Fashion to field

Cotton

30 Mar

Cotton garments return to cotton fields as part of the Circular Cotton Farming Project.

Whilst in the region for the Fibre to Fashion event, Emma (your designer) had the chance to visit Scott Morgan at his farm Kensal Green, just outside Gunnedah. Scott has a firm connection to Aussie cotton, with his grandmother and grandfather growing 220 acres in the early 50’s at Biloela (central Queensland). It was great to hear Scott’s excitement for the future - and his keenness to praise others in the industry driving remarkable change, from Sam Coulton (Goondawindi Cotton), Dr Oliver Knox (CRDC) to David and Danielle Statham of Good Earth Cotton.

Back in 2012 Scott studied renewable engineering in Sydney, at the time his daughters were there at school and he described it as a great opportunity: traveling there every week for about six months, building on his already extensive electrical knowledge.

Scott’s irrigation is solar powered. Being what Scott describes as a “small” venture, he looked locally but in the end had to import the components himself. Scott built the project himself from the ground up, sourcing a tracking solar array from Germany and pipeline from Malaysia, taking a family holiday to Penang to locate it!

Scott is able to pump off-grid for ten hours a day. Every year he prevents two coal train carriages from being burnt up in the atmosphere. Scott also pointed out the savings, his innovation paid for itself in three years!

When asked about the Circular Cotton Farming Project Scott speaks of it being a natural fit within his farming practices. He speaks passionately and with excitement about how The Soil Your Undies project was a really good demonstration of how a natural fibre like cotton biodegrades into the soil. There was nothing left. But the polyester one, right next to it. Put it in the washing machine and you could wear it tomorrow.

At Kensal Green the Circular Cotton Farming Project has had its challenges, mother nature is great at keeping all farmers on their toes. Scott explained that he had planned to spread the cotton waste on the farm in August but due to floods- it ended up being much later. In December the cotton fibres were spread into the fields, amongst the already sprouted cotton field. He describes the cotton as being ground fine, much finer than the original trial - and the colour of lavender.

Scott speaks to me about the importance of the textile waste spread on his land being free from synthetics. If any of that spandex gets in the soil you’d never get rid of it!

“All these consumer choices.. and use of hidden plastics, years ago we never had spandex jeans. Metal studs will rust and decay eventually but polyester zips will last hundreds of years in the soil.”

He also stressed his concern for the plastic we never see: all the microfibres in the ocean and how they accumulate in the food chain. Despite these quite heavy topics - Scott remains relentlessly optimistic in our conversations! He is excited about what is being done in Australia & the importance of identifying yourself as a Better Cotton grower.

Scott Morgan’s grandmother with the family’s first cotton yield. During this first crop they received an early frost leading up to harvest with disastrous results.

Scott’s farm is MyBMP certified. The Cotton Best Management Practices (BMP) program was initially a grower-driven environmental management program that transformed the way cotton was grown in Australia. Over the past 15 years, the cotton industry has proactively managed its actions and risks through the implementation of BMP. Widespread adoption of Cotton BMP has helped to deliver a sustainable cotton industry which is regarded as maintaining the world’s best practices and is seen as a model for change by other sectors of Australian agriculture. 1