Farming in the shade

We've been spending some time getting ready for Saturday's Shearing Day Open House. We assembled some felting kits. They include felting needles, foam, and an ounce of our wool. If you come to our Open House, you will be able to meet Barbara, who is a fabulous needle felter. You can see some of her work here. Who knows? You might be inspired to start needle felting yourself.  We spent some time cranking socks. If you come on Saturday during the morning, you will be able to see Joyce crank socks on her circular sock knitting machine. We will have some of our socks for sale, if anyone is interested. We also dyed some wool yarn to make socks with. If you come to the Shearing Day, you will be able to watch Kari and Chris spin wool into yarn. Never a dull moment at Shearing Day. Pass the word... For more information, click here .

We are involved in the Farmland Preservation movement here in Michigan. Years ago, The Farmer went on a bus tour out to Maryland and Pennsylvania to see their efforts to keep farmland from being gobbled up by development. He was impressed. Beautiful housing developments on one side of the highway, and miles of farmland on the other. Room for both. Since that time, he's gone to years of committee meetings and board meetings, pursuing what he saw out east. With no discernible results. Discouraged much? photo credit: Saucy Salad via photopin cc The other day I read a newspaper headline: Support waning for farmland preservation in ____ County. One of the nearby counties that had set aside money for purchase of development rights (PDR) was now backing away from the program. Blame them? Not really. Times are tight in Michigan and all over. Who has money for these things? And the PDR program is not without its faults and certainly not without its opponents. A related way

Each Mythbusters show includes a "Please don't try this at home" disclaimer. This post also includes that same disclaimer. No persons or animals were harmed during this activity. The tubes, however, did not fare so well. They are probably over 7 years old, and are starting to show their age. Once they go flat, it's not nearly as much fun.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High      will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,      my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare      and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers,      and under his wings you will find refuge;      his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night,      nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,      nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side,      ten thousand at your right hand,      but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes      and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling—      even the Lord, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you,      no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you      to guard you in all yo

More than 84% of farm bill related spending goes to food and nutrition programs like food stamps, not to farmers. Only 11% of funding in the farm bill goes to farm policies. U.S. farm policy costs Americans just 2.3 cents per meal for a total of 6.9 cents per day. --www.farmpolicyfacts.org photo credit: TumblingRun via photopin cc

Shady Side Farm will host our Annual Shearing Day on Saturday, March 2nd from 9 am - 3 pm (come and go as you wish.) Our farm is located at 13275 B lair Stre et , Holland, Michigan. We will be shearing our Polypay sheep that day, and our open house is geared toward folks who want to see shearing on a working farm and learn more about wool production.  Fiber artists will demonstrate their work, and wool products (roving, yarn, etc.) will be available to purchase in our little on-farm shop.  The open house is suitable for families and folks of all ages, though very small children sometimes are bothered by the noise and smells of a sheep barn. Wear old clothing and dress warmly. We shear in a barn. :) The event is free . Our friend s from the Critter Barn will join us to help an swer questions. Out of gratitude for their great work educating pe o pl e of all ages about farming, we are asking those who come to our shearing day to cons ider a donation to the Critter Barn .

Wool is flame resistant. Because it is made up of protein, wool fibers are naturally flame resistant, requiring a higher temperature to ignite than other natural fibers. When wool does ignite, it burns slowly by smoldering and charring but giving off little heat. A wool blanket is an effective tool for smothering a flame. Most synthetic fibers are made from petroleum and have dangerous burning characteristics.

Michael Pollan, in his Omnivore's Dilemma , talks of corn as some sinister evil out to take over the world. While I can admit that corn is likely overused (especially in people food), it is not the big evil Pollan makes it out to be. There is a time and a place for high protein energy food in an animal's diet. Sometimes that can be corn. We also use oats on occasion, depending on what we have available.  If you look closely at the background of the above picture, you'll see what our sheep eat most of the year. They are either out on pasture, eating grass, or in the barn, eating hay. Hay is just grass (and other green plants) harvested at the peak of nutrition, dried thoroughly (so as not to spoil) and baled for easy storage. Sheep were designed by God to eat grass and other green plants. Their digestive system works best when their diet is primarily grass-based. There are times, though, when they need a little extra. Pregnancy and lactation are