Sheep, shepherd & land: Stories of sheep farmers reinvigorating Canadian wool By AnnaHunter, Vancouver and Toronto: Nine Ten Publications. 2023. 128 pages. $44.95 (paperback). ISBN 9781777387020

When I moved from India to Canada in 2023 to pursue my PhD in Geography at Concordia University in Montreal, I was eager to explore Canadian textiles, especially given my background in India's rich textile traditions. During this journey, I came across the book Sheep, shepherd & land by Anna Hunter, with photography by Christel Lanthier. The book delves into Canadian wool textile systems, documenting the experiences of Hunter and Lanthier visiting various farms across the country. The book is divided into four parts, covering the West Coast, the Prairies, Ontario and Quebec, and the East Coast of Canada. Alongside Hunter's text are images taken by Lanthier, a farmer and professional photographer who documented the process of visiting 12 different farms. Together they explored the diverse practices of sheep farming and wool fibre use across these regions. One way to combat the current climate crisis is through education, making informed decisions, and using resources mindfully. Over centuries, humans have relied on sheep for wool, skin, and meat. Sheep were among the first domesticated animals that humans chose to keep. However, in the last two decades, as demand for meat increased, we began crossbreeding our Canadian sheep breeds, which resulted in shorter fibre lengths while producing more meat. This shift led to a decline in the availability of coarser, diverse breed-specific wool fibres in our clothing systems. We became increasingly dependent on Merino wool, primarily sourced from New Zealand and Australia, making it so popular that many now overlook the value of coarser local wool. As a result, we have started to lose our knowledge systems and our connection to the land, forgetting that our clothing systems are inherently agricultural activities. There is now a growing recognition of the need to revive natural methods of reintroducing wool into our systems by nurturing local breeds and embracing their significance in our ecosystems. Sheep not only contribute to enhancing soil health, but wool itself is a golden fibre in many ways—known for its natural fire and dust resistance, biodegradability, temperature-regulating abilities, and its function as a carbon sink, all while being a renewable and environmentally beneficial resource. Across the world, initiatives are emerging to revive local wool fibre systems. Before embarking on the journey of documenting various farms across Canada, Hunter and her family started their own farm in 2015. Located on 140 acres of mixed forest, bush, and wetland at the edge of the Boreal Plains region, just east of Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Treaty One Territory, this farm became the centre of her exploration into sustainable agriculture. As a first-generation woman farmer, everything was new to her, and she adopted an exploratory method to address climate challenges and build a community around these efforts. Her first encounter with sheep farming began when she acquired four Shetland sheep. This decision was not informed by prior knowledge of sheep breeds; rather, it was a stroke of luck that a Shetland sheep breeder was willing to sell to her. Hunter's initial education in sheep farming came from library books, and she, along with her husband who was actively involved in building the farm from scratch, faced numerous challenges during their first five years. Their journey took an unexpected turn when they discovered that there were no wool processors in Manitoba. The nearest facility was in Alberta, but it required a minimum of 40 pounds of wool, and they had only 32 pounds. Eventually, they found a solution in North Dakota, in the United States, which ultimately led them to open a mini mill in Manitoba. This book emerged from Hunter's desire to explore the beauty of Canadian-grown wool and its intersection with our daily lives. More importantly, it tells the story of Canadian farmers and ranchers, highlighting the potential of sheep and wool in stabilizing the climate crisis. Through interviews, the book weaves together beautiful narratives of fibre friendships, breed conservation, and climate mitigation. The book contextualizes the history and current state of the Canadian textile industry, highlighting how modern sheep farming has shifted focus to meat production, often leaving wool to decompose in the wild. It provides insights into the diversity of sheep, emphasizing the variability of wool fibres among different breeds and their unique interactions with needles, hooks, or spinning wheels. It also explores the relationship between sheep and land, connecting it to the concept of textile agriculture (farm-to-closet). The book underscores how the rise of synthetic, carbon-based textiles like nylon and polyester has deepened the disconnect between clothing and agriculture. Hunter emphasizes that recognizing textiles as agricultural products can shift the fast-fashion mindset, helping us appreciate the resources and labour involved in clothing production. She also highlights the role of wool as a carbon sink: animals like sheep convert carbon into wool, which can be composted at the end of its life cycle, returning carbon and nutrients to the soil, thus continuing the cycle. There is something remarkable about wearing natural wool: we are essentially wearing carbon sinks. The book ends with a call to action, encouraging readers to support local fibre, while building upon key debates in environmental, economic, and cultural geography. It emphasizes the role of local economies and sustainable practices in fostering community resilience and ecological stewardship. By exploring place-based sustainability and traditional practices, the book makes a notable contribution to human geography and engages with political ecology debates on consumer impacts. It offers practical insights for applying geographic theories to real-world issues like sustainability, community development, and production politics in the era of the Anthropocene.

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