Wool: A Sheer Delight!
Written by: Christie McGraw, Instructional Guide
Anyone who has lived in Michigan during the months of January and February knows the importance of having the right gear to brave the winter. While there are many choices out there, wool seems to always rise to the top as the most reliable way to stay warm on a frigid day. Years of technological advances haven’t managed to fully compete with the wonders that natural wool provides.
At Bowers School Farm, we dive deep into the science of wool with staff and students to uncover why wool has stood the test of time. Our first stop on that journey is usually a visit to our handsome and extremely friendly sheep, Chadly. Chadly is a Lincoln breed. Lincoln’s are known for producing the heaviest fleeces of any of the long-wooled sheep. His purpose at Bowers is to educate and to provide wool that can be used to make a variety of products. Chadly’s wool is very soft and, once sheared, easily spun into coveted wool products.
So why is wool the first product people turn to when faced with a winter chill? The magic of wool’s warmth lives in the structure of the fibers. Wool fibers have a pleated structure that creates small air pockets that trap heat inside the fabric. Those air pockets serve the important purpose of keeping us (or a sheep like Chadly) warm. Interestingly, wool can also keep us cool in summer because of its moisture-wicking abilities. Wool helps to quickly evaporate sweat which creates a cooling effect. This versatility makes Merino wool a great choice for a summer hiking sock. Speaking of summer months, wool is also UV-resistant. It has a UV protection rating of between 20-50. Wool can absorb radiation from the entire UV spectrum. This serves to help protect sheep from the sun’s harmful rays while they basque in the summer sun.
In terms of sustainability, wool is a fantastic choice. Wool is a natural product that breaks down very easily in soil. Plastic clothing fibers like nylon and spandex can take tens to hundreds of years to biodegrade. Wool products can return to the earth and begin nourishing it in as little as a few months. They also have a bonus of being fire and mildew/mold- resistant. For this reason, it can be seen as a desirable insulating material for green-friendly homes.
