I’ve been talking about waste wool to lots of folks for months and finally people are excited and listening. Can you imagine if farmers weren’t throwing away their “waste wool” and instead creating valuable building materials, packaging, fertilizer, soil remediation, wool sheeting for environmental cleanups, erosion and more?

I mentioned last month that Uncommon Strands Founder Mia Lumsden and I had been talking for a few months about a wool processing space she wanted to start in Worcester, Massachusetts. We think this idea could benefit farmers a lot as there are still so many farmers throwing out their wool. The idea has also snowballed into something bigger I hope will benefit the Southeastern New England Fibershed (and beyond).

Through the Fibershed Affiliate Program and California Fibershed Membership & Learning Center Coordinator Lexi Fujii, we are now launching a Working Focus Group pilot project on January 24th focused on Waste Wool to collaboratively research and develop solutions specific to the bioregional locale of the individual fibersheds involved. Although each fibershed faces unique challenges specific to their community, economy, and environment, we are also all brought together by continual issues felt throughout the fiber and natural dye systems.
Lexi and I will coordinate and lead a group of affiliate organizers in the Waste Wool Working Focus Group to create “Zero Waste Wool” systems.