Have you always wanted to raise sheep? Are you ready to grow your own wool? Or expand your existing farming plans?  This workshop will be a beginner workshop on how to start raising sheep. The workshop will be hands on, at a working fibre farm.

Sunday, April 22 2018

10am - 5pm

Long Way Homestead Fibre Farm  (East of Winnipeg) 

Cost: $65  Member Price     $70   non-member price (light lunch is included)

Instructors: 

The workshop will be facilitated by Margaret Brook, Linda Glowacki and Anna Hunter. Business partners Margaret and Linda established Leafhaven Shetlands in 2009 with three shetland ewes and a keen interest in spinning and felting. It has since grown to include nearly the entire Shetland rainbow of fleece colours and patterns and a thriving fibre flock.  Anna Hunter is a first-generation sheep farmer, having only had a sheep farm for 2 years Anna brings the perspective of a new farmer who has had to learn everything from scratch, with the help of mentors, books and lots of mistakes Anna knows first hand what is involved in starting a fibre flock from square one.   This workshop will rely heavily on the Canadian Code of Practise for raising sheep, and other great resources.

The outline for the workshop is:

Flock Considerations (breed, budgets, timing and resources)

Infrastructure (fencing, shelter and handling)

Sheep Basics (feed, health, breeding and lambing)

Shearing and Marketing (getting the most out of your wool)

This cost of course will be a one-day starter course, with resources to take away and utilize for your own flock considerations.

Please bring a pen, notebook, rubber boots (if you live on a livestock farm please wash thoroughly before attending workshop), warm jacket or sweater - we will be outside.