Small Ruminant Residency at Meadowcroft Farm: Washington, Maine
A one year commitment to learn and be taught Sheep and Fine Wool production on a site specific hill farm in the Midcoast. Become partners in Animal husbandry and Soil health.
Think: Medical Residency, with sheep, and attending Farmer as professional development.
Are you and/or your partner considering a life, lifestyle, or living raising sheep and wool commercially? With the growing awareness of synthetic textiles interfering with our planetary health, and the importance of regenerative agriculture as a solution to mitigate climate crisis while increasing reslience and decreasing Green House Gas emissions, there is an increasing trend, demand, and need for grazers that grow wool. Just as important, there is a growing need for knowledgeable small ruminant farmers who know how to do it, without putting animals, land and water quality at risk. Like Farm to Table, it is time for Farm to Textile to take a front seat.
This is not a job opportunity. Immersion living is offerred in a fully appointed and brand new second and third floor apartment in the barn for 6-7 months, occupancy in an unheated cabin in summer months. A large garden is included in the residency. It is expected that the resident/s will cultivate this for their own pleasure, food, and income potential, and share with summer guests. Tools, tillers and abundant compost are available for use. Learn the difference between a hay fork and a maunre fork, and how to use them.
The apartment will be rented during the summer months, as a Farm to Table/Farm to Textile vacation destination. Resident/s will be expected to turn over the rental, and income will be shared from said rental. There will be no payment for instruction, supervision, use of equipment, infrastructure or risk management. Cost of the residency will be $15,000 for 12 months, plus cost of propane for heat and hot water during months in the apartment. Electricity, water, WIFI, wood-fired sauna, waste disposal and plowing are included. Time commitment depends on level of immersion and tasks. Learning by doing, the more you do, the more you learn, suggest 2 hrs/day, batched for flexibility and bulk actions. This is intended to be an interdependent and joyful exchange of time and attention to detail.
Whereas you cannot learn to play the piano without a piano, and a piano teacher, this is an opportunity to practice, while honing all skills and planning through each season as it relates to sheep and wool production, BEFORE taking on the risk of mortgage, equipment, livestock investment, and infrastructure development. Generational learning in the moment picks up where classrooms, books and you-tube cannot. I want to help set you up for success.
Whereas sheep and wool production requires limited daily diligence, occasional husbandry tasks, and seasonal infrastructure projects, there is plenty of time in the resident schedule to allow for full or part time employment off farm. When it is considered that the resident has achieved competencies and risk management awareness to “fly solo” it will be expected that the resident will provide full farm coverage so farmer/instructor can “fly the coop” for occasional and short term shearing, shows or respite. Upon completion and target success of competencies, Resident will be awarded a small starter flock in the US Polwarth Registry.
ABOUT MEADOWCROFT FARM
On a west facing hill at the top of the Damariscotta Watershed, Meadowcroft Farm is 120 acres of improved pasture, woodlot, and wetlands. Started in 1990, Meadowcroft is the only Polwarth breeder on the continent. Meadowcroft has recently imported registered genetics from New Zealand to develop a US Polwarth Registry with the goal of reseeding the domestic wool industry with naturalized grazers that grow twice as much fine wool as other apparel breeds on a well developed carcass. Lambing season usually begins in May.
Meadowcroft has relinquished organic certification in favor of Green Certification with Green America (Gold Standard). Focus is on sustainable and regenerative farming and best practices for soil, water, animal health, and production capacity. Think: Permaculture systems with sheep.
Breeding 70 ewes and 15 yearlings, data is recorded by radio frequency technology to determine animals with best metrics to develop and seed the registry with the intent of selling genetics (rams, semen, and ultimately breeding ewes) to the US market. An additional 40 wethers are raised for their annual wool clip, a remaining 20-30 with insufficient yield or aging out of their productive life are harvested for meat. Horses are kept for pleasure and parasite management, dogs for herding and guarding, hens for eggs. Meadowcroft contracts the wool from an additional 500 ewes, providing quality control at time of shearing.
Home to Seacolors Yarnery, all wool is secured and processed within a 5 hour radius of the farm. Yarns are dyed in seawater in solar vats with food grade dyes at the farm. A recovery system recycles waste waters for surface discharge by irrigation. The Yarnery sells small batch yarns, one of a kind sweaters, and limited edition blankets at farmers markets, wool and craft venues, online, and occasional events at the farm. Spinning, designing, dye instruction/processing is not intended or expected in the residency, but could be offered depending on level of interest.
Located just off Route 17 and equidistant 1.25 hours to Portland and Bangor, Meadowcroft is 15-30 miles to several major towns and 20 miles to the coast. This location offers market and entrepreneurial access, or many employment opportunities for off farm income.
Only 25 miles to Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Common Ground, continuing education opportunities in agriculture, rural living and business planning are abundant through the New and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Network.
ABOUT NANNE
Raising sheep since 1981, Nanne is committed to fiber first, with a focus on fine wool with high comfort factor, to challenge the synthetics (extraction/processing/distribution) in our wearables and home goods. With a BA from Bowdoin College in Sociology of Art and Masters studies in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of Maine, Nanne has used her creative energy to rethink sheep production and reimagine fiber manufacturing in a way that optimizes the health of the animal, the fertility of the soil, the quality of the water, and maximizes carbon sequester while lowering input cost and environmental impact. Having trained in NZ where she went to shearing school, worked on farms and in wool sheds, learned wool classing and handling, and lived with breeders who helped start the Black and Colored Sheep Breeders Association, Nanne has a depth of knowledge and experience in Maine and away.
Developing the breed, honing knowledge of textile design, and developing the dye system has provided Nanne an opportunity to run a successful home and farm based business since 1994. Please visit www.getwool.com for more information.
Raising working dogs (and children) since 1985, and building a farm business, Nanne now has time and enough energy to help train and prepare the next generation of fiber farmers, with joy and non-violent communication.
In her spare time, Nanne likes to swim, curl, and do much needed Ag. Policy work.
PARTIAL LIST OF INSTRUCTION AND COMPETENCIES
*Animal Husbandry
*Pasture Maintenance
*Infrastructure Development
*Risk Management
*Water Systems
*Fence Systems
*Tractor Safety
*Working dog care and training
*Rotational grazing
*Parasite Minimization
*Daily flow of Chores and Needs
*Forage Stand Improvement
*Nutrient Management
*Wool handling, skirting, sorting, grading
*Sheep skinning and hide prep for tanning
*Breed selection/data collection
*Hoof trimming
*Lambing- care, feeding, troubleshooting and maintenance
*Body Mechanics and basic leverage
*Humane Predator Controls
*Seasonal Flow of Required Diligence
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT NANNE KENNEDY
207.542.2587 OR EMAIL QUEEN@GETWOOL.COM