The latest updates from Borderlands Farm |
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As I write this at the end of June, we are basically three weeks into a successful lambing period (knock wood!). We currently have 19 ewes that have had their lambs, and every day we are down at the barn multiple times attending to everyone's needs. Lambing could last until the end of July but we are optimistic it might wrap up sooner. June also sees a lot of maintenance activities as we clean-out pens, make sure equipment is ready for haying, and continue weeding the garlic. As a new farm we are also talking to local businesses who might be interested in selling our lamb. An exiticing development in June was when A.J.'s on HWY 61 decided to stock several different cuts of lamb. After repeated requests from friends, Brody will also be doing a road trip to deliver lamb to Sioux Lookout and Dryden (orders due July 10!) It's been really great to see how much interest there is in local lamb in Thunder Bay! |
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ON THE FARMHighlights from the last month June 6 Sheep hoof trimming day June 8 Our first vendor relationship! AJs on HWY 61 has stocked our lamb. June 10 First lambs on the ground! Two sets of twins on day one. Lambing season has officially begun and will last for the next six weeks. June 17 Application of fertilizer to pastures J, K and L. June 22 Bryan attended the monthly Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) - Thunder Bay meeting as one of the directors. June 27 Bryan attended the Community Pastures Thunder Bay meeting as a board member. |
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LEARNINGCourses and workshops we have taken part in this past month Bengala Dyeing Workshop with instructor Chiaki O'Brien, hosted by Range Fibrearts Guild in Cotton, MN. Beverly and Gwen drove down with our wool to learn about this new-to-us dye from Japan. We are looking for effective natural dyes, and Bengala dye is a mud dye that is 100% sustainable and environmentally safe. Beverly is going to test it on our own over the next several months. Keeping Sheep Webinar led by Brenda Hsueh of Black Sheep Farm and hosted by the Ecological Farmer's Association of Ontario. This webinar focussed on the start-up of a small scale sheep flock for meat and fibre. They added livestock to a market garden operation guided by the goals of soil health, biodiversity, and social justice. An interesting take-away was the education they do around the practices they have implemented that are positive for the climate. They emphasize the role of the sheep in sequestering carbon and building soil. |
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YOUR FARMERSBeverly has been learning more about natural dyeing with a focus on mud dyes. She continues to skirt raw fleece (a double skirting!). Bryan is the general contractor for a new build on the property which takes up a significant amount of his time. He bookends the day with chores/lamb checks, which are significant during lambing season. Gwen has been working on the gardens. She has also planted about 1,200 sunflower seeds and is hoping to take those to market with the garlic in August. Perennial beds are in the works both in the garden for future cut flowers. Brody jokes the he has spent the month moving manure by fork, shovel and bucket as he took the lead on pen maintenance. He also has been getting all the machinery ready for haying. |
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Fibre has been the focus here, as Beverly continues to process the fleece from May's shearing. If you are a spinner, we have wondeful raw fleece available for purchase either on our website or on farm directly. Some lamb is still available through our website or at A.J.s on HWY 61. Our small sampler boxes are sold out but we have a few large sizes left as well as some individual cuts. | | |
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STAY CONNECTED Since our last newsletter, we have all had a turn at writing a blog. I wrote about getting the barn ready for lambs, Bryan wrote about the impact of supply chain shortages, Brody wrote about being our "vet tech" and Beverly wrote about natural dyeing of our wool fibre. Something for everyone! | | |
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