Speaking of Woolly Sheep Behinds

Usually by about now, I’d be having my sheep sheared. It’s high time! Well, it’s still a bit chilly, but it’s spring and the sheep need their coats off. However! The Spring Wool & Writing Retreat is coming up May 2 – May 6, and I’m saving the shearing for the workshop. Here’s the description of the wool workshop days.

WOOL WORKSHOP – Thursday, May 2, 2013 – Friday, May 3, 2013

Come to the farm for a two-day woolly adventure! We’ll start with shearing the sheep, and anyone who wants to join in will have a hands-on chance to take off some wool. From there, we’ll skirt, wash, card, and practice spinning with a drop spindle. You will also have the opportunity to see how a spinning wheel operates. You’ll find out what it’s like to keep a small flock of sheep, play with some bouncy new lambs, and learn to cook with lamb. We’ll dine on lamb for supper! (Not MINE!) Evenings will be spent practicing knitting, crocheting, and spinning. If you’ve never tried it before, you’ll leave with the skills and a couple of easy patterns. You’ll also take home a bag of wool from the Sassafras Farm sheep to work with at home. Whether you want to start a flock of your own or just learn more about working with wool from raw to sweater, this workshop offers the inspiration and know-how for all your woolly dreams.

We really ARE going to shear the sheep! I will have a shearing man on hand, of course, but he’ll just be there to manhandle the sheep flipping and as backup. We’re going to shear the sheep ourselves. Every attendee who wants to get hands on will get their hands on! Sheep shearing day is an adventure. Like getting hay, it’s one of those times I really enjoy. It’s a challenge handling animals, and shearing is the big annual sheep challenge. From there, we’ll work with the raw wool. This is going to be a packed two days.

I will have three new lambs on the farm–this time, three month old lambs ready for their new home, not a bottle lamb. The lambs will be coming the end of April and will be on the farm, ready to play. There is about nothing cuter than a bouncing lamb, and those of you who are here will enjoy them. I’m also taking home a fourth sheep, a wether, and I doubt I’ll be taking any photos of him. He will be headed forthwith to the butcher, and we will have fresh farm-raised lamb for our meals and cooking lessons. I truly want this to be an experience that offers it all, from the shearing and the wool to playing with lambs and how to cook with lamb. If you don’t know how to knit or crochet or spin, we’ll be doing that, too, and if you already know, I hope you’ll enjoy learning more or sharing in our evenings together hanging out and playing with hand spun yarns.

I’m so looking forward to the first event here this year. There are still spaces available, so let me know if you want to come. Email me at [email protected]. You can take a day of herbals after the wool workshop, and there is also a writing workshop. Find out more here.

There’s also a summer retreat with cheesemaking and the family cow, a day of breads/pies and more, and soap and herbals.