Wool dream becomes reality
with a satin edging.
‘‘Now we’ve achieved the making we have to spread the word more. People have got to learn the inherent benefits of wool – it’s fire retardent, it naturally regulates to the body, so in the winter it keeps you warm and in the summer keeps you cooler, it breathes and of course being wool, bugs don’t live in it so in hygiene terms it is so safe and gentle on the skin.’’
Distribution is done from the business base, on the farm in Tokirima. The women called their fledgling company Shear Warmth, reflecting the lamb shear that is at the heart of the product.
‘‘We also have plenty of sheer cliffs on the farm, so while the spelling is different the name reflects a number of elements about where the product comes from. Our first release was the 2011 edition, this year the 2015 edition will have a different range of colours although natural will continue year to year, it is just so popular.’’
And when the women aren’t distributing to outlets or online orders, Neeson cooks for the shearing gang, and with husband Tim, she raises 400 calves each year. And there are the two children under three.
‘‘I can’t believe I’m doing all this – running a business, living in the middle of nowhere, helping on the farm, cooking. When I came I never cooked a meal in my life and now when its shearing time I cook for a gang of seven – morning tea, a cooked hot lunch and afternoon tea. We do the calves in the winter and when they kick me and poo on me, I think it’s all OK, it’s buying a new kitchen!’’