This evening I'm going to talk about Sheep Shares and let you know there's still time to sign up for this year. Sheep Shares is the farm yarn and fiber club I started just a year ago. Prior to last year, most of my marketing had been either through my website or face-to-face with customers at shows and events throughout the Northeast. My business has grown this way, and so has my farm for more than a decade. I'm truly grateful to those who have so loyally supported my work over the years, casting on countless stitches with my yarns.  And I say a special thanks to those who made the launch of Sheep Shares successful (and a pleasure for me).

As a shepherd and fiber producer, selling "futures" in my wool clip is hugely helpful. First, it allows me to be a better planner in processing my annual harvest. As you know, I only produce so much wool in any year. Once it's spun into yarn, I can't go back to the mill and say, "Oops, can we change this back to roving". I certainly can't go back to the sheep and say, "More wool. ASAP!". Planning yarn production runs and knowing which colors might be popular has always been a matter of gauging and guessing. Sheep Shares is a little like having a crystal ball. It allows me to start the year with a pretty good idea of what you're all looking for in your fiber pursuits. As a yarn farmer, this is key to focusing my energy – and preserving my sanity.

If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that raising sheep (and caring for their llama and goat friends) is my passion. But it has its moments. Raising livestock means being on duty, 24-7. Whether the weather is fine – or not. We love our animals and work hard to give them the best possible lives. They get all the creature comforts to be had here on our 220 acre farm in western Massachusetts. Every blade of grass they consume is grown right here on our farm – harvested by us, bale by bale, out in the field. Our sheep graze our hilly pastures rotationally in safe fencing all summer long. Once a working dairy farm, our five barns and outbuildings comfortably house our flock in winter months.

I spare no effort to raise the highest quality wool, including coating my flock to maintain clean fleeces and carefully watching their diet year round. We have a trusting relationship with a professional shearer, who has been shearing our flock for more than 12 years. He knows many of our sheep by name and understands the special considerations of shearing fine wool. Our efforts are reflected in the quality of our fleeces, which have won numerous blue ribbons, including Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons at the Eastern States Exposition.

My primary job is that of shepherd. While  I love all aspects of what I do,  tending sheep everyday is my most important and most rewarding work. Sheep Shares helps keep my focus and energy here at the farm, caring for my flock. The sheep are quite happy with this arrangement. 

Sheep Shares gives you the chance to get to know my flock, and to enjoy the rewards of my labor without having to leave your living room, (or shovel out a barn, brush-hog a field or bottle feed a lamb). My farm yarns and fibers come to your door, four times a year.  In between shipments, you can stay in touch with the farm through blog updates, members e-news letters, my Ravelry group "Foxfire Fiber Friends" and special members-only events held here at the farm. Enrollment is for an entire year and happens just once, starting late fall and runs until each program is full.

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for 2010. My fiber shares are sold out now for this year, but I can still take a few more members in the Farm Yarn Sampler and Farm Yarn Stash groups. You can click here for more detail. 

I appreciate your reading. In fact, I'll draw one name from commenters to this post for a special Sheep Shares 2010 Kick-off Contest. The winner will receive a Farm Yarn Sampler (natural colors) subscription for 2010. Just post a comment below. I'll draw a name in one week (on Tuesday, January 26th) and will post the winner's name on my blog (and will notify you via email). (Please, one entry per person, If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will pull another name).

If members of Sheep Shares '09 are reading, perhaps you'd be willing to post a comment about your experience. And if you're not a knitter but know someone who might be interested, I'd be much obliged if you'd share a link to this post. 

Thanx again for reading. All for now!