Acton farm helps revive Ontario’s overlooked wool industry

By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca

 

What began as a hobby on a quiet rural property in Acton has grown into a hyper-local business that’s helping revive an overlooked part of Ontario’s agricultural landscape: wool.

 

Derek and Jeanette Schenk, owners of Gezellige Farm, never set out to launch a full-fledged fibre-processing operation.

 

Ten years ago, the family moved to the farm, where their daughters enjoyed riding the on-site horses. When welcoming a bottle-fed lamb to the farm, Jeanette — a lifelong knitter and crocheter — discovered a deeper interest in sheep and wool.

 

Then, when Derek left a stressful IT job last year, the couple asked what they wanted their next chapter to look like.

 

“What are we going to do with our days?” Jeanette recalled. “What are we going to do to bring meaning and enjoyment?”

 

As they increased their flock, the pair began experimenting with processing fibre themselves and quickly realized the region was hungry for exactly that service.

 

Canada’s wool sector has long faced shrinking demand due to low prices and a lack of local processing capacity.

 

Large mills often rely on harsh chemicals and high-water usage and according to Derek, wait times can stretch more than a year.

 

Due to the long wait times, for many smaller producers, fleece is simply thrown out or burned.

 

A 2025 report by the Textile Exchange, a global non-profit revealed that synthetic fibres overwhelmingly dominated global textile production at 69 per cent, accounting for 91 million tonnes.

 

Natural fibres from plants, animals and cellulose made up 33 per cent with wool accounting for only 1.1 per cent, accounting for 1.3 million tonnes.

 

Gezellige Farm, which was established this year, was named after the Dutch word “Gezellige” which means cozy or inviting.

 

The Schenks process wool using an environmentally safe surfactant soap instead of industrial chemicals as wool, being an animal product, often arrives covered in dirt and debris.

 

Any fibre that can’t be turned into high quality craft materials becomes soil-enriching wool pellets, which are sold at Acton Home Hardware.

 

“People don’t realize wool can be used in the garden,” Derek said, “It’s a renewable, environmentally-friendly soil amendment. It holds moisture, adds nutrients, and most people have never heard of it.”

 

Demand has grown faster than the couple expected.

 

The Schenks’ farm sources fleece from both local farmers, who drop off their fibre, and producers across Canada who ship it directly.

 

In turn, the Schenks offer to process raw fleece into saleable wool products for a fee. They also purchase surplus fleece outright, saving it from being burned or ending up in landfills.

 

“There is very little mill capacity in Canada,” Derek said. “So while our focus is hyper-local, we’re processing fibre for people from coast to coast.”

 

Many customers are new farmers or hobbyists arriving with fleece that may not meet mill standards elsewhere.

 

“We want to help the people who were us 10 years ago,” Jeannette said. “Sometimes people come in with fleece that’s dirty or filled with burrs. Other mills might turn it away, but we take the time to explain, help them improve next year and make sure they still leave with something they can use.”

 

The Schenks take pride in helping a growing number of residents reconnect with natural fibres, especially given the dominance of synthetics in global textiles.

 

“People think local agriculture means vegetables or maybe meat,” Jeanette said. “But what about local textiles? They’re just as important, especially when you think about environmental impact.”

 

Popular products, which can be purchased on their website, vary depending on the audience.

 

Roving — which is wool fibre ready to be spun — is favoured among spinners and weavers, while garden shows draw interest in wool pellets.

 

Craft kits, insoles and felted goods are also gaining traction.

 

“When I say I make things with wool, people automatically think dryer balls,” Jeanette said. “They’re great, but there’s so much more you can do.”

 

Looking ahead, the couple hopes to expand slowly, possibly adding spinning capacity so customers can turn their wool into yarn without outsourcing.

 

They’re also considering a natural dye garden; however, growth isn’t the primary goal.

 

“Nobody gets into farming to get rich,” Derek said. “We want to make a difference, not get big.”

 

For the Schenks, success is about people.

 

“Gezellige means making people feel welcome,” Jeanette said. “People will remember how you made them feel. If they leave here encouraged and come back in two years because it was a good experience — that’s the mission accomplished.”