Wool Pellets

From Fleece to Garden: Introducing Sustainable Wool Pellets

As sheep farmers, we know the joy and hard work that goes into producing quality wool. But at the end of each year, we're often left with fleeces that don't quite meet the grade for one reason or another. Instead of seeing this wool go to waste, we've found a sustainable and beneficial solution:

Wool for your garden!

freshly shorn wool in our raised beds

For years, we've been passionate about finding ways to utilize all of our wool. We've always sold or processed the premium fleeces, but the remaining often presented a challenge. Our philosophy is and always has been to use everything we produce, no waste…otherwise we could not be a sustainable farm! We experimented with raw wool in our own garden – in raised beds, around trees, even as mulch (as you can see from our blueberry bush!). We knew the nutrients were there (studies have proven it!), but raw wool had its drawbacks. It could be messy, and while it suppressed some weeds, others thrived in it. We needed a better solution."

We even considered pelletizing the wool ourselves, but never quite figured out the how. So, kudos to those who cracked the code! We're now able to offer pelletized wool – the perfect solution for using our ‘less-than-perfect’ fleeces!"

PELLETIZED WOOL!

pelletized wool

These aren't just any garden amendment; they're a powerhouse of natural goodness for your plants.

Why Choose Wool Pellets?

• Sustainable Solution: We're repurposing a byproduct of sheep farming, reducing waste and creating a closed-loop system. This is good for the environment and your garden.

• Natural & Organic: Our wool pellets are a natural and organic alternative to synthetic fertilizers, so you can feel good about what you're putting into your soil.

• Slow-Release Powerhouse: Unlike chemical fertilizers that can leach away quickly, wool pellets provide a steady supply of nutrients and moisture, feeding your plants consistently over time.

• Water-Wise Gardening: Wool's incredible water-retention ability (up to 30% of its weight!) means less watering for you, and healthier, more drought-resistant plants.

• Easy to Use: Simply incorporate the pellets into your soil or potting mix – it couldn't be easier!

Our wool pellets are packed with essential nutrients:

• Nitrogen: Promotes healthy leaf growth and vibrant green foliage.

• Potassium: Strengthens stems, improves fruit and flower development, and enhances disease resistance.

• Phosphorus: Essential for root growth, blooming, and overall plant vigor.

How to Use Wool Pellets:

Wool pellets can be used in a variety of gardening applications:

• Vegetable Gardens: Give your tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables a boost of nutrients.

• Flower Beds: Promote vibrant blooms and healthy growth in your flower gardens.

• Potted Plants: Improve drainage and water retention in container gardens.

• Seed Starting: Provide essential nutrients for seedlings and promote strong root development.

We're excited to offer this sustainable and effective gardening solution to our community. By choosing our wool pellets, you're not only giving your plants the nutrients they need, but you're also supporting sustainable farming practices and reducing waste.

Ready to give your garden the natural boost it deserves?

Try our wool pellets today and experience the difference! Visit our website [link] or contact us to learn more.

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Woven Together: How wool changed my life

I never imagined that a love of Manchego cheese, with its rich, nutty, sheep milk flavor and rustic origins, would lead me down a path covered in fleece, surrounded by sheep, and forever change the fabric of my life.

Little did I know, the answer to my peace was grazing peacefully in a field, covered in wool.

The operative word here is WOOL.

I was destined to farm, but raising sheep and wool? I realize now I was destined to be right where I am, yes raising sheep but especially wool. And the WHOLE journey had to happen, from the early love of this life to the realization that I had to get mighty creative to make a go of it. As the saying goes, we almost lost our shirts, and it was from those desperate moments that I found the determination to make something happen. I remember the fear, the sleepless nights, wondering if we'd have to give up our dream. Bills were piling up, and the initial romance of farm life was wearing thin. From that despair, I felt the determination rise in my blood, hot and insistent.

I will never forget the day that my husband said, “We have to do something with all this buildup of wool or I’m going to trash it.” I’d never considered a primary bi-product of sheep is wool. I hadn’t the slightest idea what to do with it, so with each shearing, we’d sell a few fleeces, but most went to the barn to be stored. I tried my hand at a few projects, but without much extra time on my hands, an initial try or two was as far as I got. I declared from day 1 this farm would be sustainable. That was a non-negotiable! That dilemma set in motion my deep relationship with wool and all its wonderful, beautiful, natural qualities. It was like a lightbulb went off.

Suddenly, this "waste" product became a source of endless possibility.

From those early days creating with wool, I began to learn and see what this stuff could accomplish! As I tried to find markets, I learned that wool is naturally antimicrobial and that it holds 30% of its weight in water. I learned that it was being used in insulation and in commercial carpets because it's naturally fire retardant. Why then had we created commercial fabrics that had to be treated with dangerous chemicals because they weren’t fire-resistant? I couldn’t understand how we had gotten so far away from this naturally available fiber. I learned they were using it in grow walls in Europe because the wool offers natural nutrients to plants as the wool breaks down and slow releases the much needed moisture.

OH, Did I mention the wool is 100% biodegradable?

As I’ve continued to spend my time living with and learning about this wonderful NATURAL fiber, wool, I have gained more and more respect for all of its properties. I have continued to pursue its wonderful contributions as a sustainable material that we have so overlooked and need to reconsider.

This journey into wool's potential led me to a movement that perfectly aligned with the values of Stoney Mountain Farm: clean beauty.

Wool Facial Sponges

$10.00

Just last year, we ventured into the “clean beauty” area with our wool facial sponges, which we've named the "Ewe-nique Clean" Facial Sponge. I spent over a year on this one, and although the idea came to me by pure accident (while working on our EVERYTHING SPONGE), I am super excited about this one. “Clean beauty” is an evolving concept, and while we have to be careful because the standards for the concept haven’t been defined yet it is definitely a thing, it’s happening and for our health and the health of our planet we should all get on board and start the journey educating ourselves. I am tickled to death that I have a personal relationship with wool and know our product meets the “clean beauty” standards hands-down. Unlike many conventional facial sponges that rely on synthetic materials and chemical treatments, our "Ewe-nique Clean" Facial Sponge offers a gentle, all-natural alternative. Wool's natural softness and hypoallergenic properties make it ideal for even the most sensitive skin. “Clean beauty” means setting a rigorous standard when it comes to the safety of ingredients and formulations and offers first and foremost a chemical-free product for our skin care regimes, but also embraces sustainable sourcing of materials and sustainable packaging options.

✅ We are happy to meet all those standards.

And, our 100% wool Ewe-nique facial sponge, after many uses can go right in the compost bin where it will biodegrade and feed the soil.

Visit our website to explore our full range of sustainable wool products.

We invite you to join us on our journey towards a more sustainable future…one fleece at a time.

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