Naturally Dyed Eggs
Naturally dying eggs is a fun project that utilizes materials that you probably already have at home. 
Many things that we consider kitchen waste hold great dye potential. I used carrot tops, beet tops, turmeric, and some coreopsis flowers to add color to my eggs. Other great dyes to try that you may have on hand are yellow onion skins, red cabbage, beet juice, black beans, avocado skins and pits, and spinach. Get creative and try things that you would otherwise throw away. There’s no need to buy synthetic dyes! One thing to keep in mind is that the nature of natural dyes are a bit more subdued. You will get beautiful colors, but they may not be as vibrant.
First step is to collect your materials. The amount of materials you need will really depend on what you have and how many eggs you want to dye. Just use what you have on hand. I used around one bunch each of carrot and beet tops, cutting them into roughly 1 inch pieces. Cutting up the dye material increases the surface area which helps get the color out of the plant matter. I put the beets and carrots into their own pot and poured in water just until the material was almost covered. Less water to plant material will create a more concentrated dye which makes your eggs turn out brighter. Bring the dyes to just simmering and leave them on the heat, simmering for about an hour or so. Each dye is different in how long it takes to get the color out of the plant 
material, check the color of the water regularly. Once you are happy with the color of your dye it is helpful to strain out the plant matter and put it into a jar or container that will easily fit your eggs.
Turmeric is a bit different from other materials in that it doesn’t need to be boiled for a long time. Just bring some water to a boil in a kettle then put about 1tsp of turmeric to a cup of water. Pour the hot water into a jar with turmeric and mix until dissolved. Now the dye is ready!
Hard boil eggs before putting them into the dye. Once the eggs are boiled carefully scrub the eggs with a little bit of soap to clean the shells so they are ready for the dye. There are l
ots of fun ways to create patterns on the egg shells. I used rubber bands to create a fun stripe resist on my eggs. Stickers or even white crayons could also be fun things to try. Anywhere that the water won’t touch the egg shell will not get dyed and creates a pattern.
Now for the fun part! I just plopped my eggs right into the jars full of my dyes. It takes a while for the color to really soak into the shells. I left my eggs soaking in the fridge for about an hour and a half. The longer eggs are left in the dyes, the brighter the colors will be. Just make sure that if you are leaving your eggs for a while, they are being chilled. Test out different lengths of time to see what works best for you. Layering different colors can also add to the rainbow of colors you achieve; try beet and turmeric to get a more orange color. Test things out and get creative.
Naturally dyed eggs are a great way to use things most people already have to create some fun colorful eggs. There are so many options and ways to give your kitchen scraps a second life, like this bundle dye egg technique. Plus, once I exhausted the color from the materials, they were perfect for composting. Reuse and waste-free crafts are the best way to go. Hopefully this inspires you to get creative and try something new!
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Phillip is a recent Westmont College graduate and a proud member of the inaugural class of Environmental Studies students from Westmont. Phillip is excited to be on the Explore Ecology teaching team because he loves to inspire others about nature as his mentors have done for him. 
Ellie Cotter is a recent graduate of UCSB who studied Environmental Studies with a minor in Philosophy. Ellie learned the importance of community based action, spending her years interning and volunteering for local groups, such as Coal Oil Point Reserve and North Campus Open Space. 
Joey is grateful to have grown up with an abundance of nature around him and is happiest in the water or in the sun. From a young age, Joey felt a responsibility to take care of the Earth in return for all the ways she has taken care of him. This led Joey to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies at UCSB where he furthered his knowledge of how different human societies have conceptualized and interacted with the natural world throughout history.
Rachel Palmer
Alyssa grew up on Long Island, New York and spent a lot of her childhood and early adulthood exploring the mountains, meadows, and beaches throughout the East Coast. These formative experiences in nature, along with impactful mentors and coursework in undergraduate and graduate school, inspired her to pursue a career connecting youth with the natural world. From the deciduous forests of New England to the shores of the Big Island of Hawaii, Alyssa has spent over 10 years working with youth of all ages on urban and rural farms, in school gardens, and in beautiful, wild places. Alyssa is passionate about facilitating meaningful experiences for youth that deepen their connections to self, community, and the land and she believes that school gardens are the perfect place to do this. 
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
I love coming to work and getting pets from everyone.
Ian Docktor
Emma Serr is an artist and student studying Studio Art at SBCC.
Lydia
Iliana Jacobo is a Garden Educator at three different school sites. Iliana has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Sustainability and Social Justice and a minor in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.
Lindsay Johnson
MELISSA BROOKS
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.
Luz developed a strong sense of devotion for working with diverse populations after studying Sociology at UCSB. Her background in social work includes case management for various non-profits, experience with trauma informed care, and developing/teaching curriculum for school garden education & art resiliency. 
Sarah is very passionate about being involved in the outdoors, as well as expressing creativity. She grew up in the Bay Area learning to garden with her mother and going hiking, camping, and backpacking with her family regularly. While gardening with her mother, she grew a deep connection with the processes of ecosystems and food production, so Sarah believes it can be incredibly beneficial for kids to get hands-on experience in nature. 
Sadie
Clare
Chloe grew up in nearby Ojai, CA, which helped shape her passion for living a green lifestyle and conserving wildlife. 
Aimee moved to Santa Barbara from Asheville, North Carolina. She grew up visiting her Grandma in Ojai and wanted to take the opportunity to be closer to her. By lucky accident, she has also found that she is in love with beautiful Santa Barbara! Aimee’s background prior to her Garden Educator position was in Animal Agriculture and she had a layman’s interest in keeping a garden. The Central Coast is a completely different ball game as far as growing produce and she has greatly enjoyed the challenge, as well as taking every opportunity to grow and learn with her students. She loves giving students opportunities to grow lots of food that is delicious right off the plant, as well as learning about the entire ecosystem of their school gardens. She hopes her teaching feels student-led and informed. 
Angie was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She studied Psychology at San Diego State and was a social worker in San Francisco for five years before she discovered her love of growing food. Angie learned how to grow vegetables with the Green Urban Lunch Box in Salt Lake City and then moved back to the Bay Area to start farming. 
