Vermont Shepherd farmers, David and Yesenia Major, have between 1500-2000 pounds of wool that they would love to give bags of away for FREE.  Post Oil Solutions recognizes an opportunity to perhaps strike a creative spark in the community for the development of a local industry.  The Windham Farm Bureau (of which both Vermont Shepherd and POS are members) is interested in doing whatever it can to support local agriculture.

 

Together, the three are co-sponsoring a Community Wool Fest & Free Wool Giveaway on Sunday, April 11, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at David and Yesenia's farm, 268 Patch Farm Road, Westminster, Vermont. Admission is free, refreshments will be available, and Lerna (an area spinner) will be providing music on her hammered dulcimer.

 

Several fiber arts guests will join us for the day to help showcase the possibilities of this wool.  They include Alison Shontz, head of the River Spinners Guild who will be demonstrating carding, and various methods of spinning wool.  Alison's favorite thing is to teach people of any age who might be interested in trying their hand at these skills. We expect other members of the River Spinners Guild to join us for some spinning.

 

Cheryl Flett will be demonstrating the art and myriad of possibilities in the world of traditional wet and needle felting, ranging from decorative items to practical bags and warm boots.  We also hope to be joined by an area Waldorf school, or two, with an assortment of the toys and crafts that they make with wool, perhaps to teach their skill to any interested attendee.

 

In addition, Green Mountain Spinnery of Putney will also be present with custom processing information, catalogs of their products and information about the Spinnery, as well as copies their new book, "99 Yarns and Counting."

 

 

"Wool is a wonderful resource," says David, "and I don't want to throw it away." It could make wonderful insulation or mulch for garden paths, as well as blankets, rugs and more. Lovers of knitting, crocheting, dyeing, spinning and weaving should find this event to be a great opportunity.

 

Additionally, local, potential entrepreneurs could begin exploring with us possible ideas on how one might begin a new business with this wool, converting what is presently nothing more than a waste product into a valuable resource for a locally-based enterprise.

 

150 years ago, wool was a big business in this part of the world. Even as recently as 20 years ago, it sold for $1.50/lb. But then the industry collapsed to 9 cents (and less) per pound when our country's clothing industry went to China, South America, and other places where labor is cheap. 

 

Thus, shepherds, like David and Yesenia Major, are left with a potentially valuable local resource that they can't do much with other than throw it on the compost pile. This event is meant to engage the creative energy of the community to reverse this trend and put this great resource to good use. Please join us to explore the possibilities. 

 

For further information, contact us at 802.869.2141 or info@postoilsolutions.org.