MacFadyen, Joshua D. "Mennonites and Mixed Paint: Canada's Flax Commodity Chain, 1878-1901." Canadian Historical Association Annual Meeting. 26 May 2009.
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Josh MacFadyen is a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph. His dissertation on flax fibre and linseed oil examines specialty crops, industrial growth, and environmental stresses in the Great Lakes and Great Plains regions.
This paper examines Mennonites and their interest in flax cultivation, cultural separation, and self sufficiency in both Waterloo County, Ontario and the Manitoba West Reserve. It argues that these farmers grew flax for transnational markets through industrial systems and not because of cultural folkways. New markets for intermediate goods in manufacturing and urban construction stimulated demand for flax products such as cordage, rough textiles, and linseed oil for paint. Flax was not important in Waterloo or the West Reserve until non-Mennonite millers approached both communities directly and offered them contracts if they would start growing flax. Farmers also brought their own knowledge to flax production, taking some partially processed fibre home for cloth production in Waterloo and using flax as a way to increase productivity on new land in the West Reserve. Participating with industry and applying local knowledge in global markets allowed Mennonites to cultivate distinctive communities.
