Here is a look at how I make felt alpaca hats on our off the grid permaculture farm.
When we discovered how much fiber goes to waste by sending it out to a mill for processing - we had no choice but to learn how to process it ourselves and transform it into wearable art.
Through this discovery process I learned and reclaimed the ancient technique of felt making.
Everyday I make sustainable fashion from hats to shawls to ponchos and capes.
Felt making is a primitive skill that anyone can learn. I will be sharing educational videos soon.
We harvest rainwater - so most of the art I make is hand washed and hand felted in rainwater! All water is repurposed in the Garden as grey water. All fleece that is not ideal for art is also repurposed in the Garden as mulch. Fiber mulch keeps plants cool and retains water.
Here is a link to how I wash the fleece with rainwater:
• Alpaca Fleece, Hand Pr...
In permaculture design wastes are unused resources. If we would have sent our fiber out to a mill we would have been participating in a system of waste. And we would have been disconnected from the very resource we farm. And I wouldn't have learned this incredible art. I am grateful for permaculture for making me a good steward to the land and the alpaca.
Please lmk if you have any questions about permaculture, felt making, primitive skills, off the grid living or rainwater harvesting.
And I am here to make you a special hat whenever you are ready!
Please check out our socials:
@starflower_eco_farm
@prema.alpacas
@samadhi.fleece.designs
Contact:
Nicole@StarflowerEcoFarm.com
Thank you!
Dave & Nicole