Sheep fencing gone wrong…

This farm is a tapestry of wonderful stories. The stories that have made us laugh are the ones we tell time and time again. Believe me, there are more then a few.

This is one of my favorites….

Remember, I was a single gal with no farming background when this all began. Albeit determined, I had a lot to learn and I quickly figured that out. When I bought the farm there had been cattle here but never sheep. Sheep require much different fencing then cattle. I hired the first fence out but after paying that bill I realized I would starve if I hired out all the fencing that needed doing.

What was this educated capable gal to do? Of course, I’'ll “educate” I thought. I started my search. How was I going to find a class on fencing? For anyone considering a life in agriculture, let me tell you, the resources are truly immence. I stumbled upon a wonderful resource, Warren Wilson College. Of all things they had a fencing class. I put on my perfect farm attire and my newly purchased farm boots and drove to Warren Wilson where I participated in a class on putting up a proper livestock fence. Someone asked if I was the only “girl” there. I don’t recall that being the case. Maybe? The good news is if I didn’t notice that I must have been there for all the right reasons. Notes? I took plenty. It was alot to take in but hopefully I was armed and ready.

I cannot say how long it actually took before I put my new knowledge to work. I do hope it was the next day but I’m doubtful. At that point I was still working off the farm to help support my plans so my days were busy. It does not matter when I made my first stab at fencing, only that I did it. Waiting to apply what I had learned might have been a bit worrisome in that I might forget something. Forgetting was clearly not my problem.

On the day of my grand adventure, feeling so proud and capable, I put on my jeans, boots and t shirt (I loved my new wardrobe) and loaded up Floyd, my vintage Ford PU with the fence posts, fence wire and appropriate fence tools, and headed to the pasture where my second fence was planned.

Hands rubbed together in a gesture of expectation, I began. I walked each post to the spot where it would be placed. One at a time I banged the posts into position. It was a beautiful day and I was no doubt full of myself. It definitely added to my state of mind looking around at these beautiful vistas staring back at me. I felt at one with the great outdoors. Now hands brushed together in a gesture of completion I knew it was time to start a strand of wire. I was pulling and securing the wire in about 250 foot stretches…remember a football field is 300 feet. I had 3 sides to complete. The forth side included a barn and my first fence. Pulling the wire around took no time. Securing the wire with clips took a bit more. I had to wear my leather gloves because the clips could be difficult to bend, even with the coolest possible tools. And we all know, the leather gloves just added to my demeanor! One wire near the bottom, then perfectly spaced, 3 more. 4 clips per post, one row and a time. Before I knew it, the job was complete! DONE!

I cannot tell you the pride! This girl had done it! All those nay sayers, LOOK AT ME NOW! I just put up a farm fence! If I could high five my self I woulda. But I think I understood the cock-a-doodle-do of a rooster, if only for a moment.

I pulled my self up to the tailgate of my Ford F-150 pick up , slid up on that “ farmers throne” to take in what I had accomplished!

Golly Girl!

As I peered around the fence in awe, I realized one MAJOR problem.

I had just spent the day building an awesome fence and there was no gate! Yep, you read that right folks, I hadn’t painted myself into a corner, I’d fenced myself in…. Good Lordy. All I could do is laugh….

If you can’t laugh at yourself, your cooked…Elizabeth Taylor

The journey to vegetarian, or not?

15+ years ago I bought a farm. I liken my learning at the time to a sponge, ready to absorb every tid bit of information that came my way. I was determined to create this sheep farm using the utmost respect for the animals and land, the two things that mattered the most. Immerging at the time were so many cool philosophical approaches to farming and nurturing the health of the animals and soil and I wanted to implement them all! Farmers everywhere were determined to move away from factory farming.

I came at this dream to farm as someone who LOVED everything about food. I loved to cook and I loved to be with my friends, family and my community around fabulous food. I still do! I approached this farm as an avenue to offer and resource the best food possible, that which I grew or grown by farmers with like minded philosophies. I had already realized through my foodie friends and experiences that intentionally sourcing foods could make a tremendous difference in flavors.

I had no idea what was REALLY involved in bringing food to our tables.

I never imagined the hardships that might present themselves as a farmer raising meat.

On this farm It didn’t take long for the reality of taking sheep to the abattoir (aka USDA meat processing plant ) to kick me to the ground. Loading these sweet creatures is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And it doesn’t get easier. Folks I had to come to terms with this. Was I going to stop what I do and become a vegetarian? That was my only option. Believe me, it was a close reality. I sure couldn’t stop farming and still consume meat that others had to take to the abattoir? Relying on others and turning a blind eye would be totally hypocritical.

I had some deep contemplation ahead of me…

I learned some interesting things along the way. Our USDA facility has been challenged by humanely driven livestock farmers to implement and adhere to the most humane standards. I was encouraged to hear that our facility had hired Temple Grandin to consult on their handling facilities and practices.

While helpful, I was still troubled by what this job entailed.

I talked to other farmers. I heard from some that believed animals are here for our sustenance. Our bodies are designed to digest these proteins. Some admitted they had to completely disengage. Some replied that it was just part of the business and necessary. A few, like us, believe the consumption of animal fats and proteins are important to our bodies. I also believe that most folks have become too disengaged with death and that contributes to the inability to deal with this process.

A very important factor in my decision …I believe that Mother Nature holds the answers for our survival. I believe Mother Nature supports the consumption of meat. All of Mother Natures creatures live off the consumption of other creatures. What Mother Nature says to us (my interpretation) is that we should eat to survive. Anywhere and everywhere, everything gets eaten by something.

One of my nephews was visiting. he’d been here not long before. He asked me about a specific sheep. I told him that sheep had gone to the abattoir. He sat quietly. I asked, “are you ok”. He replied, “yes. at least he is remembered and has a story.” That was huge for me to hear and was exactly what I needed.

So, if We would consume with respect. THAT, as a general rule, we do not do!

On our farm every single sheep that leaves here, John and I hold hands and offer a prayer… each of us, thanking them for their unique gifts and blessing their journey.

What was not a short term or easy journey for me has changed me… I believe for the better. For our personal consumption we buy only from farmers that adhere to humane standards, that respect the planet and mother nature and we consume a lot less meat.

Making sense of scents, or not...

My mother loved her smell good lotions and potions! She was known for pillow cases and clothing that always smelled of or “like” her. It was a pleasant thing. Something I will always remember with good thoughts.

Alas as most of us now know, many of those perfumy lotions and potions are tainted with phthalates to make the fragrances last. Chemicals…ewww and yuck!

I’ve worked hard to rid my world of all things containing those chemicals. Ridding my world of products containing these chemicals didn’t mean I stopped enjoying the smell of good fragrance. I have a very keen sniffer. This can be a blessing and a curse but I am actually proud to claim it. When embracing a chemical free life we have to work through the “life we once knew” and adapt. I did quite well for years but was never far from the temptation toward those glorious scents of flowers and spices in my personal spaces. Essential Oils are always a wonderful and available option but I for one am not good a repetitive anything, application included. I knew I would remain in a “chemical free” state but always morn for those scents that lingered so to catch the slightest whiff when you weren’t expecting it. And I also appreciate the smell of good ole nature!

As shepherds and makers of wool products, more specifically our wool dryer balls we were proud to offer a toxic free laundry option that was 100% chemical free, 100% naturally grown fiber, 100% humanely raised and harvested and honestly breaks all standards for sustainability. SIDENOTE: Several years ago WholeFoods introduced a grading system. Every single vendor had to go through a third party for quality standards vetting…it was arduous and quite frankly expensive but we did it…

Transparent & Sustainable

not all wool dryer balls are created equal. Do your research and buy the best!

Drum role please …

Stoney Mountain Farm was honored with the highest (green) ranking for being 100% transparent and sustainable! Although after the Amazon purchase of Wholefoods our products are no longer in their stores we sure earned the shelf space at the time!

Forgive me for having changed subjects a bit. My plan was to share the feedback we get from all of our customers that made the switch to our dryer balls, regarding scent…

Many said after making the switch, I don’t miss those heavy smells. Some said, why don’t folks recognize and choose the smell of fresh air?

I get it. Many scents don’t smell of ‘nature’. Some are so heavy and honestly can be quite offensive. I recall being out for a run, imagine my visual in this farming community, huge pastures as far as the eye can see yet I get a whiff of BOUNCE, argh…nothing natural about it! Or we’ve all had those moments in public when someone passes and the smell literally HITS you it’s so heavy. No one that has left the chemical laden products world wants anything to do with those moments. Heck, I have one customer that buys our product to give to anyone new in her neighborhood just to help assure she isn’t HIT with a waft of that awful smell of dryer sheets.

So, how did I find my “scents about me”? I literally found out about phthalate free fragrance options and liked them so much in my personal spaces that I decided to add them to our product line! Believe me these have been awhile in the making. I researched and researched for “fresh” “clean” pleasing scents, knowing that is certainly subjective.

I, once again, enjoy the addition of fragrance on my pillow cases and remembering my momma ❤️

Lamb Sliders

Its getting to be that season we dust off the outdoor grills. BTW, I hear you grilling artists out there saying grilling has no season, it’s year round! Have you noticed burgers are off the charts trendy right now? Restaurants, chefs and home cooks alike are changing flavor profiles, adding unusual ingredients like beets? Varying meats and meat combos or meatless options. Varying the bun type and gracious the add ons ! Well I’ve got one to add to the selection that could be your new superstar. I know every time I’ve made them I quickly become the best cook ‘for the moment’ I’ve made these Lamb Burgers for wedding functions, catering events and just hubbie and me. My very favorite rendition is as mini sliders

View fullsize

Stoney Mountain Farm Lamb Sliders

1 pound Ground American Lamb

1 link Italian sausage, casing removed

3-4 cloves garlic, grated or minced

¼ C grated onion

½ T cumin

½ t cinnamon

1 t fresh chopped cilantro or ¼ t coriander

1/8 -1/4 t hot pepper flakes

1-2T fresh parsley, chopped

1 egg

½ Cup oatmeal soaked in milk

S&P to taste

Feta or goat cheese

Place all ingredients, except cheese, in a bowl and mix well (I use my hands).  The mix will seem wet.  Form into 1” balls, place on roasting rack or prepare for grill.  Flatten the patty gently, then press dime size ball of cheese into center.  Cover with just enough additional meat mixture that the cheese is sealed in.  Roast in 400 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes or starting to brown.  You can turn to broil if you like a crispier texture.  I also like to grill them.  These are also great regular burger size but the sliders are alot more fun!

Serve in “slider” rolls now available in most groceries.  “Hawaiian Bread “Slider” rolls are a great option. I serve these with pickled onions or an onion relish but tomatoe relish or any one or combo of these would be great.

Tagged: burgers, lamb burgers, ground lamb, grilled lamb, party food

0 Likes Share

HOW TO BE THE BEST SHEPHERD: Lessons from a sheep

WILLOW 2008-2022

It was a mighty sad day for me as I faced the loss of Willow, born here 13 years ago. Willow was one of the first lambs born on this farm.

---

Willow was a registered Navajo Churro sheep. She was short legged and a wee bit stocky but ALWAYS healthy and always had an extra skip in her step. Her breed characteristics were spot on with her double coat of strong Navajo wool. Although her legs were short they were clean and strong. Her wool finished into a nutmeg color yarn. As lovely as she was she was so much more. She was friendly and approachable, unless she had babies!

Willow was that one sheep you wanted all your sheep to take after. Basically Willow and I grew up together. Over time I realized how much less effort Willow took compared to some that seemed to always need extra attention. This was her primary lesson to me as a farmer. The farmer, the one that runs the operation and makes a go of things

As the shepherd, the one to watch over the flock, I believe we need to understand a bit about their ways. I began this farm applying “human” thoughts to their care. Don’t get me wrong I have learned we need to apply some human wisdom to manage an operation like this but I also think working with the sheep makes for a happier easier environment all the way around. Take Temple Grandin for example, she learned to understand the animals behaviors and then apply what she learned to some of the most efficient livestock handling systems, EVER! If working with their behaviors isn’t too disruptive to the operation why not let it be? I am aware a large operation could probably not allow some of the things we have allowed here…guess for that reason I’m glad were small! BTW, if you haven’t seen the movie, Temple Grandin starring Clare Danes, do it!

OK, so back to Willow. As Willow and I were growing up together and she was teaching me to be aware on a day to day basis what shepherding involved, it was always her mothering that gave me constant challenge. She was a GREAT mom. She just didn’t want human interference. From her first lambs to her last, she would birth where she wanted and would do everything in her power to keep her lambs from us. Even after years of experiencing our gentle hand and kindness she did it her way. It wasn’t until the year I decided that Willow deserved a break from breeding that I got the clearest defiance of all, and the clearest lesson! Some years back I wrote about our human interventions and Willow (click on the link if you’d like to read the whole piece) and this is basically what I said:

The other day I was rehashing a decision to want to keep one of our older ewes back from breeding. She has given us plenty of beautiful babies. She deserves to rest, I thought. So, I did just that. She went to spend her time grazing in green pastures with the teenagers. What a glorious gift, or was it?

Well, to shorten what could be a very long tale, Willow, that’s her name, ended up pregnant anyway. How? We’ll never be 100% sure. Through a fence? Could be, but boys were not in adjoining fences except for short stints while moving sheep? Could she be that fast? One of our lambs might have been more mature then we thought? Like i said, we’ll never know for sure.

A funny thing happened on that day I realized she was with lamb, as I walked away from her pasture something beckoned me to look back. There went Willow trotting away from me and kicking up her heels.

She was mighty happy.

It’s as if she was saying to me, I love being a mom! You don’t get to decide.

I believe I had just been reminded, we’re not necessarily smarter then mother nature!

So, Willow, I will always remember your gifts. I promise to remember everything you taught me. I promise to honor mother nature and to always try to understand the great spirit from your perspective.

Thank you my friend

Lamb Bone Broth /Stock

A staple in cultures across the globe, bone broth is a key ingredient in cooking and for gut health. It can be enjoyed as a healing elixir, in stews, a welcome addition to casseroles, or the base for many a soup.

Generally made from chicken or beef bones, the comforting flavor of lamb broth will add variety to your epicurean or healing repertoire . 

slow simmered satisfying BROTH

Lamb is high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that regulates the control of serotonin, one of the key brain chemicals involved in regulating your mood, and making you feel calm, relaxed and sleepy. And even better, helps regulate your appetite .

Incorporating lamb in your diet will help you build a strong immune system, due to its generous antioxidant content. Lamb is rich in a very highly absorbable form of zinc, important for strength, hormone production, cardiovascular and bone health.

It is especially important to find stock bones from humanely raised healthy animals or wild game like deer.

Conventionally raised animals that are fed a diet of genetically modified grains loaded with pesticides and herbicides and other chemicals and heavy metals should never be used. The body naturally stores many toxins in the fatty portions of the bone and that is what you are consuming in your bone broth.

It is best to know the farm and farmer where you are getting your stock bones. The more grass and green foods the animals eat the more rich the nutritional value of the meat and bone contents. Some grain in the feeding is acceptable unless you have celiac.

So, how to do it?

I like to have a mixture of large and small bones. The larger bones have more marrow and smaller bones offer more gelatinous material. I toss them with olive oil and garlic and roast them in a 400 degree oven for about an hour or until I smell them. I then cover them with water and add the ubiquitous aromatics, celery, onion, carrots, raw, or start with a mirepoix. As you simmer it if any foam develops, remove and discard. After about an hour add parsley (or cilantro if you like. I’ve tried it, it’s good) a bay leaf and some fresh peppercorns. Allow it to simmer for another 4-5 hours. I then refrigerate it overnight and skim the fat, strain it, heat it again and add a bit of tomato paste, or not!

Healthy, yummy, and I always feel good making use of all the parts!

Farming through Covid

Recently I was asked if, given the extra “free time” during Covid, was I able to create more felted items? The short answer is no.

Why wasn’t I sitting with this quiet space and finding time to create? I kept telling myself to go sit with that lovely fiber, and make something! It wasn’t going to happen, no matter how I tried.

OK, don’t feel like felting or making? I could have used the time to work on our internal systems like fencing and paddocks?

At the very least I could have rearranged hay! LOL!

I had no creative JUICE?

Daily I was thankful to have this innocent, expansive space to loose myself in. I would walk about the farm, doing my chores, and take deep breaths. I would sit with the sheep and relish their innocence to the crazy that was around us. In so many ways my orbit was perfect for me!

I am so privileged to be out in this beautiful piece of nature everyday!

his very quiet and peaceful place was what energized my creativity in ‘normal times’.

Not this time?

I spoke to several folks that had the same problem.

I recall the early days of this farm. I could completely escape the hustle and bustle of the outside world. I could close the gate and nothing but nature was happening around me! My heaven on earth. After a few months of wrapping myself in this glorious space, even then, these same uninspired struggles appeared.

After some time pondering my lack of “juicy” I now realize…. in both instances, it was lack of human interaction. For me, nature is necessary and feeds my soul in the most tranquil of ways but human interaction is necessary too. It is after all human nature that we crave being around others. Connecting over common interests and goals, we become filled with pride and content. My soul filled with peace, buttered with the emotions of others, inspires me!

We need each other.

Turning 60

I have felt the magnitude of each of the decades in my rear view, in some way. My 20’s, I was psyched and totally high on life. 30, also psyched and totally enjoying earning a living and able to really enjoy the fruits of my labor alas, with slight pause that I left my 20’s. 40’s really hit but turned out to be my best decade to date. My 50’s, I thought would be worse but were pretty darn great. Turning 60 has taken a few deep, guttural swallows.

As the reality sinks in, I’m still digesting it. It feels WEIRD .

It seems I look at everything a bit differently…

and everyone looks at me a bit differently too…it seems.

When I think about the decades gone by I can summarize, I had a lot of fun in my 20’s and 30’s. I was trying to figure out who I was and what I really wanted out of my glorious life and what I wanted to contribute to this wonderful world. In my 40’s many of my life’s dreams came to fruition. My 50’s I was living those dreams. 60’s, well, yet to be seen….

My genetics gift me with a full head of white hair! So, when I get used to having all this white hair, I’ll have to agree I have a good head of it and then it shouldn’t be so bad?

As I’m sure everyone does, the “senior” discounts come as mixed blessings. I really looked deep for the glory in it all. Excited to get them but hated being asked.

One birthday wisher said they were her BEST years. I want so for that to be true and I am hopeful that will be so.

Alas, I’m still swallowing.

wool dryer ball transparency

As a new decade rolls out I think it’s time to share some information that many unsuspecting consumers may not be aware of. I realize many consumers make their decisions solely based on price. I also realize there are a whole lot of us that care about the impact of our purchases and want to know what goes into and on the products we buy. We prefer transparency.

The time has come!

We have been making and selling wool dryer balls from our N.C grown wool for over a decade and boy have I seen some changes in our wool dryer ball market! For one, the growth is exponential. When we began, if I mentioned the product, folks looked at me like I had lost my mind. Today, many have not only heard of them, they own them.

When we began this there were a handful of folks making them. We jumped in the game because we are a sustainable sheep farm and to be sustainable we must use what we grow. We had a barn filling up with wool. Many other sheep farmers were struggling with their wool gatherings and what to do with their harvest. We were determined to make it work. SO, wool dryer balls, why not give it a try? They were a huge hit. Folks really want to eliminate chemicals from their environments and provide a healthier home for their loved ones.

When we began there were several players that were buying U.S wool to make their product. We were actually growing our wool while they sourced theirs. Both models work. I mean really, wool dryer balls work! How you source them is totally up to you. I personally would go the extra mile and know the farm(er) to be sure the wool was cleaned without chemicals, that the sheep were handled humanely, and lastly that they were made with as much LOVE as possible…to get that much LOVE requires a fair wage!

In the early days everything seemed very transparent.

What went awry? I cannot help but call it what it is, …people saw an opportunity to supply a niche market with a much cheaper alternative…isn’t that always the way? I hate to admit it but it sure seems there is always someone who wants to jump to the highest margins regardless of ethics. So, those that wanted to capitalize on our growing wool dryer ball biz went overseas (of course) where they could source everything cheaply. The foreign alternatives are cheap mostly because of labor costs but also wool is cheap. Foreign sourced wool is generally cleaned with harsh chemicals that wouldn't be allowed in the U.S. Goodness only knows how the sheep are handled. Recently I heard that much of the wool grown here in the U.S is bought on the dime (maybe penny) from all those farmers that are busy farming and not able to develop markets, then shipped to foreign processors where it will be bleached to death and washed with out any standards, then comes back to you (us).

A few years ago, as I saw it happening, I reached out to a fellow colleague. With a very positive attitude she said, “Know we’re doing the right thing and they won’t bother us”.

Along the way we had wholesale clients call and say they were going to start buying and supplying these imports because “they couldn’t ignore the increased margins”. Sadly these companies (I won’t mention names) very beginnings were about transparency and “for the good of mother nature”?

We are so grateful for the folks that KNOW the difference and really CARE about transparency. We are so grateful to all of the folks that continue to support us.

You ARE making a conscious decision when you purchase our wool products!

Thank EWE!

It's hard not to project

As shepherds we think we know what’s best for our sheep. The benefit of years watching and learning from these creatures has helped me realize that most of the time, they do know best and don't need our interference. If we’ll listen to them and not try to “project” our human interpretation, we can see that. Sure, we have to get involved from time to time but I’ve found if we trust their instincts and get out of their way, they’ll often take care of things.

Like the ewe that insists on having her lamb in the woods, we let her. Is it the safest? Probably not but that’s what she wants to do. It makes it harder on us once she’s had the lamb to get them to safety but I believe allowing them to have those moments and make those decisions gives us a more mutually respectful relationship.

I’m sure there’s a shepherd or two out there ranting at me right now, “we must be able to manage them and that requires some degree of doing things in spite of their natural instincts.” Like I said, I realize there are times we need to step in and I realize my way isn’t going to align with most others…it’s just my desire to let them be as true to their natural ways as I can. I might pay for it with a little extra effort on my part but I believe I gain by raising sheep that are in touch with their intuitive ways.

The Girls!

The other day I was rehashing a decision to want to keep one of our older ewes back from breeding. She has given us plenty of beautiful babies. She deserves to rest, I thought. So, I did just that. She went to spend her time grazing in green pastures with the teenagers. What a glorious gift, or was it?

Well, to shorten what could be a very long tale, Willow, that’s her name, ended up pregnant anyway. How? We’ll never be 100% sure. Through a fence? Could be, but boys were not in adjoining fences except for short stints while moving sheep? Could she be that fast? One of our lambs might have been more mature then we thought? Like i said, we’ll never know for sure.

A funny thing happened on that day I realized she was with lamb, as I walked away from her pasture something beckoned me to look back. There went Willow trotting away from me and kicking up her heels.

She was mighty happy.

It’s as if she was saying to me, I love being a mom! You don’t get to decide.

I believe I had just been reminded, we’re not necessarily smarter then mother nature!

Willow