High Desert Utah Fibershed

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

🌊 During EU Ocean Week, it's worth remembering what happens to our wool clothes long after we take them off - and why it matters for our oceans.

Wool is made of keratin, a natural protein similar to human hair. Because of this, in the ocean, bacteria and fungi can break it down and return it to nature, rather than leaving it behind as lasting pollution. 🌱 On land, wool biodegrades in soil in three to four months, depending on soil, climate and fibre characteristics.

✅ Tests confirm wool’s 100% biodegradability

As wool breaks down, it releases nutrients such as nitrogen and sulphur that growing plants can use.

🌊 Research shows wool biodegrades readily in seawater. Synthetic fibres are different. Made from plastic, they can persist for hundreds of years, breaking into ever-smaller fragments that find their way into rivers and oceans. 🐑 Choosing wool means choosing a fibre that returns to nature, on land and at sea.

Discover more on our website! https://iwto.org/sustainability/wool-biodegradability/

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

09/19/2026

Join Renee Uncharted in Wellsville, Utah — one of Utah's oldest sma...

09/19/2026

Learn how to make your very own felted pelt from raw wool! Explore Felted Pelt Course, a collection of 13 posts from Taste of the Wind.

09/19/2026

09/19/2026

“…Turns out many people assume that because animals in the wild aren’t shorn, it would be more humane to leave domesticated sheep alone. The problem with that is they don’t understand that wild sheep can shed, just like most dogs. But thousands of years ago, when humans first found that a dense winter sheep wool was a perfect insulator, they started breeding domesticated sheep that no longer shed. “And that’s what we have today,” says Katie.

“Like it or not, as humans we have to take care of the shedding process for the sheep. If we don’t, they’d be OK for a summer, but after two summers they would start to have trouble regulating their temperature. Sheep like to graze, but if they can’t thermoregulate properly, they start confining themselves to the shade and quickly consume all the food in that space. When the food in the shade is gone, they travel out in the sun and burn more energy. Unfortunately, they can’t eat enough to meet this energy usage because they are using all that is gained from the food, just to keep cool. This brings their energy level to a negative.” What might start out as a first impression of “a necessary evil” is easily debunked — there’s nothing evil about it, in fact it’s quite the opposite….”

Shearing is an essential part of caring for sheep. It supports their health, comfort, and hygiene, and it takes real skill and experience to do well.

Left unshorn, sheep can struggle to regulate their body temperature, move comfortably, and stay healthy. A trained, professional shearer works quickly and carefully, keeping the process calm and low-stress for the animal, start to finish.

We talked to two professional shearers to break down the myths behind this practice and share what the job actually involves. Read our story: The Dance

🔗 www.americanwool.org/the-dance

09/19/2026

We are looking forward to an amazing education program with some of the best minds in the sheep industry! Don't miss it- Friday, October 2nd at the Wasatch Events Complex at 3:30 P.M.