Latest Posts
Ask the Shepherd: The Proper Way to Skirt a Fleece
Curls…lustrous gray Gotland curls…that’s what spinners and felters are so eager to get hold of. Though I raise my own Gotland sheep, I too have ventured beyond my own flock in search of these silver ringlets. “One can never have enough,” I tell my husband when he asks why a box of raw fleece arrives in the mail. raw wool … Read More
Boomerang Child~Posting with Anna Goodling
She gave her daddy a boomerang for Christmas, a photograph of herself with a little smirky smile taped to the front of it. “Sorry,” she said as he opened his gift. After being away for 4 1/2 years, seeking knowledge and seeing a different part of the world, she came back – the boomerang child. She wants to experience Vermont … Read More
Woven – the Interconnected Community Supporting Our Sheep
~Woven~ All that I do as a shepherd is part of an interconnected community of individuals, from sheep shearers, to veterinarians, to mills, to hay farmers, to local feed stores, and to knitters and fiber artists. Our lives are all woven together through my flock of sheep. This felted vest represents that woven community and our relationships, one to another. … Read More
Beneath the Blanket of Snow
Beneath the blanket of snow that covers our farm, lush pastures rest and wait. Winter provides one the longest stretches of time when our pastures can rest before another grazing season begins. Rotational grazing is an important component in our sustainable farm practices. Each summer and fall, we utilize rotational grazing. We subdivide each of our fields into smaller … Read More
Favorite Posts of 2016
With 2016 drawing to a close, I thought I would take a peek at which posts you gravitated to the most in 2016. So here they are: Top Shepherding Posts How Can Sheep Survive Bitter Cold Weather-with Vermont winters, our flock must withstand snow, ice, and sometimes subzero weather. Here I shared the unique qualities that allow sheep to adapt … Read More