We'll begin around 10 am with shearing two to three sheep and giving some fleece evaluation tips   Spinning instructor Lia Young will be available to answer questions and demonstrate techniques during the day. We'll break for lunch and then shear a more couple ewes afterwards. All the fleeces will be for sale, along with our rovings, which include Romney, Bluefaced Leicester, llama, and mohair blends. See our rovings page for an idea of what we'll have available. We typically sell at a discount for this event.

Coffee will be provided. There will also be some lamb stew available at lunchtime. There is no charge for this event. If you are planning to attend, please call or email so we know how many to plan for.

What  to bring: 

• A spinning wheel, some bobbins; a niddy-noddy; a flick or dog comb or coarse dog brush; coarse or medium cards, if you wish (not necessary, though); 
• a folding chair; a rug, if you would rather put your wheel on a rug than on a cement barn floor 
• Lunch (unless you want to try the lamb stew) and something to drink. There is also a nice little pizza/pasta joint close by if you prefer. 
• Sufficient warm clothes so that you can sit in the outdoors for quite a while (such as unheated barn) and stay warm, as well as warm footwear that can get a bit dirty.

 

The address of the farm is: 4190 W. Cook Road, Swartz Creek, MI 48473 -- you can call (810-655-4091), email or or MapQuest for directions

The day's victims petition for an early release. Request denied.	Meeting the sheep. It ain't easy getting a barn this clean.
Some of the fleeces and pelts offered for sale in 2008.	And more.
Learning about consistency in fleece on the hoof.	"And the poo comes out back here..."
Shearing from the stand.	Almost finished.

Using the niddy-noddy.	Say "cheese"!
Demonstrating lock structure and luster.