Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about the challenges small farming operations face. I wrote about how the lack of equipment, proper infrastructure, and funds are not sustainable and require much more muscle to get chores done. Since writing that post, we have added a hay elevator and a small tractor to our farm. These two pieces of … Read More
Gotland wool comes in a variety of shades of gray from a pale silver to a dark charcoal. Gotland sheep produce a true gray as their fiber does not discolor due to sun exposure. Gotland lambs are born solid black. They keep this lamb fleece for 2 to 3 months when their true gray coat begins to come in underneath … Read More
You might remember me. My name is Magnus. I started life as the third born of a set of quadruplet Gotland lambs. I slipped into this world almost unnoticed as I was so tiny. I only weighed three pounds at birth and my shepherd thought I was not alive. But I took a deep gasp for air and let … Read More
Ask the Shepherd The song and dance of breeding season has begun on our farm! As the days shorten and the temperatures drop, ewes begin to cycle and the rams begin to pine away at the fence line. Once the rams are turned in with the ewes, the dance begins. A new shepherd wrote to me the other day asking … Read More
Since the very first time I visited a sheep farm, I have been touched by the camaraderie, encouragement, compassion, and sharing of knowledge within the community of sheep people. Through the years of raising my own sheep, I have come to believe it is because shepherds understand the heart work of raising sheep as well as the day to … Read More
