Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrissy Davenport
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2016 my family, husband Sam, boys Theron (now 10) Orrin (now 9), moved to our farm near Underwood, MN. I grew up in Fargo/Moorhead and Sam grew up outside of Fergus Falls. Shortly after moving we adopted a herding mix dog who I thought needed a job so I started researching sheep; we had already added cows and chickens to the farm. I landed on a rare, dual purpose breed, the Romeldale/CVM, and added 7 sheep to our farm. As it turns out, our 1st dog was a herding flop so that lead to finding a Border Collie bred for work because now I have sheep and I enjoy herding. The next spring the sheep were shorn and I got to work marketing their wool to handspinners. As I shipped wool all over the country, and Alaska, I learned how to work with wool myself. My original starter flock has now grown to roughly 25 sheep, each spring that number increases to near 40 during lambing time. Each year after shearing and skirting fleeces I am left with bags full of wool that didn’t make the “to make beautiful things” cut, whether it is too dirty with hay and straw or has other “flaws”. I had people telling me to use this waste wool in our garden, which I did, however it was a mess and not easy to work with. I started watching other farms making wool pellets with “waste” wool in other areas of the country and thought it was a great idea so I began learning what I could. Early 2024 I purchased equipment to make wool pellets from raw wool. That was the beginning of Re-Ewe’able and making wool pellets, a natural fertilizer and soil amendment made from wool. Wool pellets are 100% wool which makes them natural, sustainable and renewable. Sheep grow wool every day and need to be sheared to be healthy. Wool pellets contain nitrogen, potassium, sulfur and other micronutrients that plants love. The nutrients are available right away and are slow released as the wool naturally biodegrades. They absorb water easily, they swell when they absorb water and readily release the moisture as the soil and plants need it. This creates a porous environment that roots love for growth. The moisture retention of wool pellets helps us reduce watering needs and keeps moisture more consistent for steady plant growth. Wool pellets work great in all gardening and planting applications from in ground vegetable gardens and flower beds, pots, containers and raised beds to hanging pots and houseplants. They also work great for making seed blocks and starting seeds, they give the starts what they need, consistent moisture and nutrients. I also do custom pelleting for other farms, turning their wool into pellets for them to use and sell.
In the last year my family and I have attended farmers markets, vendor fairs and home and garden events spreading the word and educating people about the benefits using wool pellets in gardening and planting. While starting Re-Ewe’able I worked with an external lab to have a guaranteed analysis done on the wool pellets and then the Minnesota Dept of Ag to get licensed as a Specialty Fertilizer Producer.
The summer of 2024 I heard about an opportunity to purchase a handmade natural bath & body products store in Fergus Falls. I had purchased bar soaps from them for making wool felted soaps for my business and knew they had a great line up of proven products. I felt it was a great fit with what I was building with Re-Ewe’able and I made the leap. In November of 2024 I became the owner of SoapWerks Naturals and began making the amazing products the previous owners were making and added my wool products to the downtown Fergus Falls store. My goals are to build a wider customer base working with other businesses and wholesale accounts along with growing online sales. I also want to make the store a place where people can connect with local farmers and purchase farm raised products.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Educating customers and the public about the benefits of using wool pellets and the other natural products we make in the store. More and more people are looking for natural products with ingredients they can pronounce and are familiar with.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the owner of Re-Ewe’able LLC. I handle all functions of running the business, operating the store and making products that I sell in my store .
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
While my constantly going mind feels like a drain at times it is also what keeps me going and coming up with new ideas. I enjoy working with my hands and creating, my business allows me to do this each day. Meeting new people and sharing my passion for products made naturally is so enjoyable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reeweable.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reeweable
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/soapwerks
