Naturally-Tanned Sheepskin Hides from Colorado: From Our Land to Your Home
- Virginia & Peter Sargent
- Dec 2, 2025
- 3 min read
At Longroots Ranch, we think a lot about holism. Whole land. Whole animals. Whole people.
Naturally-tanned sheep hides are one of the most tangible expressions of that philosophy — a way to honor the whole life cycle of our animals and carry their story from pasture to home in the most honest, beautiful way we know how.
Our sheepskin hides come from sheep raised on regenerative pasture in Boulder County, Colorado. Each hide is tanned using traditional, chemical-free methods and finished into a soft, heirloom-quality sheepskin for your home.
Here’s why we choose to tan our hides — and why we’re so proud to share them with you.
1. Honoring the Whole Animal through Regenerative Ranching
Our sheep build soil, cycle nutrients, stimulate plant growth, and bring life back to the land through regenerative grazing. Their daily work improves water infiltration, increases biodiversity, and strengthens the ecosystem under our care.
When the time comes for harvest, those same animals nourish families as clean, nutrient-dense protein through our meat shares.
Tanning the hides is the natural completion of that cycle.
Nothing is wasted. The hide that once buffered that animal against wind, rain, snow, and sun becomes a lasting, functional, beautiful piece in your home. It’s a continuation of the relationship between land, animal, and people — not an afterthought.
2. Supporting Traditional, Chemical-Free Tanning Methods
We intentionally work with traditional, artisanal tanners in the U.S. who use time-tested, natural methods — the way hides were tanned long before industrial chemicals existed.
Before we send our hides for tanning, we pick them up from the USDA processor as soon as they come off the animal and bring them back to the ranch to cover the skin in salt. Salting preserves the hide and keeps the hair intact.
Then we send the hides to a certified organic tannery (Traditional Tanners in Ashland, Oregon). What goes into their tanning process?
Tannin from plants
Natural oils — organic egg yolks and olive oil or fish oil
Non-GMO citric acid
Salt
Vinegar and water
That’s it. No chromium. No formaldehyde. No harsh industrial chemicals.
This slow, hands-on process takes skill, patience, and deep respect for the material. The result is a hide that is supple, naturally preserved, and safe for your home — the best choice for babies doing tummy time!
By choosing naturally-tanned hides, you are also directly supporting these incredible craftspeople who keep traditional tanning knowledge alive in a modern world.
3. A One-of-a-Kind Sheepskin Heirloom for Your Home
No two sheep are alike — and no two hides are, either. Each hide carries unique:
Color variation
Texture
Size and shape
These are not factory-perfect, mass-produced decor items. They are living artifacts of an actual animal raised on real, regenerative pasture in Boulder County.
Your hide might become a favorite reading-chair throw, a meditation mat, a cozy bench layer, a statement piece on the wall, or a blanket on your bed. And it will never, ever look like something you picked up at a big box store!
Our 2025 hides drop on December 5. SNEAK PEAK BELOW!
All Longroots Ranch sheepskins are produced in small batches and offered seasonally. Local pickup or delivery is available in Longmont and the Front Range; and limited shipping within Colorado and the continental U.S.
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