Gardening
It was a busy weekend for the humans at That'll Do Farm. The animals had the weekend off. They got to stand around eating hay and sipping water while their people were out and about.
Saturday was the monthly meeting of the Ohio Natural Fiber Network. The Network is a group of fiber producers from around the state that get together to promote locally grown fibers. Our goal is to make people aware that they can find a huge selection of Ohio born-and-raised fiber right here in their own backyard. Imported yarns are indeed beautiful and sometimes irresistible, but if one out of every five yarn purchases could be from a local fiber farmer, think of the amount of dollars that would stay in the local economy. I know I get preachy about local food and fiber, but it is something I belive in with my whole heart.
Nina Winchester of Cross Wind Farm & Fiber in Berlin Center is raising Pygora goats. She made this beautiful vest from the fiber of one of her goats.
Not only is Nina a talented goat herder, but man can she create a beautiful garment! It is delicate, yet sturdy. Lightweight, yet warm. And soft as soft can be.
Linn Parise of Top Notch Alpacas in Madison is modeling for us. My apologies to Linn. It appears I was unable to get a picture of her with her eyes open. We are lucky she has enough personal style to carry off this vest with or without her eyes open!
Nina also brought some of her handspun yarn, including some royal blue-ish Shetland yarn. I'm normally not a blue person, but that skein is calling me big time. I rationally tell myself I need more yarn like I need another hole in my head, but then all that rational thought flies out one of those holes and I'm pretty sure that blue yarn is going to be mine!
This month's meeting was at Criation Station Alpaca Farm in Oberlin. Farm owner Marcee Stephenson, yet another talented fiber artist, showed us some of her gossamer-like scarves.
And her needle felted soaps. I especially loved the acorn version. 
I'm also a fan of her felted coasters. Now if only I could get the dogs to put their drinking glasses down on the bone-shaped one.
Farmer Gal Marilyn spent her Saturday at the Camelid Health Conference in Columbus.She came back with her head swimming with information. Farmer Gal is one of those people that "gets it" when it comes to science-like lectures on animal care. They would make my eyes roll back into my head, but I think our animals are very grateful they have Farmer Gal on their side!
Sunday on the farm was filled with gardening classes.
We had seed starters and lasagna gardeners. Our next gardening class will be tomatoes on April 22, followed by Gardening for Birds, Bees and Butterflies on the 29th and Composting on May 20th.
I think one of our lasagna gardening students would rather be a chicken farmer than a produce farmer!
