 SEASONS
BLEATINGS! from Kathy at Herbal Maid Fiber
Farm
A letter from home
I receive some of the nicest
posts from you all. In one of them, the writer told
me that my newsletters were like "a letter from home". In
fact, these newsletters ARE a letter from home: my home to
yours. Writing them is, for me ,like writing in a journal ...
it chronicles the turning of the year on the farm. Yes, it is
a way to market my product, but it is more than a catalog... it
is my way of reaching out and sharing ... like one friend to
another. Above, I am spinning on my Jensen
production wheel at a local summer festival with my spinners
guild, the Rural Mo Spinners ... Yeah, it was hot, but under the
shade tent and with a fan (and my
yearly beer ) I do just fine. It was about 100
degrees on the day this was taken!
Now the weather has turned distinctly
cooler and wetter... thank goodness the pastures have revived...
and the bucks know their time is coming soon. See the Breeding
Season page for photos of the boys
I have started shearing the fall fleeces
and are they pretty! See the Fall
Fleece page for what I have available
now. More will be listed in the next newsletter.
HMFF had a Value Added Mohair display at
Goat Day 2005 in Jefferson City Mo. This is a
wonderful event , sponsored by the University Extension and the
United Mo Goat Producers. Key note speaker was Ellie Winslow,
author of several books including one called Making Money with
Goats. She has a website at http://www.beyondthesidewalk.com/
Avelene McCaul of Indian Springs Farm also gave a presentation. Milk
and cheese tasting competitions, talks on pasture management and
fencing options (with cost share programs!), and youth
activities rounded out the day. For more info on
next years Goat Day, contact Sue Huston, UMGP prez, at tshuston@iland.net
Note: I had to leave
during the afternoon sessions after a surprise gall bladder attack
sent me to the E.R. Four days in the hospital followed by
surgery was NOT my idea of a fun weekend... My sincere thanks to
all those who helped me get through this ordeal. Never a
dull moment eh?
NEW LIVESTOCK AT
HMFF!
 I have absolutely fallen in love with the
Bluefaced Leicester and what they can do for a
flock. They are the number one crossing sire in the U.K. for
producing a terminal meat lamb... but I would like to suggest that
they will become the number one crossing sire for spinning fleece
production in the U.S. ! I use them on my Border Leicesters to
produce the Hybrid Leicester fleece... but other breeders are
reporting similar experiences when crossing them onto other breeds
of sheep. They add uniformity and finer fiber diameter while
maintaining excellent staple length! It is the perfect fleece,
but the sheep are still pretty rare in the U.S. So in
order to bring these terrific crossing sires to Missouri, I have
acquired 4 registered ewes and another ram from one of the most
respected breeders of BFL in this country. The purebreds
are pretty nice too (see above) with a uniform fine diameter fleece
that I recently blended with bunny wool... that's how fine it
is.Just back from the
processor! a limited test run of Bluefaced
Leicester blended with angora bunny ( about 10%)
This is really yummy stuff... very fine and soft white roving will
be available as soon as I get the bill from ABC Ranch who did the
processing. If you would like to try some, just let me
know at hmffarm@fidnet.com
News
Flash! Beechtree Parker, my new colored
Bluefaced Leicester ram, took Grand Champion at the Michigan Fiber
Fair 2005. Shown by Brenda Lelli, his breeder. Parker
will be coming to his new home at HMFF in September.
 Registered
Angoras at HMFF !
 Kilo White Angoras and mohair is making a comeback... both
domestic and worldwide. I have obtained a small
starter flock of registered whites ... five does and two
bucks... from breeders Groff, Shell, Kneese and Tutell and am
looking forward to having more white mohair available
in the next year.
There is a "happy/sad/happy" story related to the recent
white angora acquisition . See JuneBug's
page for a wonderful story about a tiny and very lucky
goat.
The SW Fiber Goat
Association has recently announced their intent to
recognize and support the Navajo Angora Goat for its unique
contributions and distinct quality. For more info on
the association and its wonderful newsletter contact Debra at goatgirl2@peoplepc.com
or come join us at swfibergoats@yahoogroups.com
!
Website to check
out: check out this site for LOTS of goat
information on all breeds of goats http://www.amberwavespygmygoats.com/article/
Rabbit Manure In
this issue you will find wonderful ideas to use that valuable but
often wasted biproduct of the rabbitry: bunny berries!
First you string them on a golden thread... no... just kidding...
see the rabbit
page
PayPal and
Ebay
Buying from HMFF just got easier . You can now buy with
confidence via PayPal. You can put down a deposit on livestock
or pay for fleece in a fraction of the time it used to take by
snail mail. What's next? An ebay store? Well, now
that you mention it.... I have been putting a few things on ebay
auction... just to test the waters.
Upcoming Events
for HMFF
September 3-5 World Sheep and
Fiber Arts Festival, Bethel, MO I am in charge of the
goat tent . There will be an angora goat show and a CAGBA inspection
station for anyone who is interested. Contact me at hmffarm@fidnet.com For
more info on the festival in general, see http://www.worldsheepfest.com/
September 24 Phelps Co
Rabbit Show, Rolla MO
October 1-2 9th annual Mid Mo
Horse & Mule Farming and Historical Craft
Days at Gerald Mo. GREAT fun! My spinners guild
and my rabbit club are both present at this wonderful event.
For a flyer or more information contact Gail Cross at tenacity@fidnet.com
November 5-6 Fall Fling at
Arcadia Academy, Arcadia, MO
Hope you enjoy this months issue of our
farm newsletter... I look forward to hearing from you!
Kathy Barger-Harbert
Herbal Maid Fiber Farm
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