Yesterday, my shearer came down from northern New Mexico to see my flock taken care of for the season. I had 12 sheep needing shearing (the lambs are much too little to have anything but fluff on them), which for a hand-shearer is about 5 hours of work. We also did vaccines and checkups together, a huge help since I've been having a hard time doctoring sheep with the broken hand.
Shearing day is one of my favorite recurring days here. The wool is soft and smells like lanolin and hay- my shearer uses hand blades rather than the electric shears and it is quiet. We catch up, I hear stories about the other farms and farmers he has visited since I last saw him, news from the wool festivals and the other people who keep Navajo-Churro sheep. As the wool comes off, you get a sense of the animal underneath. Their posture and body shape and how they're growing out. Even the color is different, at the roots. They get sleek all at once.
I don't weave or spin, so generally I sell or give fiber to artists and hobbyists. With 12 new fleeces I have too much, though. Considering using it for insulation, but it is just too pretty.
Are you a spinner? Do you want a fleece? Many colors this year, the wool has a long staple with lots of luster to it. Full fleeces are between 5 and 12 pounds. I ask to trade (for anything! digital or physical things! homemade or not!) or for weavers to cover cost of shipping. You can email me.
