Black Sheep Farm

We've entered a period of drought here in Northern Virginia. And like so much of the rest of the nation, HEAT. The ewes assemble into formation near the three fans in the barn each morning. I'd closed off the central pasture early last month, to let it rest and allow the forage crabgrass to establish. The ewes wander down to the silvopasture area in the evening, to graze on forbs, some grass (and hopefully, invasive stiltgrass!). Just put out a round bale on Sunday.

Pix of Champion white fine (and best fleece) Michellin, and reserve champion natural colored fine (and best fleece) Sophie.

Here are Michelin and Sophie.

We were honored to have some champions at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival last weekend. Champion and reserve champ natural colored fine wool rams (Dante and Ghirardelli), best NC fleece (Sophie), Champion White fine wool ram and best fleece for Michelin the ram.

Still some wonderful Merino fleeces (covered and well-skirted) available: Moorits, white, and darks. Dory, Dora, and Topaz are $16/lb; others are $18/lb. These are the final weights. Quickest way to place an order is to fill out the contact form at https://www.blacksheepfarmva.com/contact/; I'll provide you with the shipping cost and invoice you (Paypal or Venmo).

Here is a display of fleeces available following the autumn 2023 shearing. Note that weights shown are prior to final skirting, so they will average 15% lower. All fleeces were covered. Prices are $18/lb for all but Dory, Dora, and Ella ($16/lb; great felting fleeces). Since I'm not on FB that much, best way to reserve a fleece is to fill out the contact form at blacksheepfarmva.com/contact, or send me a text at the number on that page. Hope you see something you like!

New lambs on the ground this fall. Here's the view as of October 1 (2023).

Black Sheep Farm's silver yearling Merino ram took Supreme Fleece at the 50th Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival May 7. A tremendous, even, 17-micron fleece! Our white Merinos took Champion Ram, Champion Ewe, and Best fleece. Very honored!

I have a few beautifully fleeced 7-month-old natural colored ewe lambs available. Delivery to Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival available. NZ genetics, twins, blacks and silvers. Here's one (in the tan cover), joining the rest of the ewes on the lawn the spring ritual before the lawn tractor is revved up. And there are a set of new twins born on March 21 in the background.

Great video on shearing, produced by the American Livestock Conservancy.

How to Shear a Sheep & Why It's Important How to Shear Sheep & Why It's Important Dr. Temple Grandin, award-winning author, professor, and animal welfare advocate, introduces the ethical and humane handling of sheep for shearing. Directed by Jody Shapiro, this compelling 12-minute film showcases the beautiful dance between sheep and

Finally got my Best Fleece of Show ribbon from the NYSWF. Still don't know which colored fleece it was, but definitely was one of my Bluestone AI ewe lambs.

All costumed up for winter hay feeding. AND: Lots of weaned ewe and ram lambs available. Contact me to arrange a viewing!

For some reason, despite an automatic waterer just outside, there is nothing quite so tasty to these-three-month-old lambs than a fresh bucket of water right in the dining room.

Black Sheep Farm is honored to have one of our (natural colored) fleeces selected as the Supreme Fleece at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival this weekend ( Oct. 15-16, 2022). I don't have the details yet, but I suspect it might be one of the yearling ewes who has a Bluestone Stud (New Zealand) sire. Thanks, Will Gibson, for helping me up my fiber game! Details follow!

This weekend Black Sheep Farm joins Rebecca Brouwer at She Farm north of Purcellville for the Loudoun Fall Farm Tour. There will be sheep and lambs, of course, and wool products. But also talks and demonstrations: a feltloom demonstration, visible mending tips, natural dyes and dyeing, sustainable fashion, managing sheep for healthy soils and a rich ecosystem, and the Chesapeake Fibershed.

She.Farm After many moves around the US, my husband and I relocated our family to a small farm in western Loudoun County, Virginia. We were drawn to the beautiful views and the rural character of the area. I was finally in my element and able to fulfill my dream of living on a farm while satisfying my urge t...

Nine Black Sheep Farm fleeces are headed to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival Oct. 15-16. A few more will shortly be offered here, on BSF's page. Stay tuned for luscious moorit, silver, and white fleeces.

Wear wool (and cotton and linen and bamboo and h**p).

The Woolmark Company: Wear Wool, Not Fossil Fuel from Park Village on Vimeo

Today, August 17, is shearing day! Twenty-six white, silver, moorit, black fleeces to be harvested. Samples will be sent off to be micron tested, and soon our fall fleece sale will begin.

Part of sheep show preparation is washing behinds and legs in a nice warm bucket of soapy water. Most sheep stand in the water comfortably, but Maeve here decided to take a long sitz bath. It was hard getting her out.

Despite the rain and the chill, it was a great weekend at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!

At long last, we look forward to penning sheep, entering fleeces, and enjoying all that the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival has to offer, May 7 and 8. See you there! Doug the cat will be glad to be rid of the annoying lambs for a couple of days.

It's that time of year when lovely-fleeced fall-born ram lambs are looking for flocks. This week (April 12) there are two nice white horned prospects (twins) and a moorit polled one (triplet). After the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, two white polled ram lambs (one fall-born twin, one January-born single) will be ready to spread their Australian genetics (soft, low-micron, fine fleece with great staple length, good lock structure and high comfort factor) far and wide. Here's the two horned fellows.

We have three freezer lambs going to a local processor in late April and mid May. If you are interested in locally grown lamb (raised on pasture and local grain) cut and packaged to your specifications, visit this website page for more information on pricing, cuts, and how to reserve a lamb.

Lambs are growing.

Nice to see a growing colored fiber commercial market! https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-12-09/black-sheep-find-their-place-in-the-wool-industry/100634494?fbclid=IwAR1yMcRV7dnGpqIFG9X6AkP9d1U7a-MS7pPZHlrBhpVZ2kGGbM8FBV6c0DA

Black sheep have plenty of wool — and it's hot property It has taken a while but, with consumers chasing all-natural fibres, black sheep have found their place in an industry that once saw them as outcasts.

This 2-year-old Merino ram is looking for a flock. Owner is scaling back. I bred this ram: Australian bloodlines, tremendous staple length, fleece even from shoulder to britch. His micron is 20 and comfort factor 99%. Twin. Proven breeder. PM me for a connection with owner. He’s a bargain.