Cotton Spinning with Joan Ruane

what is joan doing ?

VISITING THE HEMP GROWING & PROCESSING IN SOUTH EAST SOUTH DAKOTA

Karll Lecher -Joan - John Peterson

Joan & Ken Meyer

This trip with my daughter Judy took us to South Dakota to learn about the growing and harvesting of hemp. John and Karll live in Wakonda, SD where they are growing hemp for grain and textile. Go to Hemp Dakota to see their website. They are in the process of putting up a processing plant to make hemp fiber for textile. More details coming soon on my website. Our second stop was in Winfred, SD to visit Ken Meyer who has been working with the local hemp farmers for several years processing their hemp hurd for all kinds uses. South Dakota has the honor of growing more hemp than any other state in 2024.

I am still traveling, and I will be adding a lot more information about our trip. I am looking forward to telling you more about the growing and processing of hemp in South Dakota. Go to my “HEMP” page for updates.

This May 2025 Joan went to Ireland where she shared her cotton and hemp spinning knowledge with Irish spinners. May 10th, she met with a group of spinners in Dublin and on the 11th of May, she was in County Laois, located at Mount Henry Farm. There in a 4th generation farmhouse met with a lovely group of spinners. After several days of exploring the Irish castles and beautiful landscaping Joan was on the other side of Ireland in the Galway area. There she met with a large group of spinners in the community center in Crusheen.

Throughout her trip she met so many wonderful and kind people. The spinners all shared their knowledge and a big thank you went out to all the Irish hospitality and sharing of their homes.

In July, Joan is looking forward to heading up to South Dakota where they are maintaining the hemp lead. Ken Meyer has a hemp processing plant in the southeast corner of S.D. Through his efforts the state has grown to be the #1 state growing and processing hemp. Joan will be visiting Ken and the hemp farmers around him. Watch for photos and lots of hemp information here this fall.

Oh, how tall the hemp has grown

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Joan & Judy Headed for Ireland to visit the Irish Spinning Guilds