Hampshires

Hampshires, my least favorite breed of the 3 my family owns.  But they are beautiful.  Big, rugged black faced sheep.  Today I sheared what I consider to be the top Hampshire flock in New England, the Searles' in Rhode Island.  The best Hampshires in our flock are descendents of a ewe we bought from the Searles.  Some big sheep are just big.  But their sheep are also put together right, they produce like they should, hold their condition (unlike many big but skinny black faced sheep), and are sound and healthy flock. 

I think if the Searles competed more at the fairs they'd find that I'm right; they have the top Hampshire flock in New England.

Shear Tower 1000

Yesterday was the debut for Shear Tower 1000.  ST1000 is a light-weight steel shearing machine stand, custom designed for my new shearing machine.  Designed and built by my friend Kyle Welch, it is the most stylish and easy to use stand out there.  It's collapsable for easy set up and transportation. It's painted glossy black, has an 4-outlet box to plug into, an attachable light, and is very sturdy.  Thank you Kyle!

$6 hay

Who would've ever thought the price of hay would top $6 a bale?  That's right, it sold for over $6/bale today at the Northampton Cooperative Auction in Whately MA. 

Why the price increase?  Well obviously supply and demand.  For whatever reason people are running out this year...I'm guessing not much second cutting was made last year due to the dry summer we had.  Why has the overall demand for hay gone up in the area?  It's not increased cow or sheep numbers.  Maybe the horses?  I'm not sure. 

Wouldn't it be a good year to have 1,000 extra hay bales in the barn?! 

"Hay in the barn is money in the bank"

Getting Involved

For the last couple years I've wanted to be more involved in sheep organizations, to help out and to promote sheep.  The demographics in our local organizations is not good...mostly retirement age farmers, and very few young people getting involved.  Nothing against retirement age farmers; in fact I have enormous respect for them, they have established the organizations we have and they have taught me everything I know.

We had a Pioneer Valley Sheep Breeders Association meeting Saturday night.  Doug Gillespie from Farm Bureau and Tom Colyer from American Sheep Inudstry were both there.  Two groups I'd like to be more involved with, and two people that I'm glad to know.  The best thing that came out of the meeting was that I got appointed with Leslie Merritt to represent the PVSBA to review the bylaws of the Federation, that is under ASI which oversees our group and the Eastern Mass. group.  Hopefully that makes sense. 

Sunday afternoon was the meeting for the Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft fair.  I may be a candidate to take over the job of Vendor Coordinator.  It's a big job, probably quite a bit of time committment, but I think I can do it.  It's a good way to get involved with what their needs are at the moment.

I don't want to overcommit myself.  I need to find my niche and find what I'm good at, and can have an influence on.  For now I'm learning, listening, and trying to get more involved in the sheep industry.

Left Hand Lazy

Left Hand Lazy (LHL) is the new business I have started over the last couple months.  It is twofold; one part is wool/roving/yarn products and the other part is sheepskins/sheepskin products. 

To quote the newly formed facebook page (and coming soon website):  "LHL is a local business specializing in hand made sheepskin products and locally raised wool products.

All of the sheepskin products are handmade by Anna from materials that are carefully chosen for quality and durability. Products currently available: slippers, men's hats, women's hats, vests, mittens, children's wear, car seat covers, whole sheepskins. "World-Class sheepskins from your local seamstress"

LHL wool, roving, and yarn are from locally raised sheep shorn by Aaron. Products available: raw wool from various breeds, natural colored yarn and roving available soon. "World-Class yarn from your local shearer" "


For the sheepskin portion I have partnered with Anna, who is a very talented seamstress and fashion designer.  She's the real brains behind the business.  The yarn is sort of my own thing, I have been and will be this spring selecting and buying quality wool that I shear and sending it out to be made into yarn and/or roving.  The main goal of this portion of LHL is to help the sheep farmers out by buying their wool for more money than they can otherwise sell it for.

Why the name?  I realize everyone will be asking that, so I'll address it now.  First, I just thought of it, and I like it.  I think it sounds good.  I like the symetry of LHL.  In shearing, the use of your left hand is very important, always pushing and pulling to prepare the wool and skin for the next blow.  When I was first learning to shear my teachers would criticize me saying I have a lazy left hand.  I thought it also applied to the yarn business because I don't spin the wool myself, therefore my left hand is lazy.  It's just a name.

Combs

Just had a discussion with a shearing customer about the benefits of 9 tooth and 9 tooth cover combs.  Here are the options for types of combs.  To my understanding.

Let's see. 7 tooth "blowout", 9 tooth cover, straight 9, 13, 17 mohair, 20, and 24.  Those are basically the options for number of teeth on a comb.

7s are phasing out.  Some people out west still use them, but they're being replaced by 9s.  They're dangerous.  I don't dare even try using one.  Think about it, the width of the comb is the same...but it has fewer teeth, so the gap between each tooth is greater.  You even need a "wyoming special" handpiece, and 3 point cutters rather than 4 to run a 7.  No thanks.

9 tooth combs are common.  They're easier to push through the wool than a 13, and leave a little more wool, protecting the sheep from sunburn and cold.  the cover 9s have raised bumps on every other tooth to, in theory, leave even more wool.  In my opinion, they're just harder to use.  9s are good if you're used to them, especially in dirty or dense wool, because the pushing isn't as bad.  For example, when I sheared out west on nasty Ramboillets.  9 tooth combs were the only comb for the job.

13s are your standard comb.  My favorite.  pretty much all I use around here.  If they still made 12s, I might prefer a 12, but I've never found anything better than 13.  User friendly, easy to use, do a nice job, and leave enough cover to protect the sheep.

17 is made especially for shearing angora (mohair) goats.  Eh just throw on the 13.

20 and 24 are for really smooth bellys on show sheep.  Don't think I'd want to shear an entire sheep with one.

That's today's lesson, kiddies.  Go buy a packet of 13 tooth combs.