This book passes on information learned by a Santa Cruz woman who grew her own indigo plants and maintained indigo dye vats. I think this book is of particular importance to anyone wishing to grow their own indigo plants. Her vat processes were based on those she learned while living in Japan and I think that there are simpler methods for using indigo, but this is a great book for finding out what the process is all about and why it works the way it does. In particular, I liked the fact that you could learn the language that describes the indigo process and find some appreciation for the Japanese fabrics that have long been dyed with this important blue pigment.