The Taproot Project · 2025-11-19 · 38 min
Synthetic fibers make up 70% of the current fiber market. Natural fibers like flax linen and wool were once produced domestically as a necessity for clothing families - but today natural fiber production is largely relegated to hobbyists. Today's guest is Charis Walker, a shepherd and sustainable wool advocate based in Southern Ohio. Charis and Kate talk about the motivation for organic practices in fiber farming and the place of fiber in US agriculture. The Taproot Podcast is an initiative of the Midwest Transition to Organic Partnership Program, a project funded by the USDA National Organic Program to support transitioning and organic producers with mentorship and technical assistance and to grow the greater organic community. Learn more at organictransition.org [ Follow and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Guest Bios Charis Walker is chief animal manager and shepherd of Tarheelbilly Farm in Willow Wood, Ohio. As a North Carolina native, is the Tarheel in Tarheelbilly Farm. A self-taught spinner, she also knits and weaves, and shears the flock.
Plain Community in Organic Agriculture70 / 100
Midwest Linen Revival63 / 100Organic as a Movement77 / 100Farmland Commons - A Legacy of Sustainability81 / 100From Mexico to Illinois, One Farmer's Journey