I ended up doing a little wool-ball price analysis this morning: *** Note Cost Basis(as described by a wool-festival attendee): single fleece ~= $8/lb x 4-8lb per fleece = $32-$64 := ¿volume_discount? := ¿$wholesale_price$? (i think people mostly buy individual fleeces) *** looking into sellers online(for price comparison): https://woolery.com/collections/fleece (note: free shipping on $150+ orders) $22/lb - $56/lb ...this site is expensive, though to be fair, all fleeces have already been washed. https://www.cactushillfarm.com/fleeces $12/lb - $30/lb ...still somewhat expensive... ...are they washed? ...log in for "wholesale"? https://www.etsy.com/listing/1898119149/dorset-fleece $48 for 5-6lb raw(free shipping)[~$8-9 per lb] https://www.etsy.com/listing/1648840508/felting-natural-fiber-sheep-wool-washed $23 for 3lb washed(free shipping)[~$7.7 per lb] https://www.etsy.com/listing/287132313/gulf-coast-native-sheep-fleeces-se2se mostly sold out however one item remaine: $24 for 3.4 lb(+ shipping cost)[~$7/lb] https://www.etsy.com/listing/4364991181/2-lbs-of-raw-wool-straight-of-our-sheep $16 for 2lb(+$20 shipping) ...i feel like i saw lower prices previously when i was looking at this back in early June. maybe i'm imagining it, but i suspect large producers quickly sell all their stock at reduced prices in early summer. i will have to look for this again next year. ...Anyway, on to pricing for wool balls: https://www.thespruce.com/best-wool-dryer-balls-4781065 https://www.target.com/p/100-new-zealand-wool-dryer-balls-3ct-everspring-8482/-/A-75663171 $13? for 3 balls(3" diam each) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GA9P5P0 $20 for 6 balls(2.8" diam each) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KH88BT3 $13 for 8 balls(2" diam each) https://www.amazon.com/Grove-Co-Sustainably-Essentials-Hypoallergenic/dp/B0CDF8YFYR $32 for 3? 6? balls(3" diam each) *** Notes: Volume_sphere = (4/3)π(radius^3) 3" diam := 14.13 in^3 2" diam := 4.187 in^3 3.37x 2"balls = 1x 3"ball (10x 2"balls ~= 3x 3"balls) the balls i made are many sizes, however they tend to be bigger. i need to measure however i think the largest may be bigger than 6" diameter. 6" diam := 113.0 in^3 5" diam := 65.42 in^3 4" diam := 33.49 in^3 Also(small addition), it is my opinion that the half-felted balls might be ideal for crafting with yarn; perhaps garments could be made out of them. wool is very warm and retains insulation-value even when wet. The half-felted balls are still soft and can be made to conform to the body when stitched together with yarn. Alternatively, felt density can be "improved" for half-felted balls by placing them back in the stockings and running them again in the machine; ideally felt dryer-balls should be dense and hard(note they get smaller as they become more dense). final note on cost-basis: i still need to count all my wool-balls make an estimate on the total volume i have produced. based on the prices from Target and Amazon it looks like the going rate for a wool-felt dryer-ball comes out to $4.33 for a single 3" diameter ball, or in other terms $0.307/in^3 wool-felt(this is based on the price from Target). Larger dryer-balls can be priced based on this rate by measuring their diameter and calculating the volume and then multiplying by the $price/volume rate; so for example a 6" diam ball would be $35 - did i do that right? ...now i guess the only thing left for me to do is make that accounting of how many balls i produced(and before i do that i need to finish all the half-felted balls). i think that is all for now. the balls are very close to being ready for delivery. ***
The wool balls are done! I managed to get a few volunteers from church plus a couple local teenagers, as well as a solo session yesterday afternoon, and now they are done. I'll probably be delivering them to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church some time this week(maybe next week - need to do some car work). In the future i might try using a different wash setting, and hopefully i can skip the needle felting step. Also, perhaps i can find a better way to fashion a 3-needle felting-tool; the kids broke so many needles on Saturday, and i broke 3 myself while working alone on Sunday. Also, we had a couple people jab themselves on Saturday though somehow i escaped doing it to myself this time. All needle-tips are accounted for except for 3 balls which i set aside; i'm thinking i might be able to extract the broken tips with a fishing magnet. Note, i used yarn to make new balls out of the loose wool from the balls that disintegrated in the last wash cycle; hopefully they hold up. Also, don't let me forget to thank the Gentry's for the generous donation of all the raw wool fleeces for this project!
Also, i heard back from Mailfence, and perhaps it is not their fault, as i did not fully read my receipt, and as it turns out, bank-transfers take like 2 weeks to clear, so i think they didn't have the money yet. Hopefully it gets settled soon and i can continue doing email unhindered. Also, i thought my sister was taking the truck again today(she said she needed it last night), however today the truck is there and her van is gone. Apparently she is driving 2 hours to a guard job somewhere; doesn't seem worth it to me. is that each way? - definitely not worth it! does she have any sense? I can't imagine the compensation is that great. Anyway, i guess i have the truck today after all; i guess i need to do something with it... ...i feel so worn out... EDIT: p.s. anyway, i've updated the blog; now i've got to figure out my plan for the day. The church organ was kinda rough yesterday; i need to do better this week! Also, i need to get back into my health routine. ...and then there is all the farm stuff i need to get done. I think i need another coffee. BYE!
Well I'm sort of struggling this week to get my paid (mailfence)email account restored after having all sorts of problems updating my payment method last month, and then succeeding in sending them a bank-transfer last week(to ContactOffice Group SA), only for them to fail to renew me after taking my money. They now seem to be ignoring all my support emails asking for help and pointing out that i followed their instructions and they already have my money. Did i make a mistake going with these guys. The service was better than all other providers i tried, however they seem to be having a serious issue now, accepting my money, or even recognizing that i am a paying customer. what do i do now? call the Belgian embassy? <EDIT: PROBLEM RESOLVED. SEE NEXT POST.>
In other news, my sister has taken the farm-truck to her guard job again, so i guess i will not be using it for anything today. Instead i get to look at her beat-up old van with rust, dents, and a bullet hole(how did that happen?!). My dad has repeatedly offered to buy her a car; i don't know why she doesn't take his offer, and instead likes to take the truck which puts me in a difficult spot of not having a farm-vehicle.
BTW, it was 80°F again in my place last night. It is so bad, i am thinking of setting up a mosquito-net and a cot out on the deck for the remainder of summer. Also, I continue to struggle with IBS(for 14 years now), and my toenail fungus has recently been making a come-back(it's been closer to 30 years on that). p.s. I am happy to say though that everything looks set to finish the wool-balls for Ukraine this month; we are meeting at church to work on them tomorrow morning. i've got to go work on getting things ready for that now.
Life continues; i finally got around to mowing the orchard. there was a bit of cleanup from the big storm last week. all-in-all it took me a few days. i still need to get up close to the trees. also i will need to do it again in about a week to take care of all the stuff that missed the blades. also, i had an oopsie with the bush-hog and an old gate and some steel-wire-panels i had been meaning to save for a project. i think the gate is done, however perhaps some of the panel is still usable. the big broken beech tree is from an old storm; i need to go try and salvage some wood some time.
It was 80°F in my place again last night, so i'm having a bit of a slow morning this morning. It's been hot, though the measured temps have only been in the low 90°s recently. I guess the humidity compounds the effect, and sadly it seems my little window AC can't keep up. i can't wait until things get cold again and i'm shivering my ass off. Hopefully i can find time this fall to clean up the place and get the heat-pump installed. ...will i find time? Also, i probably need to do something about the battery on my phone; i wanted to photo-document some stuff yesterday while i was out on the tractor only to find it was dead. Fortunately my parents did come check on me eventually and brought me some water, however i then got caught out in a storm before i could finish mowing and never got rescued. I seem to remember some vague numbers about your chances of a lightning-strike vs winning the lottery, though can't say i'm really clear about the scope of the statistic. I'm not even sure if it's a real number or just something people way when they wan't to go outside during a storm(there is also a similar statistic you hear about sharks at the beach). I guess my problem is i don't know how it is defined or how they came up with the sample(trying to recall AP Stat). Are they counting population in general? Is this an annual statistic? Obviously the chances are higher if you are outside during a storm(likewise you can't get shark-bit if you're not in the water). Note, i don't play the lottery.
Good morning cockroaches! am i really going to process chestnuts in this kitchen in a month? maybe i should cancel harvest?
it is still unbelievable how watching a @rossmanngroup video on youtube immediately revs up the fans on my macbook. google really doesn't want you to know about right to repair. it's just rossmann videos; other videos play just fine. it's like someone in google is deliberately sabotaging rossmann videos? ...anyway, i think maybe it is late enough now to have my morning coffee. i expect to have a terrible day - what a spooky night!
It's not every day that your laptop wakes you up in the middle of the night with seeming commercial audio playing, only to quit immediately upon unlocking with password. I can't actually remember what it was saying, only that it sounded like a commercial. I guess the hackers(or AI) are taking over my computer at night and watching youtube? anyway, i guess i'm not sleeping to night. ...what a puzzle? ...it doesn't help that i'm still trying to recover from yesterday's power outage. apparently plenty of people were not affected, though our power was out probably 18 hours. it was pretty strong wind!
The first felting cycle is done now and all the balls are out of the stockings. I'm starting a final hot-water cycle to nullify any trace odors remaining. There are lots of loose ends now after this cycle, which will need to tapped down with felting needles; i will need to recruit some helpers for this step, though after that they will be done!
i also came across this very interesting video the other day(warning it is kinda long): @DwarkeshPatel - Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in history There are definitely some parallels in today's world: dictators, war, jan/6th... p.s. i need to get back into a health and wellness routine.
Well, i think i finished all the wool-balls(sort of). I still need to get most of them out of the stockings and run them one last time through the washer and dryer. I suspect i'll also need to touch up many of the balls with the felting needles; perhaps i will try and recruit some help for this last step. I feel somewhat confident i potentially have a product here, though this specific batch is going to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; also i'm still thinking of making my own yarn as my ultimate goal. Wool balls might be a nice supplement to a potential future product line; i'll have to continue my scheming. Also, it seems like anything you do there is a learning curve, and training helpers can be slow going. conversely working solo can become somewhat of a drag after awhile. I'll have to give it some careful thought before the next time i try this project(which will probably be next year). anyway, here are some progress shots.
Worthwhile interview with American folk-hero Louis Rossmann about predatory-consumerism and our sick modern society: Why Big Tech Wants You Weak (and How to Fight Back) ft. Louis Rossmann @richardryan, @rossmanngroup, @Fullmag I'm unfamiliar with @richardryan though Louis Rossmann is awesome as always! ...this is a pretty long video... ...~~locking people up for disseminating repair knowledge is the law right now~~... ...still not half-way through this video... In other headlines, Trump pulled Patriots from Ukraine - what the hell! Sad to say i'm not surprised though. Also unsurprising is the situation with Iran. 2026/aug/1 - Trump now 'not sure' about letting Ukraine build Patriot missiles 2026/aug/1 - Patriot Debate Deepens As Congressman Don Bacon Questions Trump Shift, Senate Moves On Ukraine Arms 2026/aug/7 - How Modernization of S-300 Missiles Could Help Ukraine and Reduce Reliance on Patriot 2026/aug/7 - Iran aims to ban U.S. and Israeli ships from Strait of Hormuz and charge others a toll It's a sad situation the world is in these days. i guess i got to get going with this wool going into stockings now...
The recent increase in rain and humidity means i my wool was not drying out in the sun. i took it in where it will get some afternoon sun while still being protected from the rain. I'm still working on improving my scouring process, and there is still a little grime in the fleece in spots, as well as visible specs of lanolin here and there. I think i might still move on to stuffing stockings though since it is going get washed more during the felting process, and i need to keep making progress on this project. I did get the chance to do a little experiment with precipitating lanolin from the wash-water using HCl(Muriatic acid). I had some difficulty transferring everything from the barrel through my filter-bucket, though in the end it looks like i did recover some material which appears to be lanolin(with dirt in it). I think potentially i am on to something here, though i'll have to keep researching and try and improve my methods for the next time. Note, you don't need much HCl break the colloid; i probably used less than 1 tbsp for the whole 32 gal wash barrel. It bubbled a little when i put it in. i let it sit a day, and when i checked the lanolin had formed clumps around the edge of the of the barrel. Also, it's probably a good idea to wear PPE when adding the acid(and also don't whiff the vapor coming out of the bottle of concentrated HCl... Just so you know HCl vapor smells like YOUCH! i do still have a sense of smell, so i guess i'm lucky).
I also got around to marking a trail for the bulldozer to make a switchback up the side of the mountain. The current road to the top is too steep, and you can't get up there with a vehicle unless the soil is at the exact perfect moisture level. I went up there on foot this Spring, and it is very overgrown, with many vines strangling trees, and lots of fallen trees over the road. I hope we can get the road improved so i can get up there more regularly; good stewardship requires being present; if i can't get there i don't know how i'm supposed to take care of things.
I found some time this morning while cleaning up the empty hives on my deck to dump out my last batch of air-crete which had been curing in it's forms for more than a week - multiple weeks? Overall i am happy with the result, i only wish i were further along with the project. ideally i pave the entire area under the studio by the end of summer; is this realistic?
It looks like i have the truck again today, so i plan to get some more stuff done around here today. Unfortunately i didn't get my wool in last night before the rain, and so it is going to have to dry again now. I spent most of friday melting down the the moth-infested dead hives from my operation the day before, as well as running all my wool fleece through a warm water baths, using the submersible-heater-in-trash-barrel method. I used a slightly lower amp rated heater this time and didn't trip any breakers, though i found that the heater itself seemed to go into a cooling cycle whenever it reached 140°F. I think next time i do this i will have to break out my jumbo propane-fired cook-pot and boil the water. Still, i ended up with more milky wash-water, and the fleece seems to get less and less stinky. I'm suspecting the lanolin must be forming a colloid; i have some plans to try and see if i can make it precipitate perhaps by lowering the pH? I also made a small improvement to my hot-air-gun-hive-melter to fix the problem where some of the wax kept running down the wall and onto the rim of my hot-gun; i used some reclaimed aluminum sheet from a soda-can. i ended up with a nice cake of wax. also, i usually would try and collect the wax remnants for use in m smokers, however i was kind of in a rush this time and simply shook out the melted frames over the banister. Friday was a very nice day!
...hopefully i can get out there and harvest some honey maybe today or tomorrow(i've got a few other things to do this morning). Saturday was also good, though not quite as clear(oh well). i had some old college friends out to do some hiking. It was good to get together and catch up. i think it had been like 13 years since i had seen a couple of them(maybe only 12).
Organ playing on Sunday went better than last time. I think i did well at planning my practices this week so i had time to learn the hymns early on, and by the time it was Sunday morning i was in a simplifying mode. I also found some time this week to learn what all the buttons and knobs do on the organ. i still need to figure out a solution to the height of the bench; i'd like to learn the pedals, though it's sort of hard with how low the bench is. I still need to get more familiar with multiple keyboards and the different presets, though perhaps i might try bringing my recorder some time when i'm practicing; i would like to have some music on this blog.