The Green Side of Wool
We have a soft spot for sheep. For many, sheep are symbolic to New Zealand culture with the rearing of sheep being the backbone of the economy for many years.
Sheep farming was established in New Zealand by the 1850s and for several decades wool accounted for more than one third of New Zealand’s exports by value, with the sheep population peaking at just over 70 million in 1982.
This number is significant when compared to New Zealand’s human population of 5 million. By 2020 sheep numbers dropped to 26 million following a decline in profitability compared to other types of farming, particularly dairy.
While also farmed as a food source, today’s article focuses on sheep wool and its environmental attributes.
Wool is a natural and renewable resource and as long as our beloved sheep are eating our tasty green pastures they will always produce wool. Wool has amazing properties that make it ideal for many applications from home furnishings to underwear.
Cotton and synthetic fibres are currently the most commonly produced fibres globally, however, their performance and environmental benefits do not compare to wool.
From Wool to Yarn
The wool clip (the total yield of wool shorn during one season from the sheep) is sent to the scourers where it is cleaned and dried before being spun into yarn. The yarn is then sent to the textile manufacturer where many different processes are involved.
The yarn is wound onto dye cones to be dyed the required colours. Next the yarn is warped onto beams which are threaded through the loom, allowing the weft yarn to run across the warp and create a woven fabric.
The fabric is then inspected, washed, and dried. Very few chemicals are used in the processing, typically only water and heat.
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Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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4.9% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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17% A week before Christmas
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32.3% Whenever you wish
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Do you love the Hamilton Gardens?
Do you love the Hamilton Gardens and want to get involved in fun activities there and/or help make them even better?
The Friends of Hamilton Gardens are the heart and soul, and the hands-on realisation, of the community's support for this incredible place. They play a pivotal role fostering awareness and engagement, activating spaces, and securing funding for ongoing developments.
Each year the Friends host a range of events in the Gardens, including Matariki celebrations, a Scarecrow Festival, the Mansfield Garden Party, a Medieval Fair, plant sales, guest lectures and social gatherings.
Their fundraising efforts have supported most of the current Gardens, plus now the upcoming Medieval, Baroque and Pasifika Gardens, and they've backed school education kits and the publication of Peter Sergel’s book The Time Traveller’s Guide to Hamilton Gardens.
You can find out more and join the Friends of the Hamilton Gardens at the link below.
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