How To Make Sheep Wool Compost

Looking to be more sustainable at home? We’ve all thought about taking shorter showers and creating our own vegetable patch, but what about recycling your old bedding? That’s right – our wool bedding is so natural that it can be used to make sheep wool compost at the end of its life. So if you’re wondering what to do with wool bedding once you’re done using it for sleep, find out how to recycle wool and make your very own compost at home.

What is wool used for?

First up, what are the different uses of wool? At Woolroom, we are strong advocates of wool and all of its benefits. But we’re not the only ones – there are many uses of wool that show just how popular it is:

• Clothing
• Homeware, including upholstery, blankets and bedding
• Carpets
• Compost

Wool compost

Are you a keen gardener? You’ll be pleased to know that wool compost is a great eco-friendly alternative to peat! It has a high level of nitrogen so comes in handy for those with green fingers. Sheep wool compost retains water and releases nutrients to feed the plants and keep them nice and healthy. So if you’re wondering how to recycle wool, this a perfect solution.
 

Making sheep wool compost

Making sheep wool compost is a fairly easy process. Find out what to do with raw wool to turn it into sheep wool compost below:
 

1. Add some wool and other materials to a compost bin, such as fruit and veg waste. Just avoid things like bones, meats and oils, as they will attract unwanted ‘guests’.
2. Add in carbon (like leaves) and nitrogen (e.g., fresh grass or manure) sources to help prevent any nasty smells and to feed the bacteria. You’re looking at a 30:1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen for the best sheep wool compost.
3. You can also add worms to help break down the compost, making it easier for the bacteria to digest and in turn generate more heat. But you could also use a shovel to break down your pile instead.
4. Keep your sheep wool compost at a temperature of around 30-60?C for the best results. But don’t rely on the weather – the temperature inside your compost bin will be a lot higher than outside so use a thermometer to check.
5. Aerate your wool compost using a shovel and turn it once a month. This will generate more oxygen and break down the pile to release other compounds.
6. You’ll need to assess the moisture level at least once a month by squeezing the compost. If it’s too dry, add some water. If it’s too wet, turn it a bit more or add in extra leaves.
7. Maintain your sheep wool compost and keep checking on its moisture levels. Once it starts to look like soil, it’ll be ready to use in the garden!

And that’s how to make sheep wool compost! It’s simple really. But, before you get started, it’s important to note that only pure wool with no synthetic materials can be composted in moderate amounts. That’s why our wool bedding is perfect for the job. Once it comes to the natural end of its life (after many years of happy, healthy sleep!), you can create your very own sheep wool compost. Find out more about our wool bedding today.