Staying warm this winter doesn’t have to mean burning extra oil. Just wrap yourself up in one of Nanne Kennedy’s Mermaid Nappers, and you’ll stay cozy and green at the same time.

The napper is one of Kennedy’s simply named Maine Blankets, made from wool shorn from grass-fed sheep at her own Meadowcroft Farm in Washington, and other farms within a five-hour radius. Each blanket has a stripe accent made with Seacolors yarn that has been dyed by hand. Instead of fixing the mineral dyes with chemicals, Kennedy uses natural salts and acids along with solar heat, which means you get only warmth from your blanket – no itch. The yarns come in beautiful muted colors “inspired by moments in nature,” according to Kennedy’s website. Blue is a customer favorite.

Courtesy photo

Kennedy has a recovery system for all of the dye liquor and wash water that she uses to make the Seacolors yarns. It doesn’t go down the drain; it’s used to irrigate her upper pastures.

Kennedy knew from an early age that she wanted to be a farmer. “I had an affinity with animals,” she recalled in a phone interview, as her border collies barked for their supper. “I started saving when I was 12 for a farm. I had my future farm account, and by the time I was 25 I had enough for my down payment.”

She traveled to New Zealand in her early 20s to learn about grazing sheep. Kennedy chose to raise sheep because they were a good fit for the land here in Maine, “and I thought the products were a good fit for the seasons here in Maine.”

Her blankets are made of a blend of fine wool that traps air and helps the material breathe better, and more medium grades that add to the thickness of the blankets, meaning they hold up well.

Maine Blankets come in several sizes. The Mermaid Napper is the largest, at 45 by 70 inches, and costs $280. You can find them on Kennedy’s website and in the L.L. Bean Home Store. Kennedy also sells them at the Boothbay and Damariscotta farmers markets in summer, and at the Bath winter farmers market on Saturdays.