OUR STORY

Hello! We’re Heidi Barr and Emma De Long, the  Co-Founders of The Pennsylvania Flax Project Cooperative. We’re on a mission to change the textile industry and create economic growth that’s good for people and planet. It all starts with flax. 

Who are we? PA Flax  Project Cooperative is bringing flax for linen production back to Pennsylvania. In the process, we’re opening the doors to a high-value market for Pennsylvania farmers and manufacturers. We’re organizing growers, creating infrastructure for processing, and making American linen possible again.

Our vision: We work for a world where beauty and growth don’t come at the expense of people or the planet. In our vision of the future, work is meaningful. Economic opportunities heal the earth. And an American linen industry thrives based on healthy soil and profitable farms. 

Our purpose In the next 5 years, we’re organizing a cooperative of farmers to plant significant acreage in fiber flax. And we’re providing educational programs, raising funds for farm equipment, establishing a reliable seed source, and completing our plans for a mill to process fiber flax from field to spinnable fiber. 

Why are we asking you to contribute? We’ve had an amazing year at PA Flax Project. Our work has been recognized and uplifted by the USDA with an Organic Market Development Grant. This allowed us to hire a team and brings us closer to achieving our goals. But it does not fund any equipment. An angel investor made it possible for us to purchase our harvesting equipment bringing us a step closer but we still have a few gaps!

We’re asking you to contribute to our campaign so we can complete our equipment purchases ahead of the 2025 growing season. The timing is critical. We need equipment to plant ~100 acres of flax for linen  to stay on schedule and reach our goals. You can help now!

WE ARE RAISING $75,000 FOR FARM EQUIPMENT

To successfully scale fiber flax production in Pennsylvania

Here’s how it breaks down:

Thanks to an angel investor, on August 8th, harvesting equipment arrived on our shores from Flanders. This $200,000 investment moved us a so much closer to our goal of growing ~100 acres in 2025. PAFP, however, is not funded for any equipment or equipment-associated charges, so we are seeking to fund this gap in the following ways: $25,000 for shipping, freight and bank charges, $10,000 for a spare parts kit for our harvesting equipment, and $40,000 for seeding equipment which is vital to plant fiber flax at scale and continue our seed trials, with the goal of choosing a variety of flax that’s best suited to our region.

By donating each of you becomes an important part of reimagining the flax to linen industry in Pennsylvania, if you are able to contribute at the level of  $150 or more, we will make you a  100% linen tea towel with European linen and a hand silkscreened PA Flax logo!

YOUR IMPACT MATTERS

There is growing global demand for Flax. Pennsylvania had a thriving flax for linen industry until the late 1800’s and we know how to bring it back. Making beautiful textiles can be good for the planet, and we can do it right here in Pennsylvania:

Growth – We’re creating business opportunities for farmers and manufacturers in Pennsylvania. This is economic growth that’s good for people and the planet.

Healing – In everything we do, we aim to repair and restore. Nature shouldn’t be an afterthought and neither should human dignity.

Inclusion – We want everyone at our table, especially those historically harmed by the textile industry. Inclusion is the path to something more fair and just.

Your contribution helps us continue to make measurable positive change.

Please take a moment to watch our video and we appreciate your contribution!