As fiber artists, what's the first thing you ever made, and what's the most recent?

Jess :The first thing I ever made was probably a loom potholder when I was a very little kid; I was very into those for a while! The first thing I ever knit was a scarf, and the most recent is socks.

Anna : I've been playing with yarn since I was tiny, so my first project was probably something like a lacing card. My mom had me weaving from a young age, too. My most recent project is a cardigan knit from local yarn.

Having been in business as a scouring and carding mill for a little while now, you've gotten to see behind the scenes of not just running a mill, but of our local wool community as well. What are your hopes and dreams for the local wool community over the next 5 years?

Jess : Our hopes are to elevate wool products beyond home crafting; this region has a wealth of fiber that has typically gone underutilized if not outright discarded. We aim to support the small, local farms as best we can by creating new innovative value-added products like wool pellets, wool sponges, quilt batts, in addition to making everyone's favorite : yarn!

Anna :We would really like to help make wool ubiquitous in our community - get people comfortable with it in all its forms to encourage the widespread understanding that wool is superior than plastic alternatives, in all forms.

Talk to us about Wool Pellets! How can people buy these, or even have them made?

Jess & Anna: Wool Pellets are a fantastic zero-waste product that enriches the soil, improves moisture retention, and adds key nutrients for growing plants. It's 100% raw wool that we run through a machine to chop them up for easy application, and to break down rapidly in the soil. They're a great way for everyone to help complete the cycle of land to fiber, while improving their gardens' soil. We have them for sale on our website, and hope to have them in area retail stores in time for spring planting. Wholesale customers can get in touch with us to discuss pelletizing their own wool.

What custom processing services will you be offering to the public this year?

Jess & Anna : We anticipate offering custom processing services by April of this year! This will include yarn, roving, batts, and felt sheets. The best way to find out more is to sign up for our 'mill-specific' newsletter and you'll be the first to hear when our services are available for scheduling.

Is there anything else you'd like the public to know?

Jess & Anna : We are beyond honored to continue the legacy of premium services offered by Abundant Earth Fiber for the past ten years. We always hoped making yarn would be in our future, and now that it is, it's a bit surreal. But we can't wait to continue to serve this amazing region and grow our ongoing collaborations and community.

Thank you Jess & Anna!