Exciting things are happening in the world of fibre crops. For 5 years we've been growing flax with no real way to process it. But in the last couple of months we've finally got the scutcher running and started to sell fibre - we're getting a fair bit of interest, shipping throughout the UK and Ireland, Finland, US and Canada.
The next step is spinning - if we can spin we can get it woven for textile which opens up a whole other market and the world of performance composites.
Mourne Textiles found some old spinning equipment and are running a crowdfunder to get it up and running (wish we'd done it for the scutcher). We've got some engineers who used to work at Herdman's to look it over and they are confident it can be got working - the scutcher was in much worse shape.
I think this kind of collaboration and scale of operation is exactly what we need to get these supply chains working - at a sensible localised scale where everyone can make a bit of decent money. Like my old boss used to say - 'Turnover is Vanity, Profit is Sanity'.
There is a crowdfunder running to support this - if you know anyone who cares about this stuff and has a few quid to spare. It would support the revival of a tradition but also provide an opportunity for farmers here to be growing a profitable, nature friendly, climate beneficial crop.
Update on the Crowdfunder - Mario blasted through his crowdfunding target so we are another big step forward in the mission to bring back fibre crops!
Do you have a website or Instagram of the process? I studied at UU (Art college) and know some textile designers who would be interested in the process. Thanks!