Vanessa & Rose work on the Round House

Vanessa and Rose (a.k.a. Sherpa) spent several days getting the sheep's Round House ready for winter. The roof required expansion of the woven sapling support system. They then cut aluminum "shingles" to tile the roof with. Next will be the sides, which we will temporarily board up. Eventually we want to cob the sides. Icelandic sheep in Vermont at Stark Hollow Farm.

Blueberry & Cider arrive at Stark Hollow Farm

Blueberry (black) & Cider (white) arrive at Stark Hollow Farm. Their sire and dam are both from our farm...they return to their roots after an extended stay with Bloomfield Farm in Charlotte, Vermont.






Photos shown here before and after shearing. These two girls are in great shape and will be bred this fall to Ember, our new black mouflon ram.

Vanessa calls the sheep...

The sheep know to follow their shepherdess who always leads them to greener pastures...

Sheep Wrangling

Sheep handling at Stark Hollow Farm is an adventure. First the sheep must be rounded up and then each sheep caught to be body condition scored, tagged, tattooed, hoof trimmed or provided preventative care. Vanessa has become quite good at wrangling these beautiful icelandic sheep....Laura remains the (hand wringing) stalwart assistant...

Got Grain?

Sheep on HOWL pasture...




Photo: kaweahArts

Milkweed

Never was there a meaner plant than the milkweed. Like the tiny hair on your chinny-chin-chin, you fear to pluck it lest 5 more grow in its place. Its milky sap is poisonous and causes the flesh to pucker and itch. The odor hangs on your clothes like a veil of mortal corruption...its pungent stench resistant to the strongest detergent. Were it not for its subtly scented flower so loved by the butterfly and the delicate, feathery milkweed spoors that float like snow on the fall breeze to be used by birds and rodents to feather their nests, I would wish the obstinate milkweed gone from this world.

Örn - Resident Ram

Our handsome ram Örn is really coming into his own. His horn conformation is beautiful. He is looking forward to the upcoming breeding season at Stark Hollow Farm. I just love this Icelandic breed.