Our sheep are English breeds, Dorset and Suffolk (just like the counties in England). They have been bred for centuries for their dual purpose, producing wool for warmth and lamb to nourish the family. Now is the time for us to harvest the wool by shearing it before breeding season. We often get asked why we choose to shear in the fall. Part of it is tradition and the other reason it’s for the girls and their lambs. It helps the ewe when they begin lambing in the Spring in many ways. The ewe and lamb have a much easier time bonding with less wool, Also, it helps prevent accidental crushing of the lamb that can happen when an ewe has a full thick fleece and can’t feel her lamb when she snuggles with them. Breeding season begins after we shear, It doesn’t take long for their fleece to grow and the lanolin to come back to repel the rain and snow and create their own winter blanket. Come, watch, and visit in the Fall. In memory of the late John W. Balderson
SPRING & Summer
Lambs and calves are born in the spring just before the pastures come into their growing season. Our pasture system is set up with electrical fencing to allow them to eat just one section at a time.
Dorset Ewe and Newborn lambs
Angus calf
Murray Grey Bull calf
They’re moved every couple of days to prevent overgrazing and minimize the need for parasite control as it is done naturally by allowing the pasture to rest for the several weeks. The soil and the salad bowl mixtures of grass and legumes are rejuvenated creating healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy livestock.
Fresh and Local, From our Pasture to your Plate
Sheep being moved to another pasture section
Shearing Time In memory of the late John W. Balderson
FALL & WINTER
We continue this process throughout the growing season and by early fall lambs are ready for harvest. Calves stay with their moms until weaning. As our season changes into winter we use neighboring farmland that was planted in a cover crops to provide additional feeding in snow-covered fields.
Murray Grey Calves on Spring Pastures
Ewes and lambs in July
Our alfalfa grass hay fields also provide another source of feed and we use the same rotational grazing method as we do in the growing period, just modified depending on the snowpack.
Winter Hay Fields
