Thar's gold in that herb garden! Marigold, that is (Tagetes sp.), which dyes wool and silk in shades of yellow and gold. To dye an ounce of fabric or yarn, start by soaking it while you and your kids go out to the garden and pick an ounce of flowers. Bruise, then place in an old non-reactive pan (one that you don't use for cooking), cover with water and simmer for a half hour, replacing water that boils away. Strain and let cool. Squeeze the water out of the soaked fiber and place in the dyebath. Simmer until the color is a little darker than you want, then let cool in the dyebath. Rinse and hang in the shade to dry. For a more permanent color, you'll want to use a mordant, such as alum. Wild Color, by Jenny Dean, will teach you how to do this, and lots more!