WOOL | DWARSVLEI
tal responsibility and the socio-economic well-being of South Africa’ s rural communities, where agriculture remains essential.
The organisers of this inspiring initiative are Sarah, Yolandi Erasmus, Marelize Moolman and Nelmi Uys.
What these four enterprising women are trying to remedy, even if only on a small scale, is the following: According to the National Wool Growers Association, over 90 % of South Africa’ s sustainably certified greasy wool is exported, with about 80 % going to China for washing, carding, spinning and textile manufacturing.
Carding is the essential preparation process for turning raw fleece into ready-to-spin yarn.
Very little yarn spinning and garment manufacturing occurlocally. Most locally scoured or washed wool is sold
Bottom: Matthew and Sarah van Lingen with their son, John, on Dwarsvlei near Middelburg, where family farming, Merinos and the Karoo Winter Wool Festival all form part of the farm’ s story.
JUN 2026 GROND TOT MOND 49