The Black Merino sheep from Monte dos Cedros

Today we want to tell you about Monte dos Cedros that we got to know in 2019 through a happy coincidence: a close friend commented that her cousin had started raising black merino sheep!

As many of you know, we use wool exclusively from indigenous breeds in our Wool courses and make available Portuguese raw wool in our online store for other spinning and felting enthusiasts. Therefore, we are always looking for new producers who come up with approaches to sheep and wool production in line with our principles.

Monte dos Cedros, located in the Évora area, belongs to Carlos and Marta, two young producers, both licensed in Animal Production, who started to produce Merina Preta sheep in 2019 under a certified organic grazing regime. The choice for these sheep was made because they were looking for animals of a rustic breed, well adapted to the region, and that's how the Merinas Pretas were chosen.

At the beginning of 2020, we started talking to them about the process of shearing and wool selection, with the objective of us buying it, and in May, we organized everything for the first shearing in Monte dos Cedros. Although Marta and Carlos had already done an excellent job raising these animals during the rest of the year, it was now necessary to ensure not only a quality shearing but also that the skirting, selection and conditioning of the wool were done in the best way.
We genuinely believe wool can be valued more than it is currently in Portugal. Still, we also know that it is essential that producers receive training on the topic to know not only the raw material they produce but also how it can be valued and marketed more profitably. And, of course, the producers must have openness and interest in the topic.
As you would expect, we had Marty and Susana O'Connell handle the shearing because it is not enough to remove the fleece in one piece without second cuts, but also that sheep are treated with the dignity they deserve. The animals are shorn on a wooden platform to avoid contamination in the wool, and the fleeces are immediately placed on a skirting table to remove contaminated parts and to select the wool.

This 2020 shearing day was one of teaching about good practices in Wool production, including teaching about the wool fibre itself, selection, skirting and storing with the purpose of selling to a more discerning public.
Marta showed a lot of interest in the wool she produces and a natural sensitivity to the subject, which facilitated the learning process. The result of that day was a careful selection of Merina Preta wool fleeces, which were selected by Alice Bernardo and sold in our store and used in our courses.
As we always say: happy sheep make the best wool, and those from Monte dos Cedros are happy!

In 2021, the shearing was again done by Marty, but the selection and processing of the wool were already entirely guided by Marta, with indispensable assistance from Susana.
That year, we bought the wool from the whole flock to be washed and carded and made it available in our store for those who like to spin and felt with Portuguese wool of controlled origin.

In 2022, Marta was entirely responsible for the entire selection process and direct sale of whole fleeces and black merino wool by the kilo to the final public, which she managed to do with great success! This case makes us very happy because it proves that it is possible to value Portuguese wool, especially from small, high-quality farms such as Monte dos Cedros, provided that serious training is carried out and fair alternatives are found for its commercialization.
We are very proud of the work Marta and Carlos have been developing and of having contributed not only with training in 2020 but also with the follow-up we have done since then. Of course, there is still a long way to go, but we think they are an example of what the future of wool production in Portugal could be.

*Carded wool from the Black Merinos from Monte dos Cedros, produced organically, available through our store*.

Links to explore:

- Saber Fazer’s shop to buy Black Merino Wool from Monte dos Cedros: carded wool and raw fleeces.
- Monte dos Cedros website to learn more about their work and order wool fleeces directly from them