Beginning with Sheep

Episode 13 covers a week on the farm: weather and pasture struggles, a new guardian puppy learning to signal, broody hens, and fence work to separate rams and ewes. Kathy also updates listeners on two three-week-old ram lambs (including one with fused horns) and managing them in the flock. The main topic is CD&T vaccination: what the vaccine protects against, typical dosing schedules, and upda...

Episode 12 brings a full farm update: the host is healing from a broken ankle with help from friends, expecting the first eggs soon, dealing with a rat problem (considering rat boxes), and babysitting a playful puppy. On the sheep front, ram lamb Patrick is being aggressive and may be sent for processing, Jubilee's twins are thriving and receiving CD&T shots, and the host considers options for...

Today’s episode covers a full farm update: a finished roof with skylights, reopening stalls, and plans to install feeders and waterers after construction. Kathy describes a surprise set of twin lambs — one healthy and one possibly blind — including emergency tube-feeding, concerns about missed vaccinations, and decisions about docking and castrating. We also hear about puppy training and messy adv...

In Episode 10 Kathy and Val catch up on life at the farm: introducing Sam, a growing livestock guardian puppy undergoing training, ongoing barn roof repairs and new breeding flocks, and concerns about regional drought and hay supplies. They also discuss watching Common Ground, a documentary on regenerative agriculture, and reflect on practical farm challenges and solutions.

Host Kathy shares a lively farm update: bringing home a new Komondor guardian puppy, progress on barn roof repairs, and daily life with free-range chickens. She also explains her breeding program for endangered Jacob sheep, how the approved conservation breeding plan works, the challenges of sourcing genetics, and the importance of preserving hardy heritage breeds.

Kathy gives a brief solo farm update: increased coyote activity led to ordering a livestock guardian puppy, she hosted a busy spinning demonstration at the town fair, and barn roof repairs are underway after finding more rot than expected. She also reports a smaller second hay cutting, chickens with upset stomachs from too many cucumbers, and teases next week's episode with Val to discuss breeding...

The hosts share a weekend farm update covering roof repairs, recent predator activity after losing a dog, and decisions about getting a livestock guardian dog. They discuss sheep care—shearing schedules, a ram whose horns need trimming, and calling the vet for safety. They also touch on Jacob sheep genetics, wool color, and long-term breeding plans. The conversation broadens to industry issu...

This episode covers a busy week on the farm: stripping a leaky barn roof, a red-tailed hawk attack that the sheep miraculously thwarted, plans for a covered chicken run, and worries about drought and repairs. We also chat about learning soil science, the quirks of multi-horned sheep, small-farm markets, and the excitement of launching limited-run podcast merchandise.

Hosts cover a busy week on the farm — a major barn roof project, soil sampling to restore pastures, opening new stalls, installing an automatic chicken door, splitting paddocks to manage rams, and ongoing drought concerns. They also discuss the documentary Farmageddon and the heated debate over raw milk and federal regulation. On a personal note, both hosts share emotional pet updates after losing...

This week we give an update on the farm. We are still in a heatwave so things are starting to get dry and we discuss the need to feed hay. We talk about separating the rams as well as some ram shenanigans.

In this episode, the hosts dive into the challenges and decisions faced on the New England farm during an intense heatwave. Amidst the dry and cracked pastures, the conversation unravels as they explore innovative ways to manage their sheep, discuss potential guard animals, and the pursuit of finding the perfect breed. The lively dialogue extends to a backyard barbecue, where a candid conversation...

In this episode, join Val and Kathy as they dive into the fascinating world of wool. Learn about the over 200 different sheep breeds and discover how each offers unique wool properties, from the fine Merino to the sturdy Navajo Churro. Explore various uses of wool, including knitting, felting, and rug making, and delve into the conservation efforts surrounding heritage breeds. Whether you're an av...

Join shepherdess Kathy and her sister Val talk about sheep and the recent lambing clinic held in Vermont.