Following our 2025 Flax Meitheal, Fibreshed Ireland is committed to helping increase the availability of open-pollinated flax seeds on the island. This is why we’re inviting you to grow a small patch of flax using open-pollinated seeds. We’re also offering a subsidised workshop in August to learn effective seed saving techniques!

Why is seed saving important?

Fibreshed Ireland’s mission is to build textile sovereignty for the island of Ireland. Just like it’s vital to grow our own culturally-appropriate food using agroecological methods, we believe that growing our own natural fibres is equally important. An often overlooked aspect of growing fibres is access to seeds.

In the case of flax, the only way to get large quantities of seeds is by purchasing patented seed varieties. The problem with patented seeds is that they are protected by copyright laws, which means you’re legally forbidden from saving seeds to sow future crops. This results in flax growers having to buy new seed every year, relying on supply chains that are not always stable. This is not conducive to the textile sovereignty we envision!

On the other hand, open-pollinated seed varieties can be saved, shared, and exchanged for future growing seasons. Open-pollinated seeds give us autonomy and help us secure our local textiles into the future. By increasing the availability of open-pollinated seeds, we can stop the reliance on non-renewable patented seeds. This is why, starting on 2026, Fibreshed Ireland will be focusing on helping bulk up the open-pollinated flax seed from 3 varieties: L. Dominion, L. Pioneer, and Concurrent. These varieties have been grown and saved by True Harvest Seeds in Co. Down and are adapted to the Irish climate.

How can I get open-pollinated seeds to save from?

We have run out of subsidised seed packs to distribute! You can order directly from True Harvest Seeds (ships from Co. Down), or from Irish Seed Savers (ships from Co. Clare). If you book our seed saving workshop below, it also includes a pack of open-pollinated seeds. 10g is more than enough for a 1m² bed, if you’re growing for seed (the plants are more spread apart when growing for seed, rather than for fibre).

How to grow my flax seeds?

The following advice is from Debbie Gillies at True Harvest Seeds, and 1m2 flax: To make the most of your open-pollinated flax seeds and bulk up for seed saving in the autumn, sow the seeds indoors in trays, 3mm deep, between mid-March and April. Once the cotyledons have started to yellow and there are 3-4 true leaves, plant them out into well-worked, enriched soil. You can also sow them directly outdoors, but you’ll have to protect them from the birds! Plant them in full sun or partial shade, between 15-20cm apart.

Flax needs a particularly fine and level bed. The soil should be weed-free, humus-rich, but not too high in nitrogen. Flax prefers consistently moist conditions for the first two to three weeks. During dry periods, it benefits from watering. In windy conditions, a cordon can help the plants stay upright.

The workshop: learn to select, harvest and store your seeds!

🗓 Saturday 1 August, 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Willow and Lore heritage farm, 15A Craigdunloof Rd, Ballymena BT43 6RQ, Co. Antrim
🎟 €30 general admission (€20 Fibreshed Ireland members)
✨ Ticket includes lunch and a pack of open-pollinated seeds to get you started!
🥾 We will alternate between theory (indoors) and hands-on practice (outdoors in a patch of flax). Bring comfortable weatherproof clothes!

Join us for a full-day hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to effectively save flax seeds for future sowing. If you’re planning on growing flax for fibre, you also need to take into account where you’re going to get your seeds from. By using open-pollinated (non copyrighted) seeds and dedicating a patch exclusively for seed saving, you’ll ensure your own supply of seeds for future growing seasons. Scroll down to book your spot. There are no refunds on issued tickets.

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