Just a quick post. Sheep Shares are out the door this week along with sheep calendars. Stay tuned!
Farm on All Hallow’s Eve
Snow in the air today for the second time this month. Brrrr.
Just finished brining in the flock, setting out Butterfingers and Heath bars, though I have a feeling the group below may be the only trick or treaters we see tonight (and they much prefer apples).
Carried my camera today so I could share some scenes from the flock and farm:
(Funny, leaves are mostly down but my petunias and phlox are hanging on!)
Happy Halloween.
hugs, Barb
Thoughts from a Fiber Farm in Fall
What's there to think about?
The "work" of the moment is thinking and planning for next spring. It's time to place the rams with the ewes. HIgh time. The flock is restless and impatient. With four eligible and highly motivated boys (Teaberry, Parsely, Chai and Cinder) and dozens of young ewes, I have more options than ever before for pairing. With one black and one moorit ram, there's more potential for breeding for color. I could easily breed 50 or more ewes. So exciting. So tempting. But really, I do not need 100+ lambs next year.
This summer we rotated 110 sheep over 220 acres of pasturage, hay land, mixed wood and sometimes brush. Could we add more sheep to our land? Sure. We have plans to build more hard fenceline on the birch tree lot and down in the dell.
In my recent reading about grass based farming, I've hoped to find a simple rule of thumb: how many sheep can an acre of land sustain? There's a crazy number of variables: soil type, quality of forage, rotation schedule, etc. I was not entirely surprised to find there is no easy rule of thumb, though I did find a suggested guideline of allowing 4 acres per sheep. If that were true, our farm would only support 55 head. When our numbers were that small a few years back, we had pastures going to seed, the flock couldn't keep up with the grass.
If we weren't managing a flock for premium wool, I know we could push our sheep harder than we do, forcing them to clean up in the fields. But the wool would suffer. If we grazed our land more intensively, the land would suffer. Fields need time to recharge. Sheep have funny dining habits. They love grazing and re-grazing their favorite bits, leaving unpalatable weeds and certain varieties of sedge untouched. We have to mow what they don't/won't eat.
So we're thinking about balance. What's best for the health of the flock, land – and shepherds, too.
On that note, let me share that I'm writing this post thinking about the farm not from the farm, but from my outpost at a Boston hotel. Yesterday I had a cardiac stress test, MRI, labs and a meeting with my doc at Brigham & Womens. It was an exhausting day, but the word from my doc is encouraging.
I am getting my energy back (compared to six weeks ago, the improvement is dramatic). My heart is mending. My biggest challenge is regaining muscle and strength – and I'll be working with a fitness trainer toward that goal in the coming weeks. Exercise, though draining, is the best thing for me right now. I'm not looking to run marathons, but I would like to be able to flip a ewe or to hike to the top of my hayfield without getting winded sometime in the not so distant future.
I wanted to share this positive news with you, as you all have been so kind in wishing me well and keeping me in your thoughts. Many of you have made very generous contributions to my Flock For Healthy Hearts initiative for Go Red For Women. I thank you – whole heartedly!
I still have our gorgeous 2011 Flock For Healthy Hearts calendars available, my personal special thank you for the first 100 donors to this worthy cause. The calendars shipped late last week which means we'll be putting them in the mail this coming week.
And for those of you who keep checking, please stay tuned for an important announcement about Sheep Shares 2011.
Craft, fiber farm, health, and sheep.
fall, fiber farm, Flock For Healthy Hearts, and Go Red For Women.
fall, fiber farm, Flock For Healthy Hearts, and Go Red For Women.
Lambs In TV Land
Monday was a big day. Holly and I popped Mistral and Georgia into the back of my Highlander for a special field trip. We were guests on channel 22's (WWLP, our local NBC station) lifestyle program, MassAppeal.
The night before, I didn't sleep very well. In the wee hours of morning I found myself questioning the sanity of taking two lambs who have never set hoof off the farm to a television studio for live program.
It was an hour drive. Mistral was vocal, Georgia, quiet. I sang show tunes to help them relax on the way to Springfield.
I was really worried they would freak out in the studio. And although they were definitely baffled by their surroundings, they were more curious than spooked. With lambs on lead, we tiptoed our way through the set, stepping around cameras and over cables.
Mistral had to thoroughly inspect our corner of the set. While Georgia snacked on the hay Holly had brought along, Mistral nibbled cables and the wire to my mic, yanked yarn off our nice little display, sampled the carpeting on the podium, and investigated the nether region beneath the table skirt. But then they both settled down and took in the activity while eating breakfast from a bucket. On perfect behavior, they made friends with everyone: the producers, hosts, camera crew and other guests. We were asked more than once, "do all sheep behave like this?".
By the time we filmed our segment, the girls were in repose, chewing their cud quite happily.
And although they were quite clean (Holly saw to it) our corner of the set was quite aromatic in the barn-yard sense by the time we through. The host even joked about it toward the end of our interview.
The funny part – it wasn't the lambs. I made the gigantic error of grabbing a ram's fleece (Chai's) to show the color of raw moorit wool. The ventilation system wafted rammy smell throughout the entire studio. The crew was good natured about the mess (between hay and lamb poop, we'd trashed our little corner, look closely at the photos; it got much worse!), but I could sense not everyone was charmed. Holly and I were laughed all the way home about Chai's stinky fleece.
Back at the farm, the girls were glad to see Crackerjack and their friends. I don't think the attention has gone to their wooly little heads.
Here's a link if you'd like to check out our appearance on MassAppeal. (If it doesn't work, try searching for Foxfire Fiber on Monday, October 25).
A Grateful Flock!
First, let me say I am deeply touched by and grateful for your response to my invitation to Flock for Healthy Hearts, in support of Go Red for Women and the American Heart Association. With your help we quickly surpassed my initial goal of raising $2500 and the giving continues. It says a lot about the strength and love within the larger fiber community, how we rally and tend to each other. I can't thank you enough. I encourage you to share this post and this link for Go Red For Women. There's information about the movement and more importantly a list of cardiac warning signs.
I still have 2011 Flock for Healthy Heart calendars available, my personal gift for contributions (up to the first 100). Visit my page at Go Red For Women to make a donation. (Please be sure to include your postal address so I can send you a calendar when they are ready in November.) Thanks for continuing to spread the word.
And now some news from the flock front.
Mistral, Georgia and Arial are practicing walking on leads in preparation for a special television appearance. Later this month Holly, Mike and I will take them to the Springfield studio of our local NBC affiliate, channel 22. The gals will make their big debut on the program "Mass Appeal".
Teaching lambs to walk on leash is not as easy as it sounds. You can't just snap on a collar and tell them to "heel". Mistral needs little coaxing, since she already wants to follow us everywhere we go. Georgia isn't shy but she's headstrong. She balked at being led, stubbornly putting her head down, "Please do I really have to wear this thing?". But now she's use to her collar and is comfortable walking along, as long as Mistral is with her.
Arial is surprisingly reluctant. Although she's one of the friendliest lambs, I'm not sure if she's a confident at the other two. We'll see how far they all come over the next week. With sheep, it's a matter of introducing things slowly and then practicing new routines. Flocking together is natural. Walking on lead, not so much. But it is teachable.
I certainly don't want to stress them out (I'm definitely not a stage parent!). We'll take whoever is most comfortable. I'll be sure to keep you posted and will share some shots of them at the studio.
A final comment for the weekend: it feels very strange to us, not being at Rhinebeck this year. It's such an autumn ritual for me. I miss being with my people! But the break is doing me much good and I'm glad I had the sense to make this decision (albeit reluctantly). I will look forward to being there again in 2011 all the more.
If you go to the festival, please pat some yarn and nuzzle some sheep for me. Happy fibering!
animals/wildlife, Craft, fiber farm, health, and sheep.
Flock For Healthy Hearts, Go Red For Women, and sheep farm.
Flock For Healthy Hearts, Go Red For Women, and sheep farm.
Flock For Healthy Hearts
As you know if you're a regular visitor here, last summer I survived a major cardiac episode. It was frightening. It brought my work in running a sheep farm and a fiber arts studio to a grinding halt. And it profoundly changed my approach to living each day. I am grateful for the support of my family, physicians and friends. I am lucky to be here.
I have just "graduated" from twelve weeks of cardiac rehab. My goals are to get strong and back on my feet so I can fully engage in the things that bring the most meaning and joy to my life: family, friends, farm, flock & fiber.
Join my Flock For Healthy Hearts.
Please join me and my flock in raising awareness of women's cardiac risks and in promoting heart-healthy living. I am asking for your help in reaching a personal goal of raising $2,500. for Go Red For Women.
To donate, Please visit this link. Please share my story with family and friends.
My personal thanks for supporting this effort: the first 100 donations of $25 or more will receive a free 2011 Flock For Healthy Hearts wall calendar, featuring gorgeous full color photos of my flock and farm throughout the year. Calendars will be shipped starting November 1. After making your donation, please click here to send me your mailing address so I can send your calendar as soon as they are available.
To learn more, please visit Go Red For Women.
Thank you for reading, for sharing and for your support!
Barb xo
Fiber, Friends and Foliage
We love visitors!
A few scenes from Saturday's Fiber, Friends and Foliage open house. Thanks to everyone for sharing a special afternoon with us (and to those of you who were with us in spirit!).
Mistral & Georgia share an apple.
Crackerjack greeted his fans.
Lambs love making friends.
Especially Mistral.
Lambs also love pumpkin decorating.
Georgia and Holly – naptime!
A sneak peek at the Fall Yarn Shares.
Local Hero Llama
Tired lambsters.
photos courtesy of Madeline Kennedy, Lori Parker, Holly Sonntag, and Mike Parry. thank you!!
animals/wildlife, Craft, fiber farm, Handspinning, and sheep.
fiber farm, foliage, lambs, sheep farm, and Sheep Shares.
fiber farm, foliage, lambs, sheep farm, and Sheep Shares.
Plan “Be”
As you may have wondered, not everything has gone exactly according to plan here for several weeks. It's true: hay has been mown, baled and stacked in the barn. Though not overly fond of the fall monsoons that arrived this week, the sheep are relishing cooler days. And absolutely loving the hay field we decided not to mow, but to save for autumn pasture. So they're waist-deep in sheep nirvana. But as you've probably gathered from all quiet on the blog front, I have needed to step back a bit and take it easy.
Today I finished week twelve of cardi rehab. And although exhausted and intensely frustrated (at times) to not be up to speed, I am finding quiet gratitude for improvements week by week. It's a process that can't be rushed. I'm working on acceptance, listening better to my body, and shifting to plan "be".
Regrettably, it means paring back on my fall calendar. I've had to bow out of Fiber Twist, Rhinebeck and The Gathering for this year so I can put my energy into recovery and gradually returning to full-time shepherd-dome. I get small amounts of work done by plugging along each day and that feels very good. But the balance-thing is still tricky and sometimes elusive. So I hope you'll forgive my absence(s) this season.
I'm grateful for your continued support, kind thoughts, offers of help in this year unlike any other. Challenges have a way of clarifying priorities. Mike and Holly have the farm well in hand. And the Davenports were the heros who made hay happen so the flock can eat this winter.
Holly is outside in the rain at this very minute setting up the yard for a special visit tomorrow. She, Mike and I welcome you to stop by the farm between 11 – 3. Crackerjack and the lambs are in the yard. And the hillside is starting to glow with red and gold. If you were planning to make a foliage drive, Shelburne Falls is an amazing destination. The farm is just a slight detour on your way to the village. I can't promise that the sheep will be dry, but there's a rumor of sunshine. And no worries, I am camping in an adirondack chair with my knitting and perhaps a lamb in my lap. So please join me if you can.
And please stay tuned for a very special announcement early next week.
copyright 2010 Barbara Parry. All rights reserved.
animals/wildlife, Craft, fiber farm, Handspinning, knitting, and sheep.
Sheep Shadows
In the lengthening shadows of shortening of daylight hours, Mike and I inspected the ram pasture on Wednesday. Thanks to three solid rainy days, the grass is in good shape. But we noted the length of time they've spent on this field and deemed it time to change pastures.
The wet weather means no second mowing just yet. But we're entering a sunny dry spell. Hay is imminent. It's the stretch before Labor Day. Heath Fair, Cummington Fair, Franklin County Fair. Hay time.
Storms have wreaked a bit of havoc here. Thanks to a close encounter of the electrical kind, the farm phone is out and internet service has slowed to a trickle. I use to curse and swear and get really bent out of shape over such matters but I'm heeding recent lessons on keeping perspective 
I do apologize for the delayed post.
Here are some favorite moments from our pasture stroll. The big boys were especially mellow. Zero angst. It was sweet.
Cilantro, Chai
Zephyr
Chilling with Calvin and Cinder
Mike and Holly moved the boys to fresh pasture yesterday. Fresh grass makes them incredibly giddy, even though they still had plenty where they were. It makes their day.
P.S. : I have some good news for a lucky Sheep Shares member – Gretchen S. has won our summer yarn stash give-away!
copyright 2010. Barbara Parry. All rights reserved. Feel free to share a link to this website. Please do not take content or images from this website without my explicit written permission. Thank you.
animals/wildlife, Craft, fiber farm, Handspinning, knitting, and sheep.
fiber farm, hay, pasture, rams, and sheep farm.
fiber farm, hay, pasture, rams, and sheep farm.
Summer Shares
Returning from a blog hiatus and a trip to spend some time with my family and friends on the seacoast. We celebrated a very special birthday. My niece, Lilly, turned 1. And okay, I'm a little biased, but I'm telling you she is the cutest, happiest little girl in the world. It is such good fun being an Auntie.
Going on vacation is an amazing amount of work. List making, shopping, packing, instructions for the house sitter, instructions for the farm – it almost doesn't feel worth all the effort until you actually get away for a few days. I was exhausted by the time we'd packed the car. But once we arrived for a week of sailing on a friend's boat in Maine, Mike and I really began to relax. I am reminded that it's so important to unplug for a chunk of time and truly take a break. I let the guys do all the work and enjoyed the ride. And while I'm physically feeling up to more activity, I can still fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Mike says it's allowed.
And so now it feels good to be back and to see all is well on the farm. Summer is slipping by so fast. Here are some snippets from the past two weeks.
Scenes from the field:
The lambsters are eating and growing like crazy. Although it's been hot and dry, the pasturage is holding up really well. No complaints from this crowd. It looks like we'll be starting on second cutting hay during the next stretch of dry days.
It's very hard to stand far enough away from Mistral to take a good picture, since she would still rather climb into my lap or stand on my feet. I wanted you to see how much she's grown. Here face is getting longer, more lady-like, and she's losing her roly-poly lambiness (but is still so sweet).
The ram lambs are up to their shenanigans, harassing the ewe-lings and each other. This fellow is trying to impress the girls with his charming he-man face.
Scenes from the garden:
squash blossoms & morning glories
sunflower giants
OMG, the garden is a jungle this year. It's the one area I've had to let go. Although Holly has tried to keep up, the weeds are having their way. Squash has gone wild. There are enough herbs for half of Franklin county. I have some serious tomato picking ahead of me later today.
dill
And scenes from the dye studio:
At last, the colors for the summer yarn shares! I took my time with this palette, thinking about colors that play well together for intarsia, fair isle, entrelac. Although several colors here were seasonally inspired, I was thinking ahead to the when garments will be worn: fall and winter.
This yarn, Upland Wool & Alpaca, is a blend of my flock's wool (Cormo-Cross, Border Leicester) and Alpaca in a light worsted weight. The natural color is a soft grey. Sheep Shares members, please keep your eyes on your inbox, I'll be sending thumbnail color swatches for your perusal later today.
And once members have received their shares, I'll post a note about whatever's left.
Foxfire Fiber Upland Wool & Alpaca Summer 2010:
bluebird, spruce, great blue heron, green tea
Foxfire Fiber Upland Wool & Alpaca Summer 2010:
morning glory, sugar bush, garnet, oak
Keeping all of you in my thoughts – sending wishes for a fun and relaxation as summer winds down.
copyright 2010. Barbara Parry. All rights reserved. Feel free to share a link to this website. Please do not take content or images from this website without my written permission. Thank you.
animals/wildlife, Craft, fiber farm, Handspinning, knitting, and sheep.
fiber farm, Foxfire Fiber, lambs, sheep farm, Sheep Shares, and upland wool alpaca.
fiber farm, Foxfire Fiber, lambs, sheep farm, Sheep Shares, and upland wool alpaca.
