Ditching Peat for Sheep Wool in the Garden!

[@AnnaMarie2411]

wool absorbing more water, wooden trays helping earth, this is a new channel I am happy to binge watch. thank you so much

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks so much!!

[@daisy0224]

Do you have any suggestions for hobby gardeners who have raw wool available but don’t have access to a pelletizer machine?

[@MyFocusVaries]

Since I became aware of the concerns about peat, I've become aware of how hard it is to find peat free bagged soils. This year we made our own soil mix for pots and for raised beds. We had 4 compost bins mature, bags of chopped leaves and two bins of composted wood chips and needles (peat substitute) to mix with native soil. I've never seen wool pellets; I'll have to look around to see if they're available locally. Interesting.

[@britt518]

Taking the info about wool you shared from the soil experiment you did I got some free wool locally and used it as a mulch for my veggie garden. The peppers and tomatoes there did so well! Really helped retain moisture so that I didn’t have to water as much. And I’m going to try to mix it a bit this year into the soil as well. Really exciting!

[@kimjapinga6550]

I love those sheep! They crack me up every time they are on camera. Thanks for the great info.

[@catreeves963]

Yes,wool! We used raw wool around a whole bunch of trees we planted this year and the results are incredible. Will try as a mulch on perennial beds soon to see how that goes

[@mmebourbonnais]

Yes! We used the raw poopy or awful grade Icelandic sheep wool as a weed blocker at one farm I worked at. Works decent.

[@mrsobrian6032]

I love your videos! Alternatives to destructive gardening are so important to transition to.

[@mhubertcfi]

I wish more people would quit peat. This sounds like a great alternative. Thanks

[@Daisy-uit-Friesland]

Yeey, we have sheep too. Because of the fall weather it seemed a good time to start and cut the dirty wool in very small pieces. I hope you keep us up to date with your experiments. I'm doing my own, good luck!

[@emily1986ization]

Thank you for this video! Question: Is it possible to use the wool and just pull/cut it into tiny bits if you don't have access to pelletize it? I know you mentioned you sent your wool off to be pelletized, but was that necessary or does it just make the whole process 1000x more convenient?

[@mistygeller3193]

Excellent information!! Thank you so much! And you bring up so many important points that I know I was completely unaware of. It’s fantastic that you are putting all of this out there! Change has to start somewhere, even if it’s just a few people at a time that then pass it along 😊

[@leahmorrisoncreative]

I used both of your recipes last year and for some of my seeds, both worked GREAT. A couple of the challenges with the wool one were that because the seedlings in the sheep wool mix grew SO much faster, they were really ready to go out much sooner than I had anticipated, so when I had to hold them off, then they started to struggle, overshadowing each other and such. The other challenge is that we’re in MI in a more humid environment. I had a fan on them, but same as you, some of the seedlings really struggled with the amount of moisture that was retained! I also don’t grow nearly as many plants as you, so trying to water one part and keep the other part drier didn’t work very well. I don’t know if it was because of the wool or not, but every single variety of globe amaranth really struggled with this recipe. So I’ll be doing a bit more experimenting this year, but I’m curious if I can lower the amount of sheep wool and mix in a little coconut coir to bring the amount of wool down and hopefully even it out a bit. Any thoughts on how to get them to hold structurally, but lowering the amount of wool?

[@Blossomandbranch]

YES! We tested 10 new recipes over the last 6 weeks, posting results this week!

[@leahmorrisoncreative]

@@Blossomandbranch Awesome! I'll be watching for it! Thank you so much for generously sharing everything you're learning. I'v struggles to figure out how to take the the things I was learning about microbes and fungi and apply it to every day gardening, but you have been a bridge to connect the two in a way that is practical, realistic and applicable. So thank you!

[@FulbrightFarmstead]

Very cool stuff! We just got started with sheep this year and I am excited to experiment with their wool in the garden this year. I wonder how it would do laid out around corn?

[@laurendobie9257]

So interesting! Does it need to be pelletised? Could I just use the dags and cut them finely and mix in?

[@liltexashomestead5083]

If adding to potting mix pelletized would work better. We have wooly sheep and I've been experimenting. As a top mulch it is great for transplanted seedlings. I wish I could post some photos here.

[@wandahuntoon8529]

always learn something, thanks once again for sharing.

[@tanyakilbane7636]

Thanks for the odiferous warning!

[@MIchelle-cairn_mom]

My grandma used sheep wool too, but she owned a shearing business so it was plentiful and free 😆 😊

[@bathblooms]

Nice! How did she use it? Did she process it first.? I have been wanting to use it since I got my own sheep a few years ago.

[@bethd9093]

It smells so gross but your soil block recipe with wool works! I'm a newbie and my first blocks were successful. So glad I found you.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Haha yes the wet dirty sweater smell!! Thankfully it fades haha!😂 glad you’re loving it!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Haha yes the wet dirty sweater smell!! Thankfully it fades haha!😂 glad you’re loving it!

[@jorgee7470]

Thank you for sharing your good husbandry practices. I appreciate the knowledge. Greetings from Canada🇨🇦 Where presently i feel like I am living throught a wet monsoon season.🥴

[@kraigskraigs.kraigs6484]

What a resource of experience you are. Liked seeing your dance pics. That kind of training translated well into your ability to rock and roll (ballet) in the garden

[@kraigskraigs.kraigs6484]

Sorry on previous text I didn't mean to be insensitive to subject matter of post about losing your besty with reference to the pics of your past ballet life. I was quite touched by your sharing all that you have been through.

[@suzannecerrone7110]

Hi Bri. If I were to add to my garden, would I need to wet/soak it first? Thank you. As always, I love your content and am so inspired by you!

[@leahmorrisoncreative]

She has a great video on mixing the sheep wool in for soil blocking that shows how much water to add (hot water!) to help them soften and expand.

[@kristasahlin]

I have some wool, but wondering can you just cut up your wool, does it work the same? Or is there a benefit to turn them into pellets? Will they work the same just pieces of wool?

[@jillrenier3194]

So interesting! Wonder if there are places you can send your wool and have this made?? Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@christiner.nelson3543]

Love this topic! I value your channel; keep up the good work.

[@ekhocollective]

Fantastic share thank you. I have southdown and southdown x castkemilk moorit sheep as we are moving toward primitive and rare breeds. I've been using wool in my compost. Need to find out how to pelletize

[@selenanieto8152]

Awesome! Great use for sheep wool!

[@wildwind61]

Thank you so much! I started using sheep wool pellets in my seed starting mix. I followed the 1:8 ratio sheep pellet to potting soil mix. I also tried the food processor method of breaking up the pellets. It was not the most successful, but did loosen up many pellets. However, the wool pellets and/or more relaxed bits still led to bits of unmixed bits in the mix. Can small roots deal with this well in your experience? Or were you able to get a more homogeneous blend for your soil blocks?

[@Blossomandbranch]

They’ll be fine if there are bits! We have an updated video showing the process using some water when processing which works well!

[@aprilelkins3339]

Thank you so much for sharing and for doing all of the research! Love the videos with the boys!

[@latebloominghippie]

Utah resident 💚💚💚 Thank you for sharing!! Very interested in this experiment and i’m excited to explore a local company 🫶🏻

[@mamma8786]

We mulch the raspberries with the seconds we did use it in the garden only to have it wind up around the blades of the cultivator.....oops . Also use it in the flower gardens some. Happy you found a use !!

[@isarose3136]

Oh it's funny just found you on Instagram, we are former farmers, now living and growing food in a suburban 1/4 acre and we literally just went to get mulch-grade wool from a sheep farm this morning!

[@Yahawah_]

Just liked and subscribed! I found you on TikTok! ❤❤

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yay, hi!!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

Wool looks promising and bought some pellets from your seed block starting video. I’m still not convinced peat is worse than coco however willing to look at alternatives! Good for you.

[@susanmason3432]

Interesting Information. Thank you

[@rock-canyon-foodscaping]

your sheep are so cute!

[@tawntawn3152]

I was reading that you can use sogs undetcoat as well.. retains water and lets off nitrogen

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Just came across your channel this morning from your video on peonies. I am subscribed now of course. 😁 Excellent information! Interesting, I have a soil block makers and have been meaning to get back and come up with a better recipe than Elliot Coleman's. I really didn't like all the pieces to that, your point about the Pete is certainly valid and it makes me rethink. My practice is once again. Thank you for that. I'm going to look in to the sheep will pellets, that might be a great alternative! Cheers!

[@debbierohan4968]

Totally fascinating!! Thank you for yhis video ❤

[@melissaoleary8196]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@anncoombs6787]

Could you use old wool sweaters?

[@funkqueen1]

OMG your outfit is so cute! and you are a genius!

[@heartsdreamshomestead8930]

They are so cute too

[@SharkSandwich451]

I totally saw that video. I got the soil blocks, I already use Jiffy, got the coconut coir and I’m good to go. Had to discard an entire raised bed due to jumping worms that hitched a ride on some strawberry roots at plants I got at Whole Foods.

[@patpawlowicz4619]

have you used raw wool as a mulch before? I’ve heard good things but I’m concerned about it attracting bugs and garden pests

[@lydianicolenorwick125]

"if you don't have your own sheep, store bought wool pellets are fine" 😂 Thank you as always for all the info! I really appreciate your guidance. ❤

[@liltexashomestead5083]

@blossomandbranch, we also are on a very small (2 acre) homestead. We run a smallish flock of dairy sheep (East Friesian & milky line Finnsheep) which are wooly breeds. I've been using the wool in the garden the last two years. I also find used sheep bedding super useful for gardening. I pile it up and let it compost. Not only is it great for just about everything, its a food source for my free range chickens (bugs & biota). If you're ever looking to do a podcast video with another small acerage homesteader, LMK. I'm down in Texas where the summers have been brutal the last 2 years but we still see significant progress in our pasture and garden areas.

[@alishareneethompson]

Hello! How have you been using it the garden? I just received a bunch of seconds from a local sheep farmer that I planned to use in the garden but most of the info I can find involves getting it processed into pellets. Thanks in advance! ❤

[@liltexashomestead5083]

@alishareneethompson I use it two ways. If I'm putting in a new raised bed, it goes in at the bottom. I also will use it as a mulch, laying it on top of the soil. I prefer to use light or white fleece on top for light deflection, although any fleece color will work. It breaks down VERY slowly, releasing nitrogen as it does. It also helps to retain moisture in the soil. If I could post a photo here, I would. I wasn't crazy about putting it around strawberries as the fleece sticks to the fruit like micro fuzzies. I'm not sure I understand the benefit of boxing up fleece and shipping it somewhere to turn it into pellets.

[@Sunny14136]

Helpful video!

[@roywarriner8441]

Peat can be sustainably harvested, in areas of drought, it should be harvested, it's dried, hydrophobic peat bogs that are feeding the wildfires in Northern Canada.

[@biosyncfarm]

Hmmm i wonder why they're dried up smh

[@nicholasdemarest4254]

Peat bogs are regulated. So if you are completely interested go this route. But if you don't have your own sheep forget about it

[@DeltaH-9]

The college I attend just completed a research trial using ecowool. It's trash.

[@liltexashomestead5083]

Can you elaborate? We use wool from our sheep and it's been fantastic.