September 2025 happenings at Withers Wool and Farm

Farm and Animals

The farm and animals are in a steady state. In September we have had the occasional warm day, but overall nothing too oppressive. So, I do have some fans on a low speed for the sheep and goats to cool off if the temperature is in the 80s, but unless it is very humid, as the temperatures get lower, I turn the fans off. The vegetation in the fields is still growing and I have mowed a few fields for a second time. I am still rotating the sheep and goats through various fields and now keeping them off fields that I want to continue to grow and will put them on in the winter - so they will still have some good grazing when we have our cold days. I am continuing to weed the small fields the moms and babies are in to try to get rid of the Carolina Horse Nettles; this is a very sticky/prickly weed that easily sticks to the fine fiber the kid goats have. Since I do not use pesticides, the only way to get rid of it is by pulling it up by hand. Mowing does help over a long period reduce these weeds, if you mow short enough. For some reason, this has been a “good” year for the Carolina Horse Neetles to grow and I am finding more that I have in past years.

We have had several rainy days lately and a few days when none of the sheep and goats have been outside. When the grass is wet, they all stay in their various areas under cover and eat (a lot of) hay.

The four baby goats are all doing well. They are still getting some milk from their mom. Sometime in October the moms will probably start to either dry up or cut them off. The moms and babies are separate from the rest of the goats as they still get extra grain, but I am reducing the amount they receive - as the babies do not need as much as they get older and the moms do not need as much either since nursing is decreasing.

I think the two peacocks have dropped all their feathers and the peahens have stopped laying eggs; mating season is over. They are also not as vocal as they have been. (They usually make more noise during mating season.)

Sheep enjoying some hay for morning breakfast

Fiber and Shop

There were lots of classes this month - all set up by people reaching out - which is how I am mostly doing classes now. There were classes on Beginning Crochet, Beginning Knitting, and Beginning Spinning. The Classes and Workshops page has all the information and a form at the bottom of the page you can utilize.

There was one very interesting event - not exactly a class; a person came in to use the drum carder and the needle felt loom in an interesting way. (I posted on this on social media on 20 September.) First raw (clean) wool was used to make batts on the drum carder. Then the batt was fed through the felt loom to make batting/wading to put inside a quilt that is being made. There has been a push by wool associations to promote innovative ways to use wool and using the drum carder and the felt loom to make wool batting for a quilt definitely falls in that category.

Of course, some new handspun yarns have been made: several cable, crepe and spiral ply yarns, as well as some super-coil yarns.

Most days I try to work on cleaning fiber at least an hour. By cleaning I mean either skirting the fiber to remove vegetable matter (and unwanted items) or washing the fiber to remove dirt. Usually the toughest issue with the mohair (from the Angora goats) is to remove the vegetable matter as their fiber is so locky that little bits of grass, seeds, etc. get stuck in the fiber. The toughest issue with the Merino wool is to clean the fiber so the lanolin is removed. (That process takes repeated washings.)

Cleaned mohair fleece: portion on the left side has been thoroughly picked; portion on the right side still needs to be picked to remove vegetable matter and other unwanted items

Events

On 27 and 28 September, I was at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival (SVFF) in Berryville, VA. at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds. Thanks to everyone who stopped by. I saw many who have previously either come to Withers Wool or stopped by at a show and it was great engaging with y’all and also with new folks.

On 20 October I will be at Kinder Park Farm to discuss my farm, raising the goats and sheep, and farm life. Kinder Farm Park is in Millersville,MD and is a 288-acre park that offers a variety of natural and recreational activities including walking, biking, bird watching, fishing and picnicking. If interested in going to Kinder Park (and hearing my presentation), register at: aarecparks.org/witherswoolfarm