INW Woolshed
Working to foster a natural, region fiber economy for people and planet
The Inland Northwest Woolshed is inspired by the work of Fibershed, and driven by the overlapping desire of regional wool producers to expand their products use beyond textiles and Spokane Zero Wastes interest in finding and supporting waste-free solutions across all sectors of life.
90% of sheep’s wool is burned or landfilled because it doesn’t meet textile standards,
but this material is a valuable resource that can eliminate toxic materials like plastic and
support agriculture, farmers, artisans and restore soil.
Currently our work is focused on increasing adoption of wool pellets as a fertilizer. Wool benefits soil unlike synthetic fertilizers that deplete soil health.
Other ways wool can replace toxic materials
Padding to replace plastic bubble wrap
Wool bandages
Blown-in building insulation
Seed starter pots, tree starter sleeves, & weed mats
Erosion mats for construction sites
Wool duvet covers and pillows
Wool batting in quilts and clothing
Wool pellets as plant fertilizer (see Long Way Homestead video on manufacture and use)
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
Waste Wool to Working Wool Webinar
The first activity of this group was a webinar on the value of “waste wool” presented by Amy DuFault , Founder of the Southeastern New England Fibershed , which includes Massachusetts and Rhode Island.