is a natural dye farm + studio rooted in the quiet countryside of Rockvale, Tennessee.
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Our work is centered on the belief that color is an intimate expression of place—shaped by the soils beneath our feet, the plants that grow along our fencerows, and the slow, seasonal rhythms that guide our hands.
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In our studio, we create small-batch natural dyes for textiles and fibers using responsibly foraged plants, garden-grown botanicals, and traditional methods that honor the long lineage of color-makers before us.
Alongside dyes, we handcraft natural pigments for paints, inks, and pastels. These pigments begin as raw earth and plant matter, carefully processed into richly textured, lightfast colors meant to reconnect artists with the origins of their materials.
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We offer hands-on workshops where guests can experience the whole process of color-making—from gathering materials on our property to transforming them into usable, vibrant color. These classes are designed to be grounding, joyful, and deeply connective experiences, inviting you to rediscover creativity through the lens of nature.
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At Ecology of Color, every shade has a story—and we’d love to share it with you.
Alison Webb, Ph.D.
My work is rooted in a lifelong fascination with the living world—one that deepened during my work as an ecologist and continues to guide everything I create. I approach color as a relationship: a collaboration between plants, minerals, fungi, place, and the human hands that transform them. Each pigment, dye, and mark carries a story of soil, season, and the ecological processes that shape our landscapes.
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In my studio and on the land, I gather natural materials and translate them into inks, dyes, and handmade pigments for textiles, fibers, and paints. The practice is both scientific and intuitive—part fieldwork, part ritual—honoring slow methods, traceable origins, and the quiet generosity of natural color.
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Through workshops and community practice, I invite others into this way of seeing: that color is not merely aesthetic, but ecological; not simply harvested, but tended. My work seeks to reconnect people to the sources of the materials they use, revealing the depth, variation, and beauty that emerge when we collaborate with the natural world rather than extract from it.
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Ultimately, my art is an extension of my ecological research—an ongoing exploration of interdependence, stewardship, and the possibility of creating with deeper care.
Our Farm
After 10 years on the West Coast, our family moved back to our long-rooted family home in Middle Tennessee. Here we decided to grow our little business (and a lot of plants) in Rockvale, TN. A 25-acre plot of land with a farmhouse built in 1815. A space for us to garden, foster native species, remove invasive plants, and offer hands-on workshops while building community.
Classroom
We offer a comfortable indoor classroom with a bathroom, kitchenette, and refrigerator for storing lunch items. Most workshops include a mix of indoor and outdoor time, as noted in each class description. Class sizes are limited to 10 participants to ensure a relaxed, high-quality experience for everyone.
Gardens
As of summer 2025, we are building a large garden which will feature natural dye plants, plant-based textile fibers, and a host of edible & medicinal plants. ​
Historic Farmhouse
Originally built in 1815 as a one-room log cabin from cedar trees felled on the property, this home has grown and evolved through many additions and renovations over the past 200 years. The most recent of these came from Alison’s family when she was a child. If you’re interested in old houses and their stories, be sure to ask—we’ve uncovered plenty of fascinating details along the way!
Native Plant Sanctuary
Our property in Middle Tennessee is part of a large glade complex, characterized by shallow soil, limestone rock, and a remarkable diversity of plants that thrive in the region’s alkaline, clay-rich ground.
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A tributary of the Harpeth River winds through the land, creating a habitat for moisture-loving species like Black Willow and Box Elder.
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Alison completed both her undergraduate and master’s research in the Cedar Glades of Middle Tennessee, and restoring this land to its natural ecotype has been a long-held dream—one that continues to guide the work we do here today.