Re: Intro; responses to sheep comments; OT

December 24, 2003

Hi,

In response to comments about my sheep:

Sara asked how I got started raising sheep. My stock answer is, it was

mid-life crisis run amuck. Seriously, it's just part of many big changes

that gradually evolved after a move from a heavily- settled established

neighborhood to a more rural location on the edge of town. I've just been

following this path, not really knowing what lies ahead after the next bend

in the trail. Before I got the sheep I barely knitted; I didn't do

handspinning; I didn't weave; I saw food as simply a cheap commodity. That

has all changed.

Sara also asked if I sell the wool. Yes. In the past I sold raw fleeces to

handspinners. I'm taking a break from that and sending them to small wool

mill in Michigan to partially process some and to spin some into yarn. Then

I will dye the results and sell the value-added products. I enjoyed the

artistic process of working with colors and can sell the finished product to

a wider customer base than if I simply sell raw fleeces to handspinners.

Kathy asked why I don't just drink raw milk from my sheep. That's a tougher

question to answer. I think that if I were younger, if the sheep were more

of a family operation, and if I had more appropriate facilities I would be

interested in sheep dairying. It's actually a way to break even with sheep

(it's very hard to make any money selling the wool and meat). My sheep are

kept on land that is adjacent to my own; the land is very hilly and it would

be difficult to set up a milking facility. I prefer to focus on the meat

and wool, with increasing emphasis on the wool. It's the " make or buy "

question, and I'd rather channel my finite time and energy resources in

other directions and support another farmer's dairy operation.

Thanks for the comments!

Diane

Sojourner Sheep

Northampton MA

lamb and wool

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