The spark of a great idea often comes from one of life’s mundane moments. For Pukekohe couple Jacinta and Greg Penn, it was watching a pile of shorn wool from their pet sheep decomposing in their backyard. Realising how long the wool was taking to break down, the thought occurred that it could be used to solve a pressing problem for New Zealand crop growers.
It was the genesis of Fleecegrow, a clever innovation that offers an eco-friendly, sustainable, and locally sourced alternative to imported hydroponic growing media. With Blender’s help, the couple are about to enter the exciting next phase of their business – taking their product from prototype to market-ready mass production. We caught up with Jacinta to hear more about Fleecegrow.
An idea takes root.
Coming from a farming background and living in the horticultural hotspot of Pukekohe, Jacinta had a deep understanding of New Zealand’s agricultural landscape. This background proved invaluable when she began working on her Masters in Future Technologies and became involved in a pilot project developing STEM-based educational garden kits for schools. “The growing medium in the garden kit was a plastic sponge, which I just hated,” says Jacinta. But the little school pots were just a snapshot of a much bigger issue. Jacinta explains that New Zealand’s greenhouse growers rely heavily on growing media to support the diverse and thriving horticulture sector.
“Hydroponic growers use soil-less growing media which allows them to control nutrient and air levels and provide good support for the plant.” Commonly used media include coconut coir and peat. Because peat is a carbon store, it’s becoming increasingly restricted and discouraged around the world. Some countries are even banning its use. This, as well as ongoing supply chain delays, are all having a significant impact on the crop-growing industry, creating a need for growing media alternatives.
Thinking back to her pile of wool, Jacinta realised it was taking around two years to decompose. “I discovered that strong wool is one of the slowest natural fibres to decompose, which got me thinking about using it as a great growing medium.”
Taking shape.
Once the backbone of the New Zealand economy, the wool industry has been struggling. Strong wool, which makes up 85 per cent of New Zealand’s wool, is often seen as less desirable due to its coarse texture compared to fine merino wool. This, combined with the rise of synthetic materials and increased global competition, has seen demand for New Zealand strong wool plunge over recent years. Sadly, the wool is often left sitting in piles or taking up storage space.
Seeing the potential to address both the wool industry’s struggles and the demand for sustainable growing media, Jacinta and Greg developed a way to mould wool into blocks without any chemical binders or glue.
“Products like wool insulation often have around 30 per cent polyester added to give it structure. But of course, you don’t want polyester in your growing media. After some trial and error, we’ve found a way to create height and form for various shapes,” says Jacinta.
In 2023, the couple joined the Sprout Accelerator program which helped Greg and Jacinta develop a prototype and test its feasibility.
Ready to grow with Blender.
Fleecegrow took a big step forward at this year’s Fieldays event, not only winning the Prototype Category at the Fieldays Innovation Awards but also making some key connections and gaining valuable feedback from the agricultural industry.
“We had one wool farmer offer us his entire wool shed on consignment – that’s about 30,000kg of wool.”
The big challenge for Fleecegrow now is commercialisation. “We need to go from a slow, clunky, half-automated machine to something fast enough for commercial production. That’s where we’re really excited about working with Blender,” says Jacinta.
“At the moment, we have some basic diagrams. We need to take the next big leap, which means going from theory to literally designing the machine for production. Blender’s professional advice and practical help will be pivotal in accelerating our journey to scalable production.”
Within a very short space of time, Fleecegrow has gone from concept to prototype. Growing trials are well underway not only in New Zealand, but in America, Mexico, and Australia.
Ready to grow your idea?
Inspired by Fleecegrow’s journey? Blender can help take your concept from the drawing board to the hands of customers, turning your vision into a product that not only meets the market but makes a lasting impact. Contact Blender today and let’s make it happen.
