About this episode

David Richie discusses the founding of the Green Mountain Spinnery and its impact on local sustainability in Vermont.

A small group of Vermonters wanted to improve the environment and preserve the rural character of the state. Along with two friends, David Richie and his wife found a way: they founded the Green Mountain Spinnery. David Richie and his wife, Diana, wanted to keep their home state and region green and farm-friendly. Believing in thinking globally and acting locally, they joined a reading group in the late 1970s with others interested in conservation and social responsibility. Concerned about the environmental dangers of nuclear power in New England, their friends Claire Wilson and Libby Mills found themselves in jail after protesting a nearby power plant, giving them time to talk about what they could do to make a difference on a smaller scale. Claire asked, “When I see so many sheep here in Vermont, why do I have to order my weaving yarn from Sweden?” Farmers’ markets had begun to arise, bringing produce from the field to home cooks in the heart of the city, letting small-scale farmers keep more of their profits by selling direct. Why not do the same for shepherds and make their sheep’s wool available to weavers? As knitters and weavers, Claire and Libby knew about using yarn, but…

People in this episode

Guest: David Richie

Topics covered

• environment
• sustainability
• local business
• crafting
• wool production

Keywords

• Green Mountain Spinnery
• David Richie
• Vermont
• sustainability
• wool
• crafting
• local business

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Green Mountain Spinnery

Places: Vermont, New England

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