Have you heard of a wool pellet?
Wool is an amazing fiber! With many benefits. A sheep grows a new fleece every year. Each breed of sheep grows different types of wool. Some breeds grow fine wool which is best for next to skin projects, some grow a courser wool which is best for outer wear, and some grow a wool that is best for things like rugs or stuffing. Every fleece no matter the breed always has parts that cannot be used for “making”.
Those parts are called waste wool. Waste wool can be defined differently by different people. You have the waste wool that you skirt off the fleece (belly, leg, head, butt, and sometimes back wool), you can also have waste wool from a fleece that breaks or has too short of a staple to process. There is also waste wool created from processing called milling waste.
Many people have used waste wool in the garden, or plants as a natural fertilizer, me being one of them. But who am I kidding it always looked like a sheep was murdered in my garden with all the wool popping up out of the dirt. Not a site that brings a good feeling when you are out in the garden. So, after researching for years and waiting for a company in the United States to start building the equipment needed. We now have a way to process waste wool into a pellet.
Benefits of wool pellets?
Reduced Grow time for vegetables
Water savings up to 20-25% conservation
Softens hard clay soils.
Pest Control
Helps increase economic stability for Ag producers by adding value to a waste product.
Natural Slow-Release Fertilizer
Feeds plants up to 6 months.
How do you use wool pellets?
Wool pellets can be used in potted plants, gardens, or fields.
Potted Plants - Use 1/2 cup of pellets for 1 gallon of soil.
Gardens - Sprinkle around existing plants and push or work into soil.
Fields - Till or work into the soil to a 1-4" depth.
But don't take our word for it... Links for those who love research...
Type: Peer-reviewed Journal Article
Authors: Terence Bradshaw, University of Vermont Kimberly Hagan, University of Vermont Target audiences: Farmers/Ranchers; Educators; Researchers
NPK Profile Analysis of wool pellets reveals an NPK profile average of 9-0-2 - generous nitrogen, virtually no phosphorous, and small amounts of potassium. The nitrogen slowly releases due to the physical properties of the fibrous wool pellet and slow breakdown. For many vegetable farmers in Vermont this is an ideal combination.
One of the many advantages of wool is its biodegradability. A completely organic material, it easily breaks down and returns its constituent elements and minerals to the earth. In fact, studies have shown that it takes only six months for wool to degrade completely in the soil. These organic properties of wool can be put to good use far outside the realm of fashion where the material is usually used. The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) puts the spotlight on an innovative initiative to put waste wool to good use in farming and gardening.
Wool pellets break down slowly as they release their nutrients into the soil. I couldn’t find any specific time frame for wool pellets to break down in the soil. However, wool pellets are known to slowly break down in garden beds to release nutrients back into the soil.
Wool Pellets will be available soon from Ranching Tradition Fiber