THE SHEEP OF Stone Gully Farm

MARCH IS SHEARING TIME. I GET SO EXCITED TO SEE ALL THOSE FLEECES STARTING IN FEBRUARY. I SHEAR ALL THE SHEEP AND THEN SPEND WEEKS GOING THROUGH THEM AND PICKING OUT STICKERS AND VEGETATIVE MATERIAL AND GETTING THEM READY FOR THE MILL. ALL FLEECES ARE TO THE MILL FOR WASHING, PICKING, AND CARDING BY APRIL 1ST.

ALL THE BOUNCEY BABIES COME IN THE MONTH OF APRIL. IT'S SUCH AN EXHAUSTING BUT EXCITING TIME. ONCE LAMBING IS COMPLETE THE EWES AND LAMBS GO UP TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND GRAZE THE COAL RECLAIM FOR THE SUMMER.

BY MID TO THE END OF MAY THE WOOL COMES BACK FROM THE MILL. IT COMES BACK IN BIG BAGS ALL SOFT AND CLEAN AND THEN THE RACE IS ON TO GET IT ALL PROCESSED INTO PRODUCTS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT BECOMES FELT IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. 

MOST OF THE WOOL FROM MY SHEEP IS MADE INTO FELT. THE BATTS ARE RUN THROUGH A BIG MACHINE CALLED A FELT LOOM THAT HAS ROWS OF BARBED NEEDLES THAT GO UP AND DOWN AS THE WOOLD IS FED THROUGH. THE WOOL IS PROCESSED THROUGH SEVERAL TIMES TO BECOME A LOOSE FABRIC. THEN IT HEADS TO A FINAL WASH AND FURTHERS FELTING. THE RESULTING FABRIC IS SEWN INTO FELTED ITEMS SUCH AS WOOLIE BARS.

I SELL LAMBS WHEN THE SUMMER GETS DRY OR WHEN WE HAVE A GOOD GRASS SEASON IN THE FALL. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LAMBS LET ME KNOW AROUND JUNE/JULY BEFORE I MOVE THEM OUT. WOOL BEING MY MAIN FOCUS I HAVE SOME GORGEOUS WOOL.