Learn about exciting research into sustainable ways to establish mills that serve small-scale wool producers in North Carolina.

What will it take to create sustainable mill infrastructure in North Carolina that supports small wool producers? Last year, Emily Burghart partnered with Piedmont Fibershed to conduct research to answer this question for her master's thesis at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment.

Emily brought her combined experience as a spinner/textile maker and as a biologist to conduct community-engaged research, including field visits, interviews, and surveys with members of the NC fiber community.

In this online presentation and Q&A, Emily will share her findings, which offer important insights and practical suggestions for our regional fiber community, including:

• the best locations for a wool pellet mill and a fiber processing mill

• opportunities and barriers to running cooperatived managed mill infrastructure

• approaches NC farmers are using to reduce parasite prevalence and maintain soil quality

• community approaches to reaching consumers throughout the state