343. Reviving Flax: A Zero Waste Crop with Emma de Long

About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Emma de Long about the potential of flax as a sustainable crop and the efforts to revive its production in the U.S.

A Note from Michael: The Thriving Farmer Podcast is currently on pause as we navigate a busy season on the farm. While we're taking this break, we're excited to share Farm in Focus, a special series of short, focused conversations recorded earlier this year. These bite-sized episodes highlight practical insights from farmers and experts across the industry. We hope they're helpful and encouraging as you continue your farming journey. How can flax become a sustainable, versatile crop for modern farms? In this Farm in Focus episode, Michael sits down with Emma de Long of Kneehigh Farm to talk about her work with fiber flax—one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world and a plant with surprising potential for today's regenerative and artisan fiber markets. Emma shares how she began growing flax in 2020 and why she co-founded the Pennsylvania Flax Project, an initiative working to rebuild regional fiber infrastructure. From the anatomy of the flax plant to the practical challenges of processing, Emma explains both the opportunities and realities of reviving a heritage fiber crop in the U.S. Whether you're curious about natural fibers, looking to diversify your crops, or interested…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Kilpatrick

Guest: Emma de Long

Topics covered

• flax cultivation
• sustainable farming
• fiber markets
• regenerative agriculture
• crop diversification

Keywords

• flax
• sustainable crop
• fiber flax
• Pennsylvania Flax Project
• regenerative farming
• artisan fibers
• crop processing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kneehigh Farm, Pennsylvania Flax Project

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• 346. Running a Year-Round Farm Market with Emma de Long · February 3, 2026 · 23 min
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