Joe Pozzi checking the water in a trough.

Supporting American Agriculturists

100% Pure USA Wool

The United States Wool Industry is shrinking. One of our main missions is to help people learn about how wonderful Wool is, so that these family ranches can continue to tend their flocks on wide open spaces.

Importance of Supporting Local Agriculturists
Bales of raw Pozzi Wool, ready to be shipped for scouring (cleaning).

Advantages of American Wool

There are many advantages of using American wool in our products. First, it comes from family-owned and -operated ranches throughout the United States, like Pozzi Ranch, in Valley Ford, California. Keeping family ranches economically viable is an important part of why Sonoma Wool Company was created.

We believe in supporting local farmers, ranchers, and makers. Keeping the valuable dollar in local economies is important to keeping our communities thriving.

Sonoma Wool Company began at Pozzi Ranch, a sheep ranch in the coastal region of Northern California, where the average rainfall is over 40 inches per year. 

Coarse-grade wool sheep thrive in this climate. Their coarse wool, with a 28 to 34 micron count, easily sheds the heavy rains of this region and keeps the sheep warm. The sheep with this type of wool are traditionally British breeds, including Dorset, North Country Cheviot, Romney, Suffolk, and Hampshire.

This coarse American wool has the benefit of being perfect for creating practical products for you and your home.

Sawyer Chesnut-Pinto carrying bales of scoured wool.

Natural Inclusions – No Carbonization

Sonoma Wool Company does not use wool that is carbonized. 

Carbonization is a harsh chemical process many industrial wool processors use to clean vegetation from the wool. Using hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and other chemicals, carbonization strips away all of the vegetation matter in the wool. Because our wool is not carbonized, you may see bits of residual vegetation in your Sonoma Wool Company products. 

We choose to offer an all-natural product with residual specks of vegetation because we believe it is best for the environment and the people who will be using our wool products.

Joe Pozzi examining the grasses his sheep graze on.

Pozzi Wool® Standards

In 1993, Joe Pozzi, along with other like-minded wool-loving people, developed a set of standards for Pozzi Wool®. 

The standards define how the animals are cared for, how the natural resources on the land are cared for, and how the wool is harvested from the sheep. 

These standards assure our customers receive the highest quality product, while ensuring the ranchers raising the sheep are being responsible in their business practices.

Raw wool, cleaned wool and felted wool laid next to each other in grass.

How does the Wool get from the Sheep to the Dryer Ball?

Our main goal is to raise awareness about the wonders of wool while remaining true to our environmental values. In this day and age it is often easier to go overseas for cheap labor, and use harsh chemicals for cleaning. We choose to adhere to a set of morals that promote sustainable ecosystems, thriving communities, and a clean future for generations to come.

Read our blog on the process here!