| Farm News! |
January 2009 is shaping up to be
cold, but nothing like the frigid
temperatures of the midwest and
northeast. Nonetheless, the ewes are
staying close to the barn as they were
just shorn in preparation for lambing.
This morning, we had a dramatic
freezing fog which left long ice crystals
on all the fences and trees. No lambs
yet, but they should start arriving next
week, the week of January 19th.
cold, but nothing like the frigid
temperatures of the midwest and
northeast. Nonetheless, the ewes are
staying close to the barn as they were
just shorn in preparation for lambing.
This morning, we had a dramatic
freezing fog which left long ice crystals
on all the fences and trees. No lambs
yet, but they should start arriving next
week, the week of January 19th.
late January 2009 and there are lambs all over the barn and
many more in the pipeline. At left is a recessive colored Romney
ewe lamb just a few hours old. And below is Audrey, a color
carrying Lincoln ewe, with her new daughter. Recessive color
genetics give you a wide variety of patterns and colors to work
with - great for the hand spinning market and lovely out in the
pasture.
many more in the pipeline. At left is a recessive colored Romney
ewe lamb just a few hours old. And below is Audrey, a color
carrying Lincoln ewe, with her new daughter. Recessive color
genetics give you a wide variety of patterns and colors to work
with - great for the hand spinning market and lovely out in the
pasture.
February 2009 and finally the creative juices are flowing. I haven't dyed fiber and put together
new roving runs for quite some time and it feels good to be back at the dye pot. I have dyed over 9
different colors in Romney wool, kid mohair and alpaca and will take them to my processor, Fantasy
Fibers, next week to be made into roving. If you need some nice alpaca fiber I can recommend
Paradise Alpacas over in Woodburn, OR. When the rovings are done, I'll post them on this website
as well as on the Oregon Wool website.
new roving runs for quite some time and it feels good to be back at the dye pot. I have dyed over 9
different colors in Romney wool, kid mohair and alpaca and will take them to my processor, Fantasy
Fibers, next week to be made into roving. If you need some nice alpaca fiber I can recommend
Paradise Alpacas over in Woodburn, OR. When the rovings are done, I'll post them on this website
as well as on the Oregon Wool website.
April 2009 the pastures have finally started to grow
after a slow start due to the unusually cold weather
of this past winter and spring. In late March, our
first Murray Grey calf was born to my favorite cow,
Lavinia. The cattle and sheep are now all enjoying
the lush pastures. The animals are rotated onto a
new paddock every 3 days so that each area is
intensively grazed and then allowed to rest for 2
weeks. This grazing method helps to graze the
pastures evenly, help the grass rest in between
grazing cycles as well as break the parasite cycle
which means we typically only worm our animals
twice a year.
after a slow start due to the unusually cold weather
of this past winter and spring. In late March, our
first Murray Grey calf was born to my favorite cow,
Lavinia. The cattle and sheep are now all enjoying
the lush pastures. The animals are rotated onto a
new paddock every 3 days so that each area is
intensively grazed and then allowed to rest for 2
weeks. This grazing method helps to graze the
pastures evenly, help the grass rest in between
grazing cycles as well as break the parasite cycle
which means we typically only worm our animals
twice a year.
June 2009 and we are very busy getting ready for
the Black Sheep Gathering. The focus of our
program is not the show ring, but truth be told, we
have some of the best natural colored Lincolns
around and winning at a show like the Gathering is
fun and rewarding. The animals are all out on
pasture and growing rapidly with the abundance of
grass available. Good news! We applied for and
received USDA approval on two fresh lamb
sausage recipes that will be available for purchase
towards the middle of this summer. Additionally,
the rovings are back from our processor over in
Canby, so there are new colors and blends for
fiber enthusiasts.
If you have the chance, stop by the farm this
summer or visit us the weekend of June 19-21 at
the Gathering at the Lane County Fairgrounds in
Eugene.
the Black Sheep Gathering. The focus of our
program is not the show ring, but truth be told, we
have some of the best natural colored Lincolns
around and winning at a show like the Gathering is
fun and rewarding. The animals are all out on
pasture and growing rapidly with the abundance of
grass available. Good news! We applied for and
received USDA approval on two fresh lamb
sausage recipes that will be available for purchase
towards the middle of this summer. Additionally,
the rovings are back from our processor over in
Canby, so there are new colors and blends for
fiber enthusiasts.
If you have the chance, stop by the farm this
summer or visit us the weekend of June 19-21 at
the Gathering at the Lane County Fairgrounds in
Eugene.
late 2009 and we had a great time at the Gathering. The
sheep did exceptionally well. Apparently judge Dave Cook
likes where we are taking our Lincoln program. Gladys,
pictured to the left, was first place colored ewe lamb as well
as champion colored Lincoln ewe. Our yearling ewe was
the reserve champion. We also had the first place ram
lamb (reserve champion to Bill DuBray's yearling), first
place young flock and got honorable mentions during the
supreme round.
sheep did exceptionally well. Apparently judge Dave Cook
likes where we are taking our Lincoln program. Gladys,
pictured to the left, was first place colored ewe lamb as well
as champion colored Lincoln ewe. Our yearling ewe was
the reserve champion. We also had the first place ram
lamb (reserve champion to Bill DuBray's yearling), first
place young flock and got honorable mentions during the
supreme round.
My girls, Danielle and Maya, showed under their
own farm name, Oak Ridge Girls farm. They did a
great job getting the sheep ready and won third
place ewe lamb and second place young flock.
Way to go ladies! My boys, Will and Nicholas, also
helped me to show and helped with halter breaking
at home.
own farm name, Oak Ridge Girls farm. They did a
great job getting the sheep ready and won third
place ewe lamb and second place young flock.
Way to go ladies! My boys, Will and Nicholas, also
helped me to show and helped with halter breaking
at home.