Before we get started, I must send a big thank you to everyone who commented, showing their love for our first Yearn-Worthy Yarns post! Twelve comments is the most we have had on one post so far and the discussion was delightful – keep it coming.
With that covered, I bid you welcome to the second week of Yearn-Worthy Yarns and boy howdy do I have a treat for you today. We won’t be talking about just one brand of eco-yarn, but a whole store! After recently finishing Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver as part of the Re-Nest Book Club (which is still going on, so join in if you’d like), I’m even more adamant about focusing on buying local goods and shopping at small businesses because of the direct impact it has on peoples’ lives.
My favorite online source for finding local goods and shops is LocalHarvest. Founded in 1998, LocalHarvest as quickly become “the number one informational resource for the Buy Local movement and the top place on the Internet where people find information on direct marketing family farms,” says the website’s About page. Usually, I only visit the site to find restaurants and stores but after finishing Kingsolver’s book, I took the time to explore all LocalHarvest.org has to offer.
To my delight, I found that LocalHarvest has an online store! “While our farmers focus on selling fresh produce and meats directly to their local communities, many of them offer some of their products via mail order through us. We currently offer 5302 products.” In addition to a drool-worthy variety of gift baskets, coffee, tea, soaps, preserves and flowers … I think you know where this is going … LocalHarvest sells yarns and roving made from animals on America’s family farms.
“Knitters are known to be voracious in their pursuit of new and unusual yarns. We think knitters of every stripe (crocheters too!) will be pleased with the selection we bring to you straight from farm families all across the country. In this department, you will also find roving and fleeces for your spinning and weaving projects.” Alpaca, wool, mohair, llama and angora fibers are all available in both yarn and roving form (in a variety of colors, of course).
After over an hour of enjoyable browsing, here are a few of my favorites:
+ Red Rose Alpacas Sport Weight Yarn
+ Music City Alpacas Wilderness Multicolored Yarn
+ Cranberry Moon Farms Millspun Woolen Yarns
+ Tranquil Morning Farms Angora Fiber
[Image courtesy of LocalHarvest: Rancho Descansamos 2-Ply Sport Weight Hand Dyed Yarn]
Who makes your favorite sustainable yarns?
Which natural fiber is your favorite to work with? (i.e. cotton, wool, bamboo … etc.)
Let us know what you love to create with and we might feature them in the next installment of Yearn-Worthy Yarns!
Thanks for pointing me toward Local Harvest! Shopping locally for food is something I’ve tried to do for a while, but shopping locally/sustainably/responsibly for yarn is a relatively new undertaking for me. It’s hard to find good yarn that’s produced locally and by only environmentally and socially responsible methods. But now I have a few more places to look!
Thanks for pointing me toward Local Harvest! Shopping locally for food is something I’ve tried to do for a while, but shopping locally/sustainably/responsibly for yarn is a relatively new undertaking for me. It’s hard to find good yarn that’s produced locally and by only environmentally and socially responsible methods. But now I have a few more places to look!
Thanks for pointing me toward Local Harvest! Shopping locally for food is something I’ve tried to do for a while, but shopping locally/sustainably/responsibly for yarn is a relatively new undertaking for me. It’s hard to find good yarn that’s produced locally and by only environmentally and socially responsible methods. But now I have a few more places to look!
Hi Marsha,
Many thank to you for taking the time to check out CAGW and leave a comment 🙂 I’m glad that you liked LocalHarvest – the site is fantastic, to say the least.
VE
Hi Marsha,
Many thank to you for taking the time to check out CAGW and leave a comment 🙂 I’m glad that you liked LocalHarvest – the site is fantastic, to say the least.
VE
Hi Marsha,
Many thank to you for taking the time to check out CAGW and leave a comment 🙂 I’m glad that you liked LocalHarvest – the site is fantastic, to say the least.
VE
Hi Marsha,
Many thank to you for taking the time to check out CAGW and leave a comment 🙂 I’m glad that you liked LocalHarvest – the site is fantastic, to say the least.
VE