Our SheepShare Program
Objective of the Program
Loosely based on the SponsorSHEEP program from Long Way Homestead in Manitoba, and various fibre CSAs, this pilot program aims to bring YOU-the fibre artists to us-the fibre farmers!
This program is designed as an opportunity for us to directly engage you with the process involved in growing fibre; from raising the animals to shearing, to the production of fibre products.
Not every fibre artist has the means or resources to own or visit fibre farms, so this program is an attempt to bridge that gap and bring the farm experience to you!
We are looking for local knitters, spinners, dyers, and crafters to sign up and support this program!
The Basics
This year we are trying a different pricing structure to allow more accessibility so that everyone can enjoy a SheepShare!
We are moving to a flat rate price of $180 for each tier. This includes the visits
to the farm, the shearing of your sheep, and the skirting/handling of the fleece. We now have two tiers to choose from. If you choose Tier #2 you will also pay processing fees for the milling of the roving/yarn that you would like from your fleece. You DO NOT pay this upfront but rather when we get everything back from the mill in 2020 (mid summer). This will hopefully allow more people to participate, as processing fees fluctuate depending on what kind of processing you have done, and how many pounds the finished product is.
SheepShares will commence in October of the current year and conclude on May 31st of the following year.
You can visit the farm in October to pick out your sheep, determine which tier of SHEEPShare you would like, and secure your place with a $60 deposit.
For those people interested in the program but that live outside of the Niagara Region you can email us to reserve your sheep. NOTE: Purchasing a Share online requires the same $60 deposit.
The tiers of SHEEPShare include:
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A photo of your sheep with all their basic information (name, breed, age, etc.)
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Monthly updates about your sheep
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Scheduled visits to the farm (one on one, shearing, lambing, open houses)
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A special thank you gift for supporting us and your sheep!
SHEEPShare Tiers
TIER #1
The full fleece from your sheep
Comes skirted, raw or can be washed
*This is excellent for experienced fibre artists who regularly work with whole fleeces*
tier #2
The full fleece from your sheep washed and processed into either rovings/batts or into yarn.
Processing fees are extra for this option.
*This is a great option for handspinners or knitters!*
Add-Ons
Along with the SHEEPShare tiers we would like to offer you some other fibre related goods!
Alpaca and mohair blend very nicely with wool and can be purchased as "shares" alongside our tiers when they become available to us. These "shares" will come from other local fibre farmers in the area.
If you like naturally dyeing your fibre, we have dye kits available to be used on your SHEEPShare wool and they too can be purchased as "shares".
Disclaimers
We cannot guarantee that your sheep will survive the entire year of SHEEPShare as we have learned the hard way that livestock do not always survive even with the absolute best care. If this does happen, we will match you with another to replace the sheep you lost.
Due to this being a new program we are still working out the technicalities and all aspects of the program (including pricing) are fluid and subject to change. If the sheep you would like has already been chosen, we would be happy to work with you to choose another to meet your fibre needs!