Our sheep provide an abundant crop of beautiful fleece twice a year. In mid-October we shear the lambs and most of the ewes. The fleeces we get are in all colors and patterns: white, moorit (brown), black, spotted, gray, mouflan, badgerface, beautiful! The outer coat (tog) is long and strong. The undercoat (thel) is soft and warm. The fall clip provides wonderful fleece for handspinners.

           Whether as raw fleece or as roving, it can be spun into yarn suitable for a number of products from baby clothing made from the soft undercoat to durable rugs made from adult fleece. From weavers to knitters, from those who love felting to those who want to make braided rugs, Icelandic wool is excellent and wool products are warmer and last longer than those made from man-made fibers.

           In very late March, we have the entire flock shorn. The rams get rid of their already shedding year’s growth and the ewes get clean and trim before they lamb. The spring clip is usually most suitable for felting. We sell raw fleece, and have some made into roving, yarn including some lopi, felting batts and two-toned felts.

          Though we started with the idea of selling breeding stock and fleece, our experience has taught us that not all animals, even from the best stock, should be breeding stock. Thus, we have diversified into also selling freezer lamb to local customers. Of course we do sell registered, breeding quality ewes, ewe lambs, and rams. During fall and winter we also offer bred ewes. A selected few of our sheep, unsuitable for breeding but having lovely fleeces or friendly personalities, are available as fiber pets for a spinner’s flock or as beautiful lawn mowers.

 

          

           Our sheep have not only brought us the joy of having beautiful, interesting livestock, but they have enabled us to learn many things that have influenced our relationship to our land. Before we got our sheep, our farm consisted of several open fields separated by the brambly overgrown fence rows that ultimately named our farm for us. Our fields were plowed and planted in alternating years to crops of corn and soybeans. At first we were really pleased at the contribution to agriculture that we believed our farm made. As we lived with our rented out fields and the annual crops on our gently undulating land, we were shocked to see how much erosion was taking its toll on our soil, visible even the first year to our new farming eyes.

           It makes us laugh now to think of how we took our rototiller and garden rakes out to smooth the chisel plowed ruts and so we could plant half an acre of pasture. That left about 64 1/2 acres to go...

           The half acre, obviously, didn’t do anything to stop the erosion, but it was a start. We planted a little more and a little more. By that time we were seriously considering which type of livestock we wanted. A friend introduced us to Icelandic sheep and we were instantly convinced. We started our flock with two beautiful ewe lambs, Madeline and Lucy, as well as a ram and a wether to keep him company.

           Over the course of time we have learned the benefits to our land that grazing brings and the benefits to our own health that comes from eating grass fed meat and free range poultry. We are learning and implementing sustainable farming practices in order to leave our farm in a healthier, more productive state than it was when we bought it. All of our fields have now been converted to permanent pasture where we practice rotational grazing throughout the growing season.

           We have also added Icelandic chickens and Standard Bronze turkeys to our mix. Both are free range during the day and penned up at night for their protection from predators.