Sourcing wool ethically?

 

A word about mulesing.

Having a Vegan orientated daughter I have been challenged on my use of wool. According to my research shearing sheep does not harm the sheep and is usually done in Spring relieving the animal of a heavy winter coat. However, how the shearing is done is of importance and the practice of mulesing is something to know about. According to Wikipedia:

Mulesing is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike (myiasis). 

It is done with out anaesthetic and is now illegal in the UK

Australia is a major offender in this practice.

On my last visit to Winnies wool shop https://winniethewoolwagon.com/  I asked for wool which was sourced ethically and was told that Drops Wool is sourced from South America where mulesing is not practised.

I did find a wool that was sourced from plastic! and another made up of recycled wool.

It is all something to think about....

For more on the subject follow the link..https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/17/nobody-likes-mulesing-the-market-shift-changing-australias-wool-industry

I used Drops Karisma to make some wrist warmers.

And have started a pair of wrist warmers with Stylecraft recycled wool.

My daughter will love this wool by Scheepjies made from recycled plastics

And finally a poem to share. I read this recently at our neighbourhood gathering and by coincidence a friend sent me an audio version of it by email. It's the time of year for The oxen by Thomas Hardy. You can listen  if you click on link The Oxen by Thomas Hardy

The Oxen

BY THOMAS HARDY

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.

“Now they are all on their knees,”

An elder said as we sat in a flock

By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where

They dwelt in their strawy pen,

Nor did it occur to one of us there

To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave

In these years! Yet, I feel,

If someone said on Christmas Eve,

“Come; see the oxen kneel,

“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb

Our childhood used to know,”

I should go with him in the gloom,

Hoping it might be so.