“Green Cashmere” Field Work on the Patagonian Steppes

Many of you know that Ginger was headed to Argentina to interact with cashmere goat herders and the guanaco cooperative (www.payunmatru.com). After an overnight flight from Houston, TX to Buenos Aries, Argentina then an overnight bus ride to Junín de los Andes, the real adventure started! And yes, that is two days of travel to get to the beginning!

Ginger writes:
Susan Walker, who works with the Wildlife Conservation Society (facebook.com/WCS.Patagonian.and.Andean.Steppe), and her husband, Andres Navarro, are long time friends and sponsored my visit to Argentina. They live in Junín and work in the Patagonian Steppe on habitat restoration for the benefit of threatened and endangered species such as the Andean cat, Darwin’s rhea, hairy armadillos and guanaco. As part of the effort to improve the habitat, WCS has been working with the local goat farmers to reduce over grazing of the fragile grasses allowing the return of the guanaco migrations and population expansion of animals that depend on the steppe for survival. Many of the local goats produce a cashmere undercoat, which increases the individual animal’s value. The herders are forming cooperatives, working with WCS veterinarians on better husbandry, and learning how to improve the quality of the cashmere through breeding management programs and by combing out the cashmere at the appropriate time.

I traveled to the Patagonian Steppe to observe the conditions of the farmers and animals, consult with the farmers to assist with improving the quality of the animals and fiber, and purchase raw cashmere. A day’s driving brought us to our first stop at the Grupo Costa del Río Colorado cooperative. This group is incorporating sustaining husbandry to reduce herd size and improve cashmere production. I was able to purchase a quantity of raw cashmere, which represented a 10% increase of their annual income. This was the first purchase of “green” cashmere: cashmere that was produced in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner! It was very exciting to be part of this momentous event!

We visited another group, the Carrizalito Cooperative, and I was able to purchase more cashmere. Members of this group are incorporating guard dogs into their herds to reduce loss of goats to predators, mostly the puma. Where the dogs have integrated, the program has been a success! Both of these groups are working toward or have applied for Wildlife Friendly Certification from WCS (www.wildlifefriendly.org).

We drove through the Payunia reserve on our way to El Aguita where we spent a couple of nights. Along the way we observed large herds of guanaco migrating from wintering feeding grounds to the summer grounds. We had a meeting with the cooperative (www.payunmatru.com) who are shearing the guanaco. We discussed marketing, fiber, processing, I was able to evaluate the handspun and mill spun yarns. I was not able to purchase any guanaco on this trip, but Ewephoric Fibers still has a quantity available through our Etsy shop.

I will work with these groups to assist them in producing the best possible, sustainable cashmere by consulting on breeding programs, fiber collection, and by introducing this luxurious fiber to hand spinners and fiber artists through Ewephoric Fibers! Be sure to keep checking back with us as we process the raw cashmere into exquisitely soft and luxurious spinning fibers! I will share more tales of travel and keep everyone informed of the progress!