Wool equals warmth

My Grandpa always said there are four things man will always need before all else. Everything else is forgotten when the time comes (this was excluding family of course.) One is shelter, Two is food, three is clothing, and four is warmth. I say it all the time at work, the poorest man in the world is the richest man if he not only owns land but can work it and use it. Land provides food, shelter and warmth, if you are smart enough to use it. Before man built home they used caves, wood has been used for fire since well fire and land provides barriers, root plants and if you can set a snare, a rabbit or squirrel. So what about clothing. Well about 8,000 years ago someone figured that out too. They caught the sheep.

Sheep, Cows, goats, and chickens were domesticated for food and clothing. Sheep, Cows, and Goats were used for their meat, milk, cheese, parchment, tallow for candles and leather. Goats and Sheep have been used for their fleeces too. It has raised empires and humbled them too. Elizabeth I established a custom of nobles kneeling of a sack of wool when they swore loyalty to the Crown to remind them that their power and position was because of the wool industry in England. Sheep were supposedly on the Santa Maria and the natives in South America, Mexico and the South Western part of the United States not only recognized its value, they used it. It arrived in Jamestown in 1609 and show up out of nowhere in 1628 in New England when Myles Standish trades a lamb for a share in a heifer. (It is assumed he brought some ewes and a ram over in 1626 when he returns from a trip to England.)

What makes it such an important fiber. Well it is water resistant, and fire resistant. If it absorbs up to 30% of its weight in water it will still feel dry to the touch. If it touches flames a flame may appear on the cloth but take the cloth off and the flame will disappear and it will smolder putting it’s self out. (If you try this do it in an open space, it smells like burnt hair). Over 100 breads of sheep providing short fibers and long fibers, and soft verses scratchy. To those allergic to wool, you aren’t actually allergic to it but rather sensitive to the coarseness of it. Think of it like your hair, it is built of protein fibers and under a microscope rather scaly looking. Now when I am getting split ends my hair itches my back. It isn’t that I am allergic to my hair but a bit more sensitive that it is getting rougher at the bottom. Some people are more sensitive to them no matter the breed while others can handle Mohair but not Romney wool.

It is durable, long lasting, good wool is resistant to water (All the oils haven’t been completely washed away), and it is renewable. Depending on the breed one to three sheep will provide enough wool for one person and will produce a whole new coat within 6 months to a year. Shearing the sheep is good for them too. So here is to sheep… Bah!

Sheep at Plimoth Plantation... Two ewes and the far ewes lambs.