Ananda Hills Farm breeds sheep for a soft fleece, to meet the breed (North American Shetland Sheep Association), and to do well in a farming system that is managed organically with a focus on healthy pastures and soils.
The sheep here graze year around and are supplemented with good quality hay as needed.
The size of the flock averages 15-20 sheep, with a small number of new lambs born each spring.
Shearing typically occurs in March or April, at which time fleeces are available for purchase. Additionally, a small portion of the yearly shearing is put into roving by local business Taylored Fibers.
Knitters' groups especially are encouraged to visit and learn where their wool comes from! I am happy to arrange a formal tour tailoring it to the interests of your group. A small donation is requested.
Finally, a new opportunity for hand spinners was formulated by two of my long -time customers. They wished to support the farm in an additional way. Thus, we cooked up the ANANDA HILLS FARM SHEEP ADOPTION PROGRAM. This is for spinners who wish to have a deeper connection with the farm and the cycle of wool production as well as individual sheep. These customers chose a sheep to “adopt” and provide additional financial support for the year ($250). This goes a long way towards paying for things like hay and other expenses that inevitably. come up on a farm. In return, the adoptee is invited to shearing day, receives that sheep’s fleece and can come visit the farm to see the sheep and enjoying spinning or knitting in the barn or pasture. If you are someone who really wants to know where your fiber comes from, maybe even has entertained having a farm, let me do the work and you join us here!
Please contact the farm for availability of sheep for sale or adoption, fleeces, roving or a fiber focused tour.
