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Organic Wool
Organic wool is grown "naturally" without synthetic or harmful chemicals.
In other countries of the world Organic Farming may be called Biological or Ecological farming.
Organic production is based on positive holistic management systems, which reduce or eliminate the need for most agricultural chemicals and promote healthy soils, air, waterways and responsible animal husbandry practices. Customers look for organic products because they believe them to be :
-Safer as no pesticides or harmful chemicals are used.
-High Quality.
-Better for the environment as no synthetic or harmful chemicals are used on the farm.
One of the biggest differences between conventional and organic production is the requirement for organic certification.
Independent Organic Certifiers, who represent the consumers, audit producers regularly to verify that the organic standards are complied with. The hand knit wool baby clothes available thru Crystal Baby Organics are provided by 2 small independent manufacturers in New Zealand where their wool is supplied by Treliske, which has been certified with BIO-GRO since 1986. Bio-Gro is one of 15 IFOAM Accredited Certifiers - 1FOAM is the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements which benchmarks organic standards and certification worldwide.
What's the difference between conventional sheep and organic sheep?
The main difference between organic sheep and conventional sheep is that certified organic sheep do not receive routine chemical treatments such as drenching or dipping for parasites, fly dressings, antibiotics, growth promotants, vaccines, nor do they graze on pastures that have been sprayed with herbicides. Organic sheep are bred for resistance to parasites and are fed outdoors all year round on special herbal pastures to build healthy immune systems. Organic sheep must graze only on certified organic farms and be fed certified organic stock food. Genetically engineered or modified feed is prohibited.
How does Organic Wool Yarn differ?
Organic wool yarn has not been treated chemically throughout the entire production, from the farm to the end garment. The greasy wool is scoured (cleaned) in specially approved biodegradable cleansing agents before being carded and spun at a Certified Organic Mill.
The certified organic yarn is then knitted into baby garments by professional teams of hand knitters. At all times throughout production the wool is kept separate from other wools to prevent contamination.
What are the benefits of Certified Organic Knitwear? 
Our manufacturers' garments use wool which is natural, undyed and unbleached. The wool is grown and manufactured without harmful chemicals providing fashionable style and quality, without sacrificing and polluting the environment.
Because the skin can "breath" and absorb impurities and residues, the purity and softness of this Organic Woolen Knitwear may possibly offer some relief to people with allergies and problematic skin disorders. Some 8000 chemicals are known to be used in the modern textile industry. Treliske Farm, the suppliers of this merino wool, is committed to long term sustainable farming practices. The purchase of these garments promotes clean air, clean water and soils free of toxic chemicals while delivering the purest quality wool, to wear next to the skin. More and more people are making their purchasing decisions based on their commitment to their health and the environment.
What is the difference between synthetic fleece and organic wool fleece?
This is an interesting question. The Collins English dictionary defines the word fleece as "the coat of wool covering a sheep or shorn from it".
The synthetic industry developed a fabric called 'Fleece' in their efforts to compete with the beneficial properties of wool. Synthetic Fleece is oil based fabric and has nothing to do with sheep.
Wool is safer to wear having natural fire-retardant properties where as synthetic fleece being oil based, ignites easily, burns fiercely and melts.
Wool is incredibly warm in winter and cool in the summer as it has the ability to breathe with the skin and can actually absorb one third of its weight in moisture before feeling wet. Synthetic Fleece is warm but does not breathe easily.
Wool is a renewable resource that regrows on the sheep after shearing,
Wool is biodegradable and kinder to the environment than oil-based synthetics which contribute to global pollution.
CERTIFIED ORGANIC WOOL IS THE NATURAL CHOICE.
Organic Merino Wool is a wonderful natural product, called the "Golden Fleece", merino being the most luxurious of wool yarns. Known to be warm in winter and cool in summer, due to its ability to breathe with the skin, merino organic wool can actually absorb 30% of its weight in moisture before feeling wet and has all of the following properties:
- insulates against heat & cold
- biodegradable - environmentally friendly
- fire resistant - natural fire retardant properties
- water repellent - absorbs moisture, repels liquids
- naturally elastic - for comfort & movement
- wears longer - extremely durable
***ABOVE INFORMATION PROVIDED COURTESY TRELISKE: Copyright reserved. Reproduced in whole or part, with written permission from Treliske
Organic Wool Fact Sheet |
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What is organic wool?
In order for wool to be certified as "organic," it must be produced in accordance with federal standards for organic livestock production. Federal requirements for organic livestock production include:
- Livestock feed and forage used from the last third of gestation on must be organic.
- Use of synthetic hormones and genetic engineering is prohibited.
- Use of synthetic pesticides (internal, external, and on pastures) is prohibited.
- Producers must encourage livestock health through good cultural and management practices.
Organic livestock management is different from non-organic management in at least two major ways: 1) sheep cannot be dipped in parasiticides (insecticides) to control external parasites such as ticks and lice, and 2) organic livestock producers are required to ensure that they do not exceed the natural carrying capacity of the land on which their animals graze.
Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. The Organic Trade Assocication is in the process of developing standards that will apply to the processing of organic wool.
How much organic wool is available in the United States and Canada today?
In the spring of 2002, the National Center for Appropriate Technology's Appropriate Technology Transfer in Rural Areas undertook a survey for the Organic Trade Association concerning organic wool production and markets in North America. Responses to the survey indicated that 28,510 pounds (12,959 kilos) of organic wool were grown in the United States and Canada in 2001. Specifically, 27,244 pounds (12,384 kilos) of grease wool (shorn, without any cleaning, scouring or further processing) were produced in ten U.S. states and 1,266 pounds (575 kilos) were produced in two Canadian provinces. New Mexico, with 12,000 pounds (5,456 kilos), was the leading producer of certified organic wool (see Tables 1 and 2).
Table 1: Amount of Organic Wool Produced in 2001 in Canada
| Province |
Number of Producers |
Total Pounds |
| Alberta |
1 |
900 |
| Ontario |
3 |
366 |
| Total Canada |
|
1,266 pounds (575 kilos) |
Table 2: Amount of Organic Wool Produced in 2001 in the United States
| State |
Number of Producers |
Total Pounds |
| CA |
1 |
9,500 |
| MA |
2 |
230 |
| ME |
6 |
774 |
| MI |
1 |
400 |
| MT |
1 |
300 |
| NJ |
1 |
1,104 |
| NM |
1 |
12,000 |
| OH |
2 |
561 |
| OR |
1 |
2,000 |
| VT |
3 |
375 |
| Total U.S. |
|
27,244 pounds (12,384 kilos) |
Which breeds of sheep are the most popular in organic wool production?
The most popular breeds identified in the survey were unspecified crosses, whiteface crosses, Dorsets, Rambouillets, Navajo Churro, Suffolk, and Merino.
How is organic wool used?
Organic wool can be used in any application that conventional wool is used. Organic wool products most widely available today include blankets, socks and sweaters. In addition, the bedding industry is starting to use organic wool as a flame retardant fabric on its organic cotton-filled mattresses, and the furniture industry uses organic wool as stuffing for chairs and other furniture. As the market for organic wool products grows, so, too are applications expanding for its use.
Why does organic wool cost more than conventional wool?
The cost of organic wool is more than that of conventional for several reasons: 1) organic wool producers receive a higher price at the farm gate as their costs of production are higher, primarily associated with higher labor, management, and certification costs; 2) the organic wool industry is very small relative to the overall wool industry and does not have the economies of scale and resulting efficiencies of its conventional counterpart, and 3) federal organic standards for livestock production prohibit overgrazing. If the price of wool is low, the difference cannot be made up by simply increasing production per unit of land, as is commonly practiced by many livestock producers.
(c) 2003 The Organic Trade Association
For more information on Organic see:
Organic Cotton
Discover Organic
Babies and Pesticides
Soil Health
Facts on Pesticides
Protecting our Future
Discover the Benefits Organic
Tierd of Chemicals?
Raising Healthy Babies
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