Fibershed and other stuff

[martian]

I've just been rereading bits of Fibershed by Rebecca Burgess. It's a very interesting book (in parts) about the clothing business and the part that farmers play in it, or could play in it. As I wear the same thing pretty much everyday, I'm not exactly interested in fashion, but I do find the throw-away culture of fast fashion horrible. I hadn't realised quite how bad the pollution of textile dye makers was, beyond the plastic micro-fibres that 70% of modern clothes shed when washed. If you don't bother washing them and just chuck them, then they remain inert in landfill for-nearly-ever. It seems that there's hardly any requirement to test dyes etc as to the harm they might do to the wearer; many turn out to be endocrine disruptors that can pass through the skin and on it goes...

This is of course a great opportunity for us lot to produce natural fibres (wool, flax, hemp etc) to feed the inevitable demand that is coming as a backlash against this hideous planet damaging industry. We put on a webinar via Chelsea Green and Groundswell with some of the UK hub people:

 

[martian]

The other stuff came to mind as I was reading Ruby Wax's new book And now for the Good News in which she travels about the place finding stories about how great the future might be. There's a chapter on farming that talks about Regenerative Agriculture (modesty forbids me from mentioning her source), but it was her chapter on Business that got me thinking. Some of the most successful businesses have a strong purpose beyond making money, they will look after their workers, suppliers and customers, improve the environment, support the local community or whatever. This sense of purpose brings all sorts of benefits to the company that far outweigh any 'cost' that such behaviour might appear to affect the bottom line. One of the main benefits is happy people, all over the place. Who doesn't want to be happy?
Groundswell has certainly given me a purpose and I think a whole change of focus for UKAg would bring unbridled joy to the nation, as well as to farmers.

 

[delilah]

Not owning a drill I wouldn't normally be in here, but saw the Fibreshed reference, for those interested in sustainable fashion etc here's our Woolshed:

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/wool-processing-mini-mill.205896/page-5#post-7144606

 

[martian]

Not owning a drill I wouldn't normally be in here, but saw the Fibreshed reference, for those interested in sustainable fashion etc here's our Woolshed:

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/wool-processing-mini-mill.205896/page-5#post-7144606

Many thanks, I hadn't seen that, don't venture into Diversification as often as I perhaps should. Nice little business...it makes so much sense to add a bit of value to what we produce, rather than sell 'commodities' to faceless corporations.