We are happy to announce the Wind and Wool Farm website is now live.
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Welcome Back!
It’s been a busy two years! I am busy working on our website and setting up an Etsy shop. In the meantime, please give us a follow on Instagram @fullofiber.
2019: Reflections and New Intentions
Since January is about to fly by and it’s -10 degrees outside, I figured it was a good time to review what has happened in the last six months of 2018. Well, it was a challenging time for us! Our shearer decided to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot, so she left for Utah. Kristen is doing very well and we are happy for her. That one was just a blip in what was to come. Unfortunately, due to all the rain, our second hay harvest was a disaster. In addition, the one week we could possibly cut hay, our farmer friend was out-of-town. We tried to cut the hay with our sickle mower; however, the grass was way too long and the ground was still too wet. Despite several turns with our wheel rake, the hay remained to wet and the bales never dried. Of course, we now have compost! Then our bees who swarmed so many times this past season decided to abscond. Sigh…..Now we are on a list to get two nucs in the spring. We are hoping the bees will do better since they are raised in our area. Fingers crossed!
After we reflected on what happened this year, we decided to view the experiences as lessons rather than just stay angry. So, we bought a new to us haybine so we can cut our own hay. Hopefully, it arrives before our first cutting this year. Despite many tries, transport has been a challenge; the weather has not cooperated, either.
Our new intention is to cut, turn and bale our own hay on our own terms!
On a positive note, lots of fleece got washed over the summer and some went to the Gurdy Run Fiber Mill in Halifax, PA. If you are looking for a great fiber mill, we highly recommend Gurdy Run. Hopefully, in the near future we will have our website up and running and fiber available for sale.
Hopefully, 2019 will be a better year for us!
(Leo, Poppy & Winnie)
Hay Harvest 2018: First Cutting
Due to the torrential rain storms, our first hay harvest was delayed until the weekend of June 15th. We started to bale our hay on Friday evening; however, despite the lights on Stella (our Kubota tractor) darkness set in and we could no longer see. It was an interesting experience! With the help of our brother-in-law, we finished baling and storing the hay on Saturday afternoon. Thanks Jim!
This harvest was very challenging: torrential rain delays, the knotter on the baler tied some bales and not others, the tractor grumbled to a start, the hay elevator motor was smoking despite being a new motor and tempers were short.; Of course, it was hot, maybe not as hot as now but still hot!
Thankfully, we finished our harvest (300 bales) and we are eternally grateful to Jim for lending us a hand!
Farm Views: Hay Fields & Sheep Pasture
Sheep Pasture
View from Paddock
Upper Hay Field
We are anxiously waiting to harvest our first cutting. Hopefully, the weather will soon cooperate. In the meantime, it looks like our sheep pasture needs a trim, too. Our sheep are not keeping up with the pasture.
Pickle: A Herdwick Sheep
While wandering through the sheep barns at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, I spied a Herdwick Sheep. I was so surprised! I immediately stopped and learned that Pickle is 76.6% Herdwick and he is part of a breeding program in the United States. I have wanted some Herdwick fiber for a long time and now I have a source. Pickle lives on Helder-Herwyck Farm in East Berne, New York.
Pickle: A Herdwick Sheep
Rite of Spring
It’s mucking time! Thanks to the help of “Big Al”, our new to us tractor” our barn stalls are now clean and fresh for spring. The sheep are happy, too!
Big Al
Shearing Day 2018
On Saturday, March 31st, we sheared our sheep. The weather looked hopeful but April showers soon followed. Hopefully, the sun will shine soon!
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