It is February and the groundhog did NOT see his shadow here at Herbal Maid Fiber Farm. Hope that means that we will have an early spring. I should not complain... while the rest of the country seems to be burning, drowning, or buried in snow... the usually cold midwest has been rather temperate this winter. Only three brief snows which melted the next day... most days in the 50s and many nights above freezing (very odd for this part of the country). With hay being at least $1 higher per bale this winter, an early spring would be a very welcome thing.

Last week, I found the two kids pictured above flat on the ground with the Pyranees desperately trying to get my attention. One was weak, but wiggling... the other was flat , cold and limp. Their resuscitation gave me a good opportunity to take some pictures to go with an article that I recently wrote for the CAGBA newsletter... The article was about angora kids, and the pictures are of meat goats... but the procedure is the same. See Hypothermia Management for photos and exerpts from the article.

HMFF now has an ebay store called Herbal Maid Gallery Please check it out and let me know what you think. I am still figuring out all the ins and outs, and I am open to suggestions. The PayPal payment option makes it easy and fast . Since travelling to festivals is getting harder to do (gas prices plus having no one to watch the farm) this will be a good way for me to show you what I've got in the way of fleeces and processed fibers, yarns and finished goods. Right now there is a beautiful collectors quality spinning wheel featured... plus roving, yarn, tattoo ink, kid sweaters, mittens, etc.

Many of the discussion lists this winter are hotly debating the merits of the National Animal Identification System which will consist of two parts: Premise ID and Individual Animal ID. The method of individual identification for different breeds is still under discussion, but premise identification is already in progress. The NAIS joins the National Scrapie Program in an attempt to safeguard the U.S. livestock industry from the economic devastation caused by serious disease outbreaks. Many breeders are taking serious exception to some of the proposed regulations, and details are still up in the air regarding actual identification methods . See Scrapie and NAIS for more on these two programs and some management ideas to protect your herd from the American Sheep Industry.

On the sheep and goat pages you will find the beginnings of the 2006 Livestock List. Two bottle babies are available this month. Each month, the listings may change as some are sold and others are added. Prices listed are good through the month of February. While I have no rabbits available this month, you will find a wonderful opportunity to buy good breeders with cages from a fellow breeder on the rabbit page. On this page you will also find four newly weaned Abysinian Guinea Pigs... my granddaughters love them! You never know what you are going to find at HMFF.

Out and about / Events

RMS Polymer Clay Button Workshop (RMS members only)

Berger, Mo

February 11, 2006

USDA Farm & Conservation Show

Owensville High School

Owensville, Mo

February 18, 2006

RMS Basket Workshop (RMS members only)

Washington, Mo

February 26, 2006

Fiber Retreat 2006 (HMFF Booth)