Welcome to our farm!

Here in the Upper Piedmont area of North Carolina the land is gently rolling, much of the land is growing back into forests and life is quiet. Having grown up in the northern midwest, Bob and I wanted to settle down in an area of mild winters and clear skies to make year round gardening easier. We also want the farm be as sustainable as possible, working on permaculture principles; like having the sheep and goats on pasture, grazing rotationally 9 months out of the year, which is very do-able in this climate. Not only is this better for them, it keeps the fleeces cleaner too. When we came here 2 years ago the small meadows were grown over and the soil tired. Slowly we are renovating and fencing for our 19 fiber sheep, 13 dairy goats, 2 llamas, 2 angora bunnies and 24 free ranging chickens.

The Nigerian Dwarf and Alpine goat herd and Dorset, Corriedale and rare breed Jacob sheep flock each have 3 meadows as clean-up time and fencing progress. Nature here wants to be woods so we will be balancing the natural encroachment of the trees and shrubs with the goats' and llamas' appetites, liming and seeding. All around each of these areas we are leaving at least a deep hedgerow and woods to help support the wildlife ecosystem. In the Winter everyone is close up near the house not only to make the feeding times easier since everyone gets very warm water on the cold mornings but also just because I like to watch them from the windows especially whilst spinning or weaving. We are selling raw fleece, handspun yarns and handwovens to help support the sheep's costs. I also make goat milk soap right here and we sell on-line to support the goats. More information is available in each section up at the top.

Besides fencing in the pastures, we've also fenced in an area for a large vegetable garden with the hopes of developing a CSA in the next 3 years. Our vegetables are grown naturally, pesticide free with a concentration on soil improvement. After the main season I open the garden up to the sheep and the chickens – they are a good clean up crew and they appreciate the change of menu, enjoying bean bushes, corn stalks and pumpkins. We run the farm on organic principles as was done for hundreds of years so dovetailing chickens and ducks with the goats and sheep really helps keep the flies, mosquitoes and parasites in check. Of course the Eastern Blue Birds and bats have a helping hand in there too.

Liese and Bob on the farm