The Lincoln Longwool...
- is a member of the ovine family of livestock, known for its intelligence and inclusivity
- is on the verge of extinction like 90 percent of farm animal breeds
- is raised at St. Isidore Farm, part of the 30 breeding ewes registered today in Canada
- traces its roots back to the first century Roman occupation of England
- became the ancestor to all other British long wool breeds
- was illustrated in the “Luttrell Psalter”, written between 1320 and 1340
- was crossed with other native sheep to produce the new Leicester sheep which, in turn, were crossed back with Lincolns to produce the present-day Lincoln
- has been bred over centuries to produce wonderful lean meat with rams weighing up to 160 kg (350 lbs) and ewes, 110 kg (250 lbs) while lambs mature slowly over a nine-month period to reach a weight of about 36 kg (80 lbs)
- was brought to Canada in the 1800s and became firmly established with a reputation for tolerating cold weather, good mothering of lambs and growing superb meat and wool
- won awards at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair where it set new standards for the breed
- was one of the most popular breeds in Ontario in the early 1900s
The fleece...
- is heavy, large, and tough; in white or dark colours, weighing up to 9 kg (20 lbs), and being up to 38 cm (15 in.) long; the most lustrous and still able to maintain its strength during crude 19th century dying processes
- was historically used for carpets but is now spun and woven it into such products as blankets and socks
- was replaced since the 1950s by synthetics and cheap imported wool products
New interest has emerged...
- with new questions about the wisdom of synthetic materials that have an unfriendly touch, give off toxic fumes that result in allergic reactions, melt into the skin instead of turning to ash if burned and, when tossed in the landfill, stay there for generations
- as part of the 100-mile market that challenges consumers to wean themselves from imports to buy locally produced clothes and household products
- in the advantages of carpets made of wool
- with Heifer International and The National Farmers Union re-establishing local agriculture that is environmentally sustainable and profitable
- in urban residents becoming part of the agricultural solution.
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